Finitsatser

Finitsatser is a term used in linguistics, particularly in Scandinavian grammars, to refer to clauses that contain a finite verb form. A finite verb is inflected for tense, person, or number and marks the clause as anchored in time relative to the utterance. Finite clauses can function as independent sentences or as subordinate clauses within larger sentences.

The defining contrast is with non-finite clauses, which lack a finite verb and do not carry tense or explicit subject agreement. Examples of non-finite forms include infinitives (to go) and participles (going, gone). For instance, in English the pair “I want to go” (to go is non-finite) versus “I go” or “I went” (go and went are finite forms) illustrates the distinction.

In practice, finite clauses carry the main information about tense and agreement. They can express statements, questions, or exclamations and may occur as main clauses or as embedded clauses within a larger sentence. In Norwegian and Swedish, finite verbs often show clear agreement with the subject and carry tense information that helps determine the clause type and its relation to surrounding structure, such as complementizer phrases introduced by words like “that” in English or “att” in Swedish/Norwegian.

Finitsatser is a foundational concept in syntax and sentence structure analysis, aiding in the classification of clauses and the study of how languages encode time, modality, and agency within clauses.