Veðsetningu

Veðsetningu, or veðsetning, is the grammatical category that expresses the mood of a verb in Icelandic. It marks the speaker’s attitude toward the action or state described by the verb, such as certainty, commands, wishes, or hypothetical possibilities. In Icelandic grammar, finite verbs are grouped into main veðsetningar: the indicative, the subjunctive (also called conjunctive in some descriptions), and the imperative. Non-finite forms such as the infinitive are related to mood in broader discussions of verb forms.

The framsöguháttur, or indicative mood, is used for statements of fact and questions about reality. It covers ordinary statements like “Ég vinn” (I work) and “Hún kemur í kvöld” (She is coming this evening). It also has past and other tenses formed through standard conjugation.

The viðtengingarháttur, or subjunctive/conjunctive mood, is used in subordinate clauses and to express wishes, possibility, necessity, or hypothetical scenarios. Examples include phrases like “Ég vil að hann komi” (I want him to come) and “Það væri gott ef hún kæmi” (It would be good if she came). In modern Icelandic, this mood is less frequent in everyday speech but remains common in formal style and fixed constructions.

The boðháttur, or imperative mood, is used to give commands or requests. Typical forms are direct for second-person commands, such as “Komdu hingað” (Come here) or “Farðu núna” (Go away now). The imperative is distinct from the indicative and, in some cases, from the subjunctive in its morphology and use.

In contemporary Icelandic, the indicative and imperative cover most everyday needs, while the subjunctive persists mainly in formal contexts and certain fixed phrases.