frumlagssetningum

Frumlagssetningar (frumlagssetningar) are a term in Icelandic grammar that describes fronted clauses—units that appear at the beginning of a sentence and are followed by the main clause. The function is to topicalize, frame a discourse context, or emphasize a particular element. They can consist of a subordinate clause (for example, conditional, temporal, or purpose clauses) or of a fronted phrase functioning as a topic. In writing and speech, they are typically separated from the main clause by a comma, though the exact punctuation can vary with register.

In Icelandic, the basic word order in a main clause is verb-second, so when a fronted clause comes first, the main clause follows in its usual V2 position after the comma. Fronted clauses provide cues about the speaker’s focus and the logical relation between clauses (cause, time, condition, purpose). Common types include:

- Conditional fronting: Ef veðrið batnar, fer ég út að ganga. Translation: If the weather improves, I will go out for a walk.

- Purpose fronting: Til að ná árangri, æfðu daglega. Translation: In order to achieve success, practice daily.

Frumlagssetningar are a common feature in both formal and informal Icelandic, used to structure discourse, mark background information, or highlight an element of the sentence. Note that the term frumlagssetningum is the dative plural form used when referring to multiple instances of fronted clauses in texts.