meginsetningarfugl

Meginsetningarfugl is the Icelandic term for the main verb that anchors a clause, equivalent to the principal verb in languages that use a verb‑final or verb‑initial structure. It determines the clause’s finite form, inflection, and syntactic properties. The shape of a meginsetningarfugl depends on the clause type: in simple declarative sentences it follows the subject affix, while in questions and commands it may be prefixed or separated. The verb determines tense, mood, voice and agrees with the subject in person and number. This verb is contrasted with the “subordinate clause verb” which is built from infinitives and auxiliary forms. The concept is central to Icelandic syntax; the transformation of the meginsetningarfugl under passive and causative constructions illustrates the relationship between verb morphology and clause structure. School curricula emphasize the correct placement of the meginsetningarfugl during dictionary description and sentence‑analysis exercises. The term first entered lexicographic use in the early 20th century and is now standard in descriptive grammar such as the works of Hróðmar Jónsson and the systematized typology in the Icelandic Language Institute’s grammar references. References to similar concepts can be found in other Germanic languages; for instance, the “finishing verb” in Faroese and the “Sentence‑final verb” in Germanic cluster languages.