málsgrein

Málsgrein is a term used in Icelandic grammar to refer to a clause, a syntactic unit within a sentence that contains a finite predicate and a subject. In descriptive grammars, a málsgrein can function as a unit that expresses a complete thought and may or may not stand alone as a sentence. A sentence (setning) often consists of one or more málsgreinar connected through coordination or subordination.

There are two broad types of málsgreinar in Icelandic syntax: aðalsetning (main clause) and undirsetning (subordinate clause). A main clause can usually stand by itself and carries the principal statement of the sentence. A subordinate clause depends on a main clause and is typically introduced by a conjunction or a complementizer, such as að, ef, when, or other context-specific markers. Complex sentences commonly contain multiple málsgreinar, including embedded or chained clauses.

A málsgrein generally has its own predication and can include a subject, a finite or non-finite verb, objects, and modifiers. The exact word order in Icelandic can vary, but the finite verb often marks the clause’s tense and modality. Punctuation and conjunctions help delineate where one málsgrein ends and another begins within a larger sentence.

In usage, analyzing a sentence in terms of málsgreinar helps describe how ideas are organized, how dependencies between clauses are structured, and how meaning is built through sentence hierarchy. This concept is central to Icelandic syntax, grammar instruction, and linguistic description.