nafnháttur

Nafnháttur is an Icelandic grammatical term referring to the infinitive form of a verb. It is the base form of a verb, used to express the action or state of being without specifying the subject, number, or tense. In Icelandic, infinitives typically end in -a, though there are exceptions. For example, the verb "að borða" means "to eat," with "borða" being the nafnháttur. Similarly, "að hlaupa" means "to run," and "hlaupa" is the nafnháttur.

The nafnháttur is used in various grammatical constructions. It often appears after modal verbs like "geta" (to be able to) or "vilja" (to want). For instance, "Ég get borðað" translates to "I can eat." It can also be used in certain subordinate clauses or as a noun. The concept of the infinitive exists in many languages, but the specific Icelandic term is nafnháttur, literally translating to "name manner" or "noun manner," highlighting its role in naming or representing an action in its most fundamental form. Understanding the nafnháttur is crucial for comprehending Icelandic verb conjugation and sentence structure.