undirsetningu

Undersetning is a term used in Icelandic linguistics to refer to subordinate clauses—the clauses in a sentence that depend on a main clause for their full meaning. A subordinate clause cannot stand alone; it adds information such as time, condition, reason, or content to the main clause. Subordinate clauses are typically introduced by subordinating conjunctions such as að, ef, þegar, þó, or byRelative pronouns in adjectival clauses. For example: “Ég veit að þú ert heima.” (I know that you are at home), where “að þú ert heima” is the content clause functioning as the object of væit.

Types and functions: Adverbial subordinate clauses express time, place, condition, cause, or purpose. Nominal (content) clauses function as subjects or objects. Relative clauses modify nouns. The distinction between main and subordinate clauses is often visible in punctuation and in where the meaning requires a main clause to be complete. In Icelandic, commas are commonly used to separate a subordinate clause from the main clause, especially when the subordinate clause comes first (e.g., “Þegar veðrið lagast, mun ég fara.”).

Other senses: In legal or formal writing, undirsetning can also refer to the act of endorsing or signing a document, though the more common term for a signature is undirskrift or undirritun. In such contexts, undirsetning describes the act of placing one’s signature to approve an instrument such as a contract or letter.

Etymology and overview: The word derives from undir- 'under' and setning 'sentence/clause,' reflecting the syntactic relationship where the subordinate clause remains dependent on the main clause. The concept parallels the English “subordinate clause” or “subclause.”