Wortstellung: die V2-Regel

Icelandic statements follow the verb-second rule, V2 for short: the finite verb is the second element of the clause. The first slot can hold the subject, a time phrase, a place, even an object; whatever stands there, the verb comes next.

When something other than the subject fills slot 1, the subject moves behind the verb. English does this after a handful of words such as "rarely" ("Rarely have I seen..."); in Icelandic it is ordinary word order.

The English habit to break

English says "Tomorrow I am going swimming", with subject and verb in that order after the time phrase. Copy that into Icelandic and the verb lands third: *Á morgun ég fer í sund. The correct version is Á morgun fer ég í sund.

Words like og (and), en (but) and eða (or) sit outside the count: ..., en ég fer ekki. A whole subordinate clause, on the other hand, fills slot 1 by itself: Þegar ég kem heim, fer ég í sturtu. - When I get home, I take a shower.

Questions and commands

A yes/no question opens with the verb, and English "do" has no equivalent: Talar þú íslensku? - Do you speak Icelandic? A question word takes slot 1: Hvar býrð þú? - Where do you live? Commands start with the verb too: Komdu hingað! - Come here!