Learn Hardcore Icelandic: Hún skoðar nánar áður en hún borgar.

skoða (to examine): ég skoða, þú skoðar, hann/hún skoðar, við skoðum, þið skoðið, þeir skoða; past: skoðaði
borga (to pay): ég borga, þú borgar, hann/hún borgar, við borgum, þið borgið, þeir borga; past: borgaði

Why is the subject repeated: hún … hún? Can I drop the second hún?

No, you can’t drop it here. Áður en introduces a finite subordinate clause, and Icelandic typically requires an explicit subject in such clauses. So you need áður en hún borgar, not áður en borgar. (In coordinated main clauses with og, a repeated subject can be left unspoken, but that does not apply to an áður en clause.)

Can the “before” clause come first, and what happens to word order?

Yes: Áður en hún borgar skoðar hún nánar. Icelandic main clauses are verb‑second (V2). When you front the subordinate clause, the finite verb of the main clause (skoðar) still comes in second position, so it precedes the subject (hún).

Should there be a comma before áður en?

In modern Icelandic punctuation, typically no. Write: Hún skoðar nánar áður en hún borgar. A comma may appear in very long sentences for clarity, but never insert one between áður and en.

What exactly is áður en, and does en mean “but” here?

Áður en is a fixed two‑word conjunction meaning “before (that).” Here en is not “but”; it’s the linker also used in comparisons (e.g., betri en “better than”). Treat áður en as a single unit that introduces a clause.

Why is the present tense used here? What about future or past?

Time clauses in Icelandic often use the present to refer to the future: áður en hún borgar can mean “before she pays (later).” Avoid mun inside an áður en clause. For past time, use past in both clauses: Hún skoðaði nánar áður en hún borgaði.

Can I say áður en að hún borgar or áður en að borga?

Best avoid að after áður en in careful Icelandic. The standard pattern is áður en + finite clause: áður en hún borgar. Many speakers do say áður en að, but it’s often marked as non‑standard in formal writing. If you want a non‑finite feel, rephrase idiomatically: áður en hún fer að borga (“before she starts paying”).

Where should nánar go?

Nánar is an adverb and typically follows the verb (and any object):

Hún skoðar nánar.
Hún skoðar þetta nánar. You can intensify with enn: enn nánar (“even more closely”). Avoid combinations like meira nánar, which sound redundant. Placing nánar before the verb (e.g., Hún nánar skoðar) is not idiomatic.

What is nánar exactly—adjective or adverb?

Nánar is the comparative adverb meaning “more closely/in more detail.” The related adjective is nán (“close/intimate”), whose comparative is nánari (e.g., nánari upplýsingar “further details”). As an adverb, nánar does not agree with any noun.

Is it okay that skoða usually takes an object but none is stated here?

Yes. Skoða is typically transitive and takes an accusative object (e.g., skoðar vöruna “examines the product”), but Icelandic can omit an obvious object when it’s contextually understood. Here, the thing being examined is clear from context.

Could I use greiða instead of borga?

Yes. Greiða is a slightly more formal near‑synonym of borga.

borga reikning / greiða reikning (“pay a bill”)
borga fyrir X / greiða fyrir X (“pay for X”) Both hún borgar and hún greiðir are fine here.

Any quick pronunciation tips for these words?

á (in áður) sounds like the “ow” in English “cow.”
ó (in skoðar) is a long “o”-sound.
ð (in áður, skoðar) is the voiced th as in English “this.”
Primary stress falls on the first syllable of each content word: HÚN skoðar NÁnar ÁÐur en HÚN BORgar. (Capitals mark stress.)

Can I just use áður by itself instead of áður en?

Not here. Áður alone is an adverb meaning “earlier/before (in time)” and doesn’t introduce a clause. To link two events (“before she pays”), use áður en + a finite clause.

How do I say “not until”—is it with áður en?

Use ekki fyrr en (“not until”), not áður en. For example: Hún borgar ekki fyrr en hún hefur skoðað nánar. Also note that fyrir en is non‑standard; prefer fyrr en.

Why is it hún and not henni?

Because it’s the subject in the nominative case. The forms are:

nominative (subject): hún
accusative (direct object): hana
dative (indirect object): henni
genitive (possessive): hennar

Do I need the subjunctive after áður en?

No. Time clauses with áður en normally take the indicative (e.g., hún borgar, hún borgaði). Subjunctive appears for other reasons (irrealis/counterfactual or certain reporting contexts), not because of áður en itself.

Is skoða nánar a common collocation? Any alternatives?

Yes, skoða nánar (“examine more closely/in more detail”) is common. Another idiomatic option is líta nánar á [e‑ð] (“take a closer look at [something]”).