Haltu í handriðið þegar þú ferð niður stigann.

Hold on to the handrail when you go down the stairs.

Breakdown of Haltu í handriðið þegar þú ferð niður stigann.

• þú: you
• fara: to go
• þegar: when
• stiginn: the stairs

Questions & Answers about Haltu í handriðið þegar þú ferð niður stigann.

What form is Haltu?

Haltu is the singular imperative of að halda. It means hold! or, in this sentence, hold on to ... when speaking to one person.

So:

• að halda = to hold / keep
• haltu = hold! (said to one person)
• haldið = hold! (said to more than one person)

Why doesn’t the sentence say þú haltu?

In Icelandic, commands usually do not need the subject pronoun. The imperative form already shows that you are speaking to you.

So Haltu í handriðið is the normal way to say Hold the handrail / Hold on to the handrail.

You can add þú for emphasis in some contexts, but it is usually unnecessary.

Why is it halda í instead of just halda?