In everyday spoken Icelandic, you give commands using the imperative mood. However, in formal written contexts—such as safety manuals, employee guidelines, and emergency protocols—instructions are given using the modal verb skulu (shall).
Formal Commands with "skulu"
To form a formal command, conjugate skulu to match the subject and follow it with a bare infinitive (an infinitive verb without the marker að).
| Pronoun | Form |
|---|---|
| ég | skal |
| þú | skalt |
| hann/hún/það | skal |
| við | skulum |
| þið | skuluð |
| þeir/þær/þau | skulu |
In manuals and regulations, instructions are frequently directed at a third-person subject, like "the employee" or "the workplace."
| The employee shall read the manual and follow the instructions. | Starfsmaðurinn skal lesa handbókina og fylgja fyrirmælunum. |
| The workplace shall ensure that all the safety equipment is ready. | Vinnustaðurinn skal tryggja að allur öryggisbúnaðurinn sé tilbúinn. |
Emergency Protocols
When outlining emergency procedures, formal texts use skulu to establish clear, mandatory actions for everyone involved.
| In an emergency, everyone shall evacuate the building immediately. | Í neyðartilviki skulu allir rýma bygginguna samstundis. |
| The police shall direct the evacuation. | Lögreglan skal stýra rýmingunni. |
Directing Groups and Stating Duties
You will also see skulu used with the plural "you" (þið) when giving direct written instructions to a group of people.
| You shall use the safety equipment, but may also help others. | Þið skuluð nota öryggisbúnaðinn en megið líka hjálpa öðrum. |
Finally, safety texts frequently emphasize personal responsibility. Notice that unlike skulu, when you state a duty followed by an action, you must use the standard infinitive with að.
| It is your duty to know this manual well. | Það er skylda þín að þekkja þessa handbók vel. |