Breakdown of Reglugerðin sem um ræðir er ströng.
vera
to be
um
about
strangur
strict
sem
who / which / that
ræða
to discuss
reglugerðin
the regulation
Questions & Answers about Reglugerðin sem um ræðir er ströng.
Why does um come before ræðir in the relative clause?
This is an example of stylistic fronting. In relative clauses starting with sem, a preposition or adverb can be moved to the position directly in front of the finite verb. While you might expect the preposition at the end, the fronted version sem um ræðir has become a completely fixed phrase in Icelandic.
What is the exact literal meaning of sem um ræðir?
Literally, it looks something like "that about discusses" or "which discusses about". However, it functions as a fixed impersonal phrase meaning "in question" or "under discussion". Icelandic frequently uses the active voice in contexts where English relies on the passive.
Would I use sem um ræðir in everyday casual conversation?
You can, but it is quite formal. It pairs very naturally with bureaucratic or official words like reglugerðin (the regulation) or málið (the case or matter). In casual chat, you would probably just say þessi reglugerð (this regulation).
Why is the adjective at the end ströng instead of strangur?
Ströng is the feminine, singular, nominative form of the adjective strangur (strict). It takes this form because it must agree with the subject of the sentence, reglugerðin, which is a feminine noun.
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