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Concept
Irish syntax
Summary
Irish syntax is rather different from that of most Indo-European languages, especially because of its VSO word order.
The normal word order in an Irish sentence is:
Preverbal particle
Verb
Subject
Direct object or predicate adjective
Indirect object
Location descriptor
Manner descriptor
Time descriptor
Only the verb and subject are obligatory; all other parts are optional (unless the primary or finite verb is transitive, in which case a direct object is required). In synthetic verb forms, the verb and subject are united in a single word, so that even one-word sentences are possible, e.g. Tuigim "I understand."
An example sentence:
Irish has no words for "yes" and "no". The answer to a question contains a repetition (the same as in Latin) of the verb, either with or without a negative particle. For analytic forms, only the verb is given and the subject is not repeated. If a verb has different dependent and independent forms, the dependent form follows the interrogative or negative particle. The independent form is used where there is no particle.
CNJV:conjunctive
DSJV:disjunctive
In a command the imperative mood is used, and no subject is given.
To express a negative command, the particle ná is used. This particle, which can be roughly translated "don't", causes neither eclipsis nor lenition, and attaches h to a following vowel.
A progressive aspect can be formed by connecting the verbal noun to the existential verb with the progressive particle ag.
The object of a verbal noun is in the genitive, if it is definite.
If a nonfinite clause forms the complement of the verb, the verbal noun stands alone (without a preposition) in the clause.
The direct object of a verbal noun complement precedes the verbal noun; the leniting particle a "to" is placed between them. Other complements follow.
Generally, an object pronoun or a conjugated preposition stands at the end of a sentence in Irish. Compare this sentence:
with the two following sentences:
Irish commonly uses the impersonal form (also called the autonomous form) instead of the passive voice.
Official source
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