Syntax

Learn Irish sentence structure (Verb-Subject-Object order), relative clauses, conjunctions, conditional sentences, emphasis, and reported speech.

  1. ArticleOverviewLearn the basic VSO (Verb-Subject-Object) sentence structure of Irish and how it differs from English.
  2. ArticleStructureAn overview of Irish sentence structure, including word order, negation, questions, and answers.
  3. ArticleComplement ClausesLearn how to use 'go/nach' clauses in Irish, which are similar to 'that' clauses in English, to express thoughts, beliefs, and facts.
  4. ArticleConditional SentencesLearn how to form 'if... then...' sentences in Irish for real, unreal, and concessive conditions.
  5. ArticleConjunctionsA comprehensive guide to Irish conjunctions, which connect words, phrases, and clauses, including coordinating, subordinating, and compound forms.
  6. ArticleEmphasising Word OrderLearn how to change the standard VSO word order in Irish to emphasise different parts of a sentence using cleft and pseudo-cleft sentences.
  7. ArticleInterrogative WordsAn introduction to Irish question words like 'who', 'what', and 'where', and how they structure a question using the copula and relative clauses.
  8. ArticleRelative ClausesAn introduction to Irish relative clauses, explaining the core concepts of direct and indirect clauses, antecedents, and sentence position.
  9. ArticleReported SpeechLearn how to report what someone else has said by transforming direct speech into subordinate clauses, including changes to tenses, pronouns, and adverbs.
  10. ArticleSmall ClausesA small clause is a common Irish construction where a form of the verb 'bí' (to be) is omitted, creating a verbless clause used in many contexts.
  11. ArticleSpecial ConstructionsLearn about common idiomatic sentence patterns in Irish, including short sentences with directional adverbs and how to express wishes using the optative mood.