Complement Clauses

A complement clause is a type of subordinate clause that functions as a core part of a main clause, often corresponding to “that…” or “that not…” in English. In Irish, these are most commonly introduced by the particles go (that) and nach (that not). They are essential for reporting speech, expressing beliefs, and stating facts.

The form of the particle changes depending on the tense of the verb that follows.

Present Tense Examples:

• Sílim go bhfuil tú sásta. - I think that you are happy.
• Sílim nach bhfuil tú sásta. - I think that you are not happy.

Past Tense Examples:

• Bhí mé sásta gur shíl tú é. - I was satisfied that you thought it.
• Bhí mé sásta nár shíl tú é. - I was satisfied that you did not think it.

Functions of Complement Clauses

A complement clause can serve several grammatical roles within a sentence, such as the subject, object, or predicate.

Subject Clause

The clause can act as the subject of the main verb.

• Is maith liom go bhfuil tú ann. - I like that you are there. (Literally: “Is good with me that you are there.”)

Object Clause

The clause can act as the direct object of a verb like “to think”, “to say”, or “to believe”.

• Sílim go bhfuil tú sásta. - I believe that you are satisfied.

Clause after a Preposition

The clause can follow a preposition, forming a prepositional phrase.

• …gan trácht ar go mbeidh sí ina hiníon agam. - …not to mention that she will be my daughter.

Predicate Clause

The clause can be the predicate in a sentence with the copula is.

• Is é an scéal é go bhfuil sé ag teacht. - The story is that he is coming.

Attributive Clause

The clause can function like a genitive attribute, modifying a noun.

• Tá eagla orm go dtitfidh mé. - I have a fear that I will fall.

Other Complementary Clauses

Besides go/nach clauses, other structures can also function as complement clauses.

Indirect Questions are introduced by the interrogative particle an (whether) or nach (whether not), or by question words like cé (who) and cad (what).

• Chuir sé ceist orm an raibh mé riamh ansin. - He asked me if I had ever been there.

Clauses with chomh (how) can also act as complements.

• Ní dhearna sé dearmad go deo ar chomh cruachroíoch is a bhí an rialtas. - He never forgot how hard-hearted the government was.

Placement of Adverbs

The particles go, nach, gur, and nár must stand immediately before the verb. Adverbs and adverbial phrases cannot be placed between the particle and the verb.

Adverbial phrases that modify the complement clause must be placed either before the go/nach particle or at the very end of the entire clause.

• Dúirt sé liom inné go raibh sé tinn. - He told me yesterday that he was sick.
• Dúirt sé liom go raibh sé tinn inné. - He told me that he was sick yesterday.

When go is part of a compound conjunction (e.g., i dtreo go - so that), any adverbial phrase is inserted between the two parts.

• …i dtreo, nuair a thiocfadh an t-am, go mbeadh gach rud réidh. - …so that, when the time came, everything would be ready.

Subject Clauses and the Expletive sé

When a go clause acts as the subject of a sentence, an expletive pronoun sé (it) is sometimes used, similar to English.

The pronoun sé is required if other words come between the main verb and the go clause.

• Tharla sé go minic go raibh an t-earrach níos fuaire ná an geimhreadh. - It often happened that the spring was colder than the winter.

If the go clause immediately follows the verb, sé is often optional.

• Tharla (sé) go raibh roinnt airgid aici. - It happened that she had some money.
• Caithfidh (sé) go raibh a scéal féin ag gach duine. - It must be that each person had their own story.

After certain verbs, however, the expletive sé is necessary.

• Bhreathnaigh sé go raibh aithne acu air. - It seemed that they knew him.

In copular sentences where the clause is the subject, no expletive pronoun is used.

• Is maith liom go bhfuil tú ann. - I like that you are there. (Not: Is maith liom é go...)

Complement Clauses vs. Verbal Noun Constructions

In many cases, a verbal noun construction can be used instead of a go clause, even when the subjects of the main clause and subordinate clause are different.

• go-Clause: Ba mhaith liom go mbeifeá sásta. - I would like that you would be happy.
• Verbal Noun: Ba mhaith liom tú a bheith sásta. - I would like you to be happy.

However, in some contexts, the choice between a go clause and a verbal noun construction changes the meaning of the sentence.

Expressing Modality

With modal verbs, a go clause often expresses epistemic modality (a statement about possibility or certainty), while a verbal noun construction expresses deontic modality (a statement about permission or obligation).

• Caithfidh gur imigh sé. - It must be that he has left. (Epistemic: I deduce that he has left).
• Caithfidh sé imeacht. - He must leave. (Deontic: He is obliged to leave).

Expressing Intention

With verbs of thinking or saying, a verbal noun construction can indicate an intention or plan, whereas a go clause states a belief or fact.

• Shíl sé go ndearna sé é. - He thought that he had done it. (A belief about a past action).
• Shíl sé é a dhéanamh. - He intended to do it. (An intention for a future action).

Indirect Speech

In indirect speech, the verbal noun construction is used to report a command (imperative), while a go clause is used to report a statement.

• Statement: Dúirt sé liom gur imigh sé. - He told me that he had gone. (Reporting: “D’imigh mé” - “I went”).
• Command: Dúirt sé liom imeacht. - He told me to go. (Reporting: “Imigh!” - “Go!”).

Alternative Phrasing with Postposed Expressions

Instead of starting a sentence with a modal expression followed by a go clause, it is common to make a direct statement and add the modal expression at the end.

• B’fhéidir go mbeidh an t-ádh linn. - Perhaps we will be lucky.
• Beidh an t-ádh linn, b’fhéidir. - We will be lucky, perhaps.

Similarly, verbs of thinking or saying can be postposed.

• Déarfainn go bhfuil a mhalairt ar fad fíor. - I would say that the complete opposite is true.
• Tá a mhalairt ar fad fíor, déarfainn. - The complete opposite is true, I would say.

Transformation into Relative Clauses

A sentence containing a go clause as an object can often be transformed into a structure with a relative clause. This is common when identifying someone or something.

• Original: Shíl mé go raibh an fear i nGaillimh. - I thought that the man was in Galway.
• Transformation: Sin é an fear a shíl mé a bhí i nGaillimh. - That is the man who I thought was in Galway.

Notice how the go clause (go raibh...) becomes a second relative clause (a bhí...) in the transformed sentence.