Editing Irish syntax (section)

==Subordination==
Most complementizers ([[subordinating conjunction]]s) in Irish cause [[eclipsis]] and require the [[dependent and independent verb forms|dependent form]] of irregular verbs. The word order in an Irish subordinate clause is the same as in a main clause. The types of subordination discussed here are: complementation, relative clauses, and wh-questions (which are formed as a kind of relative clause in Irish).

===Complementation===

====Syntactic complementation====
The subordinate clause is a part of the main clause in a purely syntactic complementation. In Irish it is introduced by {{Lang|ga|go}} "that" in the positive and {{Lang|ga|nach}} "that... not" in the negative.
{{interlinear|lang=ga|number=(45)
| Deir sé go bhfuil deifir air.
| say.PRES 3S.M.CNJV that EXIST.PRES.DEP hurry {upon him}
| He says that he's in a hurry.
}}
{{interlinear|lang=ga|number=(46)
| Chruthaigh sé nach raibh taibhse ann.
| prove.PRET 3S.M.CNJV that.NEG EXIST.PRET.DEP ghost there
| He proved that there was no ghost.
}}

Other examples of [[complex sentence]]s using complementizers:
*(47a) {{Lang|ga|Bhí faitíos roimhe '''mar go''' raibh sé taghdach.}} "People were afraid of him '''because''' he was quick-tempered."
*(47b) {{Lang|ga|Ní chreidim é '''cé go''' bhfeicim é.}} "I don't believe it '''although''' I see it."
*(47c) {{Lang|ga|Scríobh sí síos é '''ar nós nach''' ndéanfadh sí dearmad air.}} "She wrote it down '''so that''' she wouldn't forget it."
*(47d) {{Lang|ga|Fan '''nó go''' dtiocfaidh sé.}} "Wait '''until''' he comes."

====Conditional complementation====
A conditional clause gives the condition under which something will happen. In Irish there are two kinds of conditional clauses, depending on the plausibility of the condition. The particle {{Lang|ga|má}} introduces a conditional clause that is plausible, also called a ''[[conditional sentence#Factual/predictive conditions|realis condition]]''. {{Lang|ga|Má}} causes lenition and takes the independent form of irregular verbs. Its negated form is {{Lang|ga|mura}} and causes eclipsis. Preceding the preterite it is {{Lang|ga|murar}} and causes lenition.

If the condition of the clause is hypothetical, also called an ''[[conditional sentence#Hypothetical (counterfactual) conditions|irrealis condition]]'' or ''[[counterfactual conditional]]'', the word {{Lang|ga|dá}} is used, which causes eclipsis and takes the dependent form of irregular verbs. The negated equivalent is either {{Lang|ga|mura}} or {{Lang|ga|murach go}}, meaning roughly "if it were not the case that...". The verb in both clauses is in the conditional.
*(48a) {{Lang|ga|'''Má''' chreideann sé an scéal sin, tá sé saonta go maith.}} "If he believes that story, he is pretty gullible." (realis)
*(48b) {{Lang|ga|'''Murar''' chaill sé é, ghoid sé é.}} "If he didn't lose it, then he stole it." (realis)
*(48c) {{Lang|ga|'''Dá''' bhfágfainn agat é ní dhéanfá é.}} "If I left it to you, you wouldn't do it." (irrealis)

Other examples of conditionals are: 
*(49a) {{Lang|ga|Éireoidh leis an bhfiontar '''i gcleithiúnas go''' mbeidh cách páirteach ann.}} "The venture will succeed '''provided that''' all take part in it."
*(49b) {{Lang|ga|Tig leat é a bhriseadh '''ar chuntar go''' n-íocfaidh tú as.}} "You may break it '''provided that''' you pay for it."

===Relative clauses===

====Direct relative====
There are two kinds of relative clauses in Irish: direct and indirect. Direct relative clauses begin with the leniting [[relativizer]] {{Lang|ga|a}} and the independent form of an irregular verb is used. The direct relative is used when the relative pronoun is the subject or direct object of its clause.
*(50a) {{Lang|ga|D'imigh na daoine '''a''' bhí míshásta thar sáile.}} "The people who were unhappy went overseas."
*(50b) {{Lang|ga|Sin í an obair '''a''' rinne mé.}} "That's the work that I did."

The direct relative is also used in topicalizations, e.g.:
*(51) {{Lang|ga|Is é Jimmy '''a''' chuaigh go Méiriceá.}} "It's Jimmy who went to America."

The direct relative is also used after the word {{Lang|ga|uair}} "time":
*(52) {{Lang|ga|an chéad uair '''a''' bhí mé ann}} "the first time that I was there"

====Indirect relative====
Indirect relative clauses begin with the eclipsing [[relativizer]] {{Lang|ga|a}} (in the preterite with leniting {{Lang|ga|ar}}); the dependent form of an irregular verb is used. The indirect relative is used to signify a genitive or the object of a preposition. In these cases, there is a [[resumptive pronoun]] in the relative clause.
*(53a) {{Lang|ga|an fear '''a''' raibh a dheirfiúr san ospidéal}} "the man whose sister was in the hospital" (lit. "the man that his sister was in the hospital")
*(53b) {{Lang|ga|an fear '''ar''' thug a iníon céad punt dó}} "the man whose daughter gave him a hundred pounds" or "the man to whom his daughter gave a hundred pounds" (lit. "the man that his daughter gave him a hundred pounds")
*(53c) {{Lang|ga|an seomra '''ar''' chodail mé ann}} "the room that I slept in" (lit. "the room that I slept in it")

The negative form of a relative clause, direct or indirect, is formed with the eclipsing relativizer {{Lang|ga|nach}}, or, before the preterite, with the leniting relativizer {{Lang|ga|nár}}.
*(54a) {{Lang|ga|Sin rud '''nach''' dtuigim.}} "That's something I don't understand." (direct)
*(54b) {{Lang|ga|bean '''nach''' bhfuil a mac ag obair}} "a woman whose son isn't working" (indirect; lit. "a woman that her son isn't working")

Sometimes a direct relative clause can be ambiguous in meaning, leaving unclear if the relative is accusative or nominative:
*(55) {{Lang|ga|an sagart '''a''' phóg an bhean}} "the priest who kissed the woman" or "the priest whom the woman kissed"
If the accusative reading is intended, one could use an indirect relative with a [[resumptive pronoun]]:
*(56) {{Lang|ga|an sagart '''ar''' phóg an bhean é}} "the priest whom the woman kissed" (lit. "the priest that the woman kissed him")

===Wh-questions===
A ''wh''-question begins with a word such as "who, what, how, when, where, why" etc. In Irish, such questions are constructed as relative clauses, in that they can be constructed as either direct or indirect.

====Direct relative wh-questions====
Questions with "who, what, how many, which, when" are constructed as direct relative clauses.
*(57a) {{Lang|ga|'''Cathain/Cá huair a''' tharla sé?}} "When did it happen?"
*(57b) {{Lang|ga|'''Cé a''' rinne é?}} "Who did it?"
*(57c) {{Lang|ga|'''Céard a''' fuair tú?}} "What did you get?"
*(57d) {{Lang|ga|'''Cé mhéad''' míle '''a''' shiúil tú?}} "How many miles did you walk?"
*(57e) {{Lang|ga|'''Cé acu''' is daoire, feoil nó iasc?}} "Which is more expensive, meat or fish?"

====Indirect relative wh-questions====
Questions with prepositions (i.e. "on what?, with whom?") and questions with "why?" and "where?" are constructed as indirect relative clauses.
*(58a) {{Lang|ga|'''Cé aige a''' bhfuil an t-airgead?}} "Who has the money?" (lit. "who at him is the money")
*(58b) {{Lang|ga|'''Cá leis ar''' thóg tú an gluaisteán?}} "What did you lift the car with?" (lit. "what with it did you lift the car")
*(58c) {{Lang|ga|'''Cad chuige ar''' bhuail tú é?}} "Why did you hit him?"
*(58d) {{Lang|ga|'''Cén áit a''' bhfaca tú an bhean?}} "Where did you see the woman?"

====Clauses introduced by "how"====
There are two words for "how" in Irish: the word {{Lang|ga|conas}} takes the direct relative clause, the phrase {{Lang|ga|cén chaoi}} takes the indirect.
*(59a) {{Lang|ga|'''Conas a''' tharla   sé?}} "How did it happen?"
*(59b) {{Lang|ga|'''Cén chaoi a''' mbaineann sin leat?}} "How does that concern you?/What business is that of yours?"

===Complementary subordinate clauses in the form of a relative clause===
Some complements in Irish take the form of a relative, in that they end in the relative particle {{Lang|ga|a}}; both direct and indirect relative are found.

;Direct
*(60a) {{Lang|ga|'''Nuair a''' bhí mé óg, bhí mé i mo chónaí i nDún na nGall.}} "When I was young, I lived in Donegal."
*(60b) {{Lang|ga|Glaofaidh sí '''chomh luath agus a''' thiocfaidh sí abhaile.}} "She will call as soon as she gets home."
*(60c) {{Lang|ga|Bhí sé ag caoineadh '''an t-achar a''' bhí sé ag caint liom.}} "He was crying while he was talking to me."
*(60d) {{Lang|ga|Seinneadh port ansin, '''mar a''' rinneadh go minic.}} "Then a melody was played, as one often did ."
*(60e) {{Lang|ga|Bhog sé a cheann '''ar nós mar a''' bheadh sé ag seinm.}} "He moved his head as if he were playing music."
*(60f) {{Lang|ga|Tig leat é a choinneáil '''fad is a''' thugann tú aire dó.}} "You may hold it as long as you are careful with it."

;Indirect
*(61a) {{Lang|ga|Lorg iad '''mar ar''' chuir tú iad.}} "Look for them where you put them."
*(61b) {{Lang|ga|Fan '''san áit a''' bhfuil tú.}} "Stay where you are!"
*(61c) {{Lang|ga|'''An t-am ar''' tháinig sé, bhíodar díolta ar fad.}} "By the time he came, they were all sold out."
*(61d) {{Lang|ga|Inseoidh mé sin dó '''ach a''' bhfeicfidh mé é.}} "I will tell him that as soon as I see him."
*(61e) {{Lang|ga|D'fhág sí é '''sa gcaoi a''' raibh sé.}} "She left it as it was."