Non-finite Clauses

Non-finite clauses as a complement of iarr 'ask'

Dh'iarr	Iain	air	Anna	leabhar	a	cheannach.
ask.pst	John	on	Anna	book	tran	buy.vn
'John asked Anna to buy a book.'

Non-finite clause as a complement of gun

Chaidh	am	balach	dhan	a'	sgoil	gun	Iain	a	fhaicinn.
go.pst	the.sg.m	boy.sg.m	to.the	the.sg.f	school.sg.f	Neg.Decl.Comp	John	poss.3sg.m	see.vn
*'The boy went to the school without Iain seeing him.'

Non-finite clause in causative constructions

Thug	Iain	air	Anna	an	leabhar	a	thoirt	do	Mhàiri.
give.pst	John	on/perf	Anna	the.sg.m	book.sg.m	tran	give.vn	to	Mary
'John made Anna give the book to Mary.'

Non-finite clause as a complement of modal verbs

Feumaidh	Iain	an	leabhar	a	cheannach.
need.fut	John	the.sg.m	book.sg.m	tran	buy.vn
'John must [has to] buy the book.'

Non-finite clause as a subject

Is	còir	do	Iain	an	leabhar	a	cheannach.
cop.pres	right	to	John.dat	the.sg.m	book.sg.m	tran	buy.vn
'John should buy the book.'

See Also

• Clause (definition)
• Finite (definition)
• Non-Finite (definition)
• Sentence (definition)