Word Order
to see a definition of the term syntax see Syntax (definition)
Contents
- 1 Basic Word Order
- 2 Word order with non-verbal predicates
- 3 Word order in Auxiliary Constructions
- 4 Word order in Embedded Clauses
- 5 Word order in Clefts
- 6 Word order in Wh-Questions
- 7 Word Order in Noun Phrases
- 8 Specific Articles On The Word Order within Phrases
Basic Word Order
Neutral Indicative Clauses
Transitive Verbs
In information structure-neutral indicative clauses with a transitive verb, the word order is Verb+Subject+Object (VSO). Due to restrictions on the inflection of verbs, such as the use of the auxiliary construction in the present tense, VSO order is primarily true only in past tense and future tense clauses.
(1)
Phòg Muirgheal Pòl kiss.past Muriel Paul verb subject object 'Muriel kissed Paul'
Intransitive Verbs
When the verb is intransitive, then the order is still verb initial:
(2)
Dh'fhag Muirgheal leave.past Muriel verb subject Muriel left.
Ditransitive Verbs
When the verb is ditransitive, then the order is VSO followed by a prepositional phrase (PP) indicating the indirect object (i.e. the equivalent to John put the book on the table). In Gaelic, there are no double object constructions (like the English John gave Mary the book) instead prepositional constructions must be used (John gave the book to Mary)
(3)
bheir Brighde an t-airgead do Chailean give.INDEF1 Bridget the money to Colin Verb Subject Object Preposition Indirect Object 'Bridget will give the money to Colin.'
The position and ordering of Adverbs and Adverbials
In Scottish Gaelic, a common way to create an adverb is to prefix the adverbial particle, gu-, to an adjective. These adverbs demonstrate a good deal of flexibility in term of word order in the clause.
Thuirt i ris gu coibhneil said she to him ADV kind Verb Subject Indirect Object Adverb 'She said to him kindly.'
Gu coibhneil thuirt i ris ADV kind said she to him Adverb Verb Subject Indirect Object 'She said to him kindly.'
Thuirt i gu coibhneil ris said she ADV kind to him Verb Subject Adverb Indirect Object 'She said to him kindly.'
Examples from Lamb (42)
Word order in Neutral Negative Sentences, Yes/No Questions, and Negative Yes/No Questions
Word order in Neutral Negative Sentences
Scottish Gaelic can have both single and double negatives in the main clause. Clausal negation is marked by the particles cha(n) and nach.
Chan eil iad gu math NEG be.PRES.DEP they ADV well NEG Verb Subject Adverb 'They are not well.'
Negation can also occur in a double construction:
Cha chreid mi nach eil iad gu math NEG believe.INDEF1 I NEG-COMP be.PRES they ADV well NEG Verb Subject NEG Verb Subject Adverb 'I don't believe that they are not well.'
Adding the negative particle na before an imperative yeilds the Negative Imperative
Na ithibh sin NEG eat that NEG Verb Object 'Don't eat that.'
Examples from Lamb (61)
Yes/No Questions
Yes/No Questions in Scottish Gaelic are formed with the interrogative particle an and the dependent form of the verb.
An teid thu leam a Mary QP go.INDEF1.DEP you with.1s Vocative Mary QP Verb Subject Indirect Object Vocative Mary 'Will you go with me, Mary?.'
Example from Lamb (59)
Tag Questions
Tag questions consist of a main declarative clause followed by (1) a question particle and (2) a copy of the matrix verb. In Scottish Gaelic, unlike English, we can attest to four types of tag questions in relation to negation of the verbs. Since there are two verbs in each question (the matrix verb and its tagged copy) and each one of these verbs can be either positive or negative, we have the possible combinations: POS-POS; POS-NEG; NEG-NEG; NEG-POS.
In English, we have to have conflicting polarity in our tagged questions, such as 'You're not going there, are you?' or 'You're going there, aren't you?', but we can never have an agreement in polarity such as, '*You're not going there, aren't you?'
However, in Gaelic we find all four logical combinations:
Negative Yes/No Questions
Nach eil iad gu math NEG be.PRES.DEP they ADV well NEG Verb Subject Adverb 'Are they not well?.'
Example from Lamb (61)
Word order with Neutral Grade Pronouns
- Main article Pronoun Postposing
Word order with non-verbal predicates
Non-verbal predicates are predicates that aren't verbs (John is a fool, John is big, John is in the living room).
Using the verb Bi
When an adjective or a prepositional phrase (PP) is serving as the predicate (e.g. John is big. John is in the room. The order of elements uses some form of the verb bi, followed by the subject followed by the nonverbal predicate:
X)
Thà Iain mòr Be.pres John big John is big
Y)
Bhà Iain anns an seòmar be.past John in.def the room John was in the room
Using the verb Is
With no verb (small clauses)
Word order in Auxiliary Constructions
In Imperfect (Progressive) clauses
In Gaelic the normal present tense of all verbs except bi is absent. Instead a periphrastic construction using the auxiliary bi is used along with a verbal noun and an aspect particle (typically A. This has both imperfect and progressive meanings. The structure of these sentences is:
(Particles)+Auxiliary+Subject+Imperfect marker+Verbal+Object
In prescriptive grammars the object is supposed to be in the genitive case although in the spoken language (and in the written forms of most speakers), the object is in the common case
A)
Tha Iain ag ithe an t-aran Be.pres John progressive eat.vn the bread Verb Subject Prog Aspect Verbal Noun object John is eating the bread
In Perfect, Recent Perfect, Prospective clauses
In Statives
In passives
Word order in Embedded Clauses
Word order in finite Embedded Clauses
Word order in non-finite Embedded Clauses
Thuirt mi gun na h-uighean ithe said I NEG the eggs eat.INF Verb Subject NEG Article Object Verb 'I said not to eat the eggs.'
Word order in Relative Clauses
Word order in Clefts
Word order in Wh-Questions
Wh-phrase + question particle + Verb + rest of sentence
The question particle is often omitted if it follows a question ending in a vowel. The form of the question particle and the verb is dependent upon which wh-word is being used.
Ciamar a tha thu? how wh-direct be.pres you wh-phrase particle Verb rest of sentence How are you
Dè an aois a tha thu? what the age wh-direct be.pres you wh-phrase particle Verb rest of sentence How old are you
When a question word is in some adpositional phrase, the adposition can be fronted with the WH word (pied-piping) or it can be left in the original gap.
Co ris a bha thu a' bruidhinn Who to QP be.PAST you PROG speaking.VN WH P QP Verb Subject Aspect Verbal Noun 'To whom were you speaking?'
Co a bha thu a' bruidhinn ris Who QP be.PAST you PROG speaking.VN to WH QP Verb Subject Aspect Verbal Noun P 'Who were you speaking to?'
Examples from Lamb (60)
Word Order in Noun Phrases
Article + Noun + Adjectives + Prepositional phrases
- boat: bàta
- the boat: am bàta
- the big boat am bàta mòr
- The big boat in the sea am bàta mòr anns a' mhuir
Possessors in the genitive follow the possessed NP:
Possessed + Article + Possessor(gen)
- leabhar an duine
