How to parse these sentences for inversion (or not)

Ciamar a chanas mi.... / How do I say...
ithinkitsnice
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How to parse these sentences for inversion (or not)

Unread post by ithinkitsnice »

I'm comfortable with the principle of inversion, what I'm wondering about is how to parse certain sentences to apply the rules.
Who wants to tell the story to the boy?
To me this looks like 'tell' has both a direct object (the story) and an indirect object in a prepositional phrase (the boys).

I take it that means I invert the direct object and tack the prepositional phrase after the verb, eg:
Cò tha ag iarriadh [an sgeulachd] [innse] [dhan bhalach]?
That feels right anyway.

But what about if a conjunction (ie a separate verbal clause) is involved like this?
Who wants to tell (to) the boy that there will be a story?
Is that…?
Cò tha ag iarraidh [gum bi sgeulachd ann] [innse] [dhan bhalach]?
or…?
Cò tha ag iarraidh [innse] [dhan bhalach] [gum bi sgeulachd ann]?
The first seems wrong and latter feels better, but I'm not sure.


GunChleoc
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How to parse these sentences for inversion (or not)

Unread post by GunChleoc »

Your feeling is correct :moladh:
Oileanach chànan chuthachail
Na dealbhan agam
Níall Beag
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How to parse these sentences for inversion (or not)

Unread post by Níall Beag »

Basically, "gum bi sgeul ann" isn't a direct object, so it doesn't invert. You can only invert with noun phrases.
ithinkitsnice
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How to parse these sentences for inversion (or not)

Unread post by ithinkitsnice »

Taing a-rithist.
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