Verbal Nouns as Subjects
A verbal-noun phrase can act as a subject or topic: Tá sé deacair an obair a chríochnú. Object position and mutation remain those of the verbal-noun phrase.
How It Works
A verbal-noun phrase can act as a subject or topic: Tá sé deacair an obair a chríochnú. Object position and mutation remain those of the verbal-noun phrase.
A verbal-noun phrase can name an action for evaluation, rather than asserting that the action is happening. In Tá sé deacair an obair a chríochnú, the action is what is difficult. The object still appears in the object-plus-a frame; the surrounding evaluation does not erase that internal structure.
Examples (3)
- Tá sé deacair an obair a chríochnú.
It is difficult to finish the work.
- Tá sé éasca an leabhar a léamh.
It is easy to read the book.
- Is maith an rud cabhrú le daoine.
Helping people is a good thing.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Recognize the complete object-plus-action phrase as the thing being evaluated.