in + clause

Embedding a Statement with in

Level 3

A common pattern is main predicate + in + subject pronoun + dependent predicate.

How It Works

In introduces content selected by predicates such as wanting, thinking and reporting. Its clause requires a subject word: a noun phrase, short subject pronoun, or both. A pronoun commonly follows in immediately. The complement contains no main-clause sentence particle such as waa.

Present and future events normally use full subjunctive forms; past events use past forms. Wanting predicates select the simple full subjunctive: in aan qoro presents intended writing. With a past reporting predicate, a dependent present form can describe a simultaneous situation, while a dependent past often describes an earlier event.

The irregular copula and possession verb retain present-shaped forms in affirmative dependent clauses with an expressed subject. Negative complements use aan and reduced subjunctive forms. Subject pronoun aan “I/we” and negative aan have different grammatical functions.

Examples (3)

  1. Waxaan rabaa in aan warqad qoro.

    I want to write a letter.

    Aan expresses the embedded subject; qoro is a simple full subjunctive.

  2. Waxaan u malaynayaa in ay Hodan joogto guriga.

    I think Hodan is at home.

    Ay and Hodan identify the same subject; joogto is feminine singular subjunctive.

  3. Cali wuxuu sheegay in ay Maryan qortay warqadda.

    Cali said that Maryan had written the letter.

    This reading places the writing before Cali's report.

How It Connects

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in + clauseLevel 3Embedding a Statement with in

Learn This First

Recognize clause organization and full subjunctive formation before constructing an in complement with its own expressed subject and dependent predicate.

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Words in This Pattern

in