SYNTAX: COMPLETIVE CLAUSES

1. Completive clauses are those who are embedded within the main clause working out as object of subject of the main predicate. This are some English examples:

> I don’t want [to stay at home]

> I like [reading books]

> I expect [<that> you will enjoy your holidays]

> I don’t know [if/whether the heating is on]

2. Furthermore, completive clauses are also to be found to enlarge nouns and adjectives:

> That’s a good book to read

> That recipe is easy to cook

3. All the previous sentences are completive. In some cases a linker is required (that, if), in others the verb itself introduces the sentence, presenting it non-finite form (infinitive or gerund).

4. Catalan completive clauses work out similarly, with and without a linker. Like in English, infinitives are used when the subject of both clauses is the same.

If you observe the first example above, you will see that the subject of both want and see is I, Instead, the subjects of the third clause are different; the main clause has got I as its subject, whilst the second one has got you.

3. There is a third item to take into account. Finite-verb clauses may present either indicative or subjunctive. The use of indicative or subjunctive is explained here.

4. Infinitive-clauses in Catalan are used, like in English, when the subject of both clauses is the same:

m’agrada ser feliç	I like being happy
volem visitar Andorra	we want to visit Andorra
no l’has vist arribar?	haven’t you seen him arrive?
espero poder fer-ho tot bé	I expect to do everything alright

5. Infinitive-clauses enlarging adjectives or nouns are usually introduced by preposition de (but not only, since the prepositional regime is set up by the ruling word); anyway, the infinitive here has an impersonal value:

és molt difícil d‘explicar	it’s very difficult to explain
hi ha coses a fer encara	there are still several thing to do
és hora de treballar	it’s time to work

6. Some verbs (mainly speaking and thinking ones) never take infinitive, but a finite verb form:

diu que s’ha perdut	he says he’s lost
penso que no puc acceptar-ho	I think I can’t accept it

7. As it has been before, when both subjects are different, que–clauses are to be used.

m’agrada que siguis feliç		I like you being happy
volem que visiteu Andorra		we want you to visit Andorra
em cal que esperis una estona		it’s necessary for you to wait for a while
espero que puguin fer-ho tot bé		I expect they can do everything alright

8. Enlarging completive clauses may also present a que-clause (unlike what it was presented in 5, the finite-form is used because a given subject needs be specified):

és molt difícil que ho entenguis	it’s very difficult for you to understand
és possible que s’hagin perdut	it’s possible they have got lost
és hora de que treballeu	it’s time for you to work

9. Completive clauses ruling out an Indirect Object can just be que–clauses

li vaig demanar que quedés	I asked her to remain
ens va dir que ja era tard	(s)he said to us it was already late
us desitjo que sigueu molt feliços	I wish you were very happy