how the language works

8/10/2019 How the Language Works

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How the Language Works

Prepared by Eithne N Ghallchobhair

Adjectives

Comparative and superlative formsEmphatic suffixes

Nounsgender of nounsgenitive case, thevocative case, the

NumbersCardinal numbersCounting irregular nouns

Numerical adjectivesOrdinal numbersPersonal numbers

Orthography

Possessive adjectives

Prefixesanr

PrepositionsSimple prepositionsCompound prepositions

Prepositional pronouns

Pronouns

Verb, theBCopulaFuture tense

Imperative moodIrregular verbsPast tensePresent tense

VowelsBroad and slender vowels


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ORTHOGRAPHY

In the Irish language, vowels are separated into two groups: slender (caol) and broad(leathan). The slender vowels are i, e; the broad vowels are a, o,u.

Caol le caol agus leathan le leathan (Slender with slender and broad with broad)

If, in spelling, a slender vowel comes before a consonant or a group of consonants, thereshould be a slender vowel after it as well. Similarly, a, o, uand aebefore a consonantshould be followed by a broad vowel. This rule is called Caol le Caol agus leathan leleathan.

slender broadfeicfidh t fgfaidh mithig cramach


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THE ARTICLE

The singular definite article thein the nominative case is an. Anretains this formpreceding both feminine and masculine nouns. There is no indefinite article.

fear (a) man

an fear the man

Nais the plural form of anin all grammatical cases, with the exception of the genitivesingular case which will be dealt with in due course. Nadoes not affect the followingnouns, except those beginning in a vowel in which case a h precedes the noun:

na cailn the girlsna heitlein the planes


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NOUNS

All nouns are either masculine or feminine, may be singular or plural and may assumedifferent cases.

1. Nouns in the nominative singular beginning with a vowel

Masculine nouns preceded by the definite article are prefixed by t-; feminine nouns areunaffected.

Masculine Femininestn(hotel) aghaidh(face)an t-stn(the hotel) an aghaidh(the face)

ocras(hunger) ubh(egg)an t-ocras(the hunger) an ubh(the egg)

2. Nouns in the nominative singular beginning with the consonants d, h, l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-,

sm-, sp-, st-.All such nouns irrespective of gender are unaffected when preceded by the definitearticle.

Masculine Femininedoras(door) lmh(hand)an doras(the door) an lmh(the hand)

teach(house) reilig(graveyard)an teach(the house) an reilig(the graveyard)

sprt(sport) scoil(school)an sport(the sport) an scoil(the school)

3. Nouns in the nominative singular beginning with s, excepting those in 2 above.Masculine nouns preceded by the definite article are unaffected, feminine nouns areaspirated.

Masculine Femininesagart (priest) sil (eye)an sagart (the priest) an tsil (the eye)

4. Nouns in the nominative singular beginning with a consonant excepting those in 2and 3 above.Masculine nouns preceded by the definite article are unaffected; feminine nouns areaspirated.

Masculine Femininefear(man) bean (woman)an fear(the man) an bhean(the woman)


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Gender

The gender of a noun may frequently be deduced from its ending.

Masculine endings

- (a)ire iascaire (fisherman), ailtire (architect){exceptions: aire (care), trcaire(mercy)}- n cosn (path),amhrn (song)- (e)acht* ceacht (lesson),fuacht (cold)

{exception: lacht}- ad ad (jealousy),buicad (bucket)- (e)adh geimhreadh (winter),samhradh (summer)- al bal (mouth),scal (story)- ar far (grass),pipar (paper)

{exceptions:mar (finger),smar (berry)}- ir** bicir (baker),bistir (butcher)- eoir minteoir (teacher),feirmeoir (farmer)

{exceptions:beoir (beer),deoir (drop),treoir (guidance)}- ir cntir (assistant)

{exceptions:altir (altar),agir (injustice),glir (glory),onir (honour)}

- ir saighdiir (soldier),dochtir (doctor)- ste coiste (committee),piste (child)

{exceptions:aiste (essay),timpiste (accident),tubaiste(disaster)}

- n botn (mistake),prosn (prison)- r casr (hammer),pictir (picture)

{exceptions:deirfir (sister),sir (sister)}

{* nouns with one syllable} {** when referring to jobs}

Feminine endings- (a)l feadal (whistling)- (e)il sbhil (saving)- (e)ailt oscailt (opening)- (a)int tuiscint (understanding){exception:sirsint (sergeant)}- int tiomint (driving)- is/s uirlis (instrument)- chan athbheochan (revival){exception:meachn (weight)}- (a)irt scairt (call)- (e)acht** gluaiseacht (movement)

{exceptions:bunreacht (constitution),comhlacht (company)}- (a)ocht** filocht (poetry)- il baril (opinion)- int canint (dialect)- lann bialann (restaurant)

{exceptions:anlann (sauce),salann (salt)}- eog/g bbg (doll) {exception:dallamullg (deception)}

{** nouns with more than one syllable}


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Countries: An Astril(Australia), An Fhrainc(France), etc.

Rivers: An Bhinn(The Boyne), An tSionainn(The Shannon)Languages: An Fhraincis(French), An Ghaeilge(Irish)

{exception: An Barla(English)}

The Vocative Case

The vocative case is used when a person is being addressed. It may occasionally be used,particularly in poetry, to address plants, animals or inanimate objects.

Female nouns are aspirated in the vocative case; masculine nouns are both aspirated andslenderised.

Masculine FeminineSamas a Shamais Mairad a Mhairadduine (person) a dhuine mn (women) a mhnmadadh (dog) a mhadaidh mthair (mother) a mhthair

The Genitive Case

A noun assumes the genitive case in the following instances:

- when a noun is the subject of possession:

Samas mthair Shamais(Samas mother)an bhean(the woman) teach na mn (the womans house)

- when a noun immediately follows a compound preposition:

an l(the day) i lr an lae (in the middle of the day)an it(the place) ar fud na hite (all over the place)

- when a noun is the direct object of a verbal noun:

an tr (the country) ag taisteal na tre (touring the country)airgead (money) ag saothr airgid (earning money)

- when a noun is the subject of indefinite quantity:

solas(light) tuilleadh solais (more light)am(time) go leor ama (plenty of time)

- when a noun is the subject of the following prepositions:chun(to), cois(beside), timpeall(around), trasna(across), fearacht(like):

an scoil(the school) chun na scoile (to the school)an phirc(the field) trasna na pirce (across the field)


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The Article in the Genitive Case

The article anis always used in the nominative singular, regardless of gender. In thegenitive case the feminine singular article is na.

an doras(the door) doras na scoile (the school door)

Nouns in the Genitive Case

1. Nouns in the genitive singular beginning with a vowelMasculine nouns lose the prefix t-of the nominative case. Feminine nouns are precededby a h. Both assume various endings depending on declension.

Masculine FeminineNominative an t-arn anaghaidh

(the bread) (the face)

Genitive cruth an arin dath na haghaidhe(the shape of the bread) (the colour of the face)

2. Nouns in the genitive singular beginning with the consonants d, h, l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-,sm-, sp-, st-.

Masculine FeminineNominative an doras an tine

(the door) (the fire)Genitive ag oscailt an dorais ag lasadh na tine

(opening the door) (lighting the fire)

3. Nouns in the genitive singular beginning with s, excepting sc-, sl-, sm-, sp-, st-.When preceded by the definite article, such masculine nouns are preceded by t. Femininenouns change towards the end.

Masculine FeminineNominative an siopa an tsil

(the shop) (the eye)Genitive doras an tsiopa dath na sile

(the shops door) (the colour of the eye)

4. Nouns in the genitive singular beginning with a consonant, excepting those in 2 and3 above.Masculine nouns preceded by the definite article are aspirated; feminine nouns lose theaspiration of the nominative case.

Masculine FeminineNominative an fear an fhuinneog


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(the man) (the window)Genitive obair an fhir ag glanadh na fuinneoige

(the mans work) (cleaning the window)


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COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE FORMS

The comparative and superlative forms of the adjective are the same. Nos precedes theadjective in the comparative form in the Present and Future Tenses; this becomes n bainthe Past Tense and in the Conditional Mood. Isprecedes the adjective in the superlativeform in the Present and Future Tenses; this becomes bain the Past Tense and in the

Conditional Mood.

Comparative adjectives change form according to their endings in the nominativesingular.

Adjectives of one syllable are often slenderised: an i and e surround the final consonant:

adjective comparative superlativeglic (cunning) nos glice (more cunning) is glice (most cunning)deas(nice) nos deise (nicer) is deise(nicest)

Adjectives ending in ilin the nominative singular end in la:

adjective comparative superlativedathil(pretty) nos dathla is dathlabrdil(proud) nos brdla is brdla

Adjectives ending in airin the nominative singular end in ra:

adjective comparative superlativesocair(settled) nos socra is socradeacair(difficult) nos deacra is deacra

Adjectives ending in eachin the nominative singular end in ; adjectives ending in -achin the nominative singular end in a:

adjective comparative superlativeuaigneach(lonely) nos uaign is uaigncramach(careful) nos crama is crama

The following is a number of the irregular comparative adjectives:

adjective comparative superlativebeag(small) nos l is lfada(long) nos faide is faide

maith(good) nos fearr is fearrmr(big) nos m is mte(hot) nos teo is teobre(fine) nos bretha is brethafurasta(easy) nos fusa is fusa


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THE PREFIXES AN- ANDR

The prefix an-(very) aspirates the following noun beginning in a consonant, except thosebeginning in d, h, l, n, r, t, s, sc-, sl-, sm-, sp-, st-:

an-mhaith(very good)

an-fhada(very long)butan-deas(very nice)

The prefix r(too) aspirates the following noun beginning in a consonant, except thosebeginning in h, l, n, r, sc-, sl-, sm-, sp-, st-:

rshearbh(too bitter)rthe(too hot)butr-neata(too neat)


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POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES

Consonant Vowelmo(my) mo mhac(my son) mathair(my father)do(your) do chat(your cat) daird(your attention)a(his) a bhean(his wife) a aghaidh(his face)

a(her) afear(her man) a hilleacht(her beauty)r(our) r gceacht(our lesson) r n-eiteog(our kite)bhur(your) bhur dteach(your house) bhur n-oifig(your office)a(their) a bhfonn(their tune) a n-uaigh(their grave)

EMPHATIC SUFFIXES

Consonant Vowelmo(my) mo mhacsa mathairsedo(your) do chatsa dairdse

a(his) a bheansan a aghaidhseana(her) a fearse a hilleachtsar(our) r gceachtne r n-eiteognabhur(your) bhur dteachsa bhur n-oifigsea(their) a bhfonnsan a n-uaighsean


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PRONOUNS

pronoun emphatic formI, me m miseYou t tusahe/it *s/ seisean/eisean

she/it *s/ sise/isewe/us muid muidneyou sibh sibhsethey *siad/iad siadsan/iadsan

*The forms s, sand siad, and their emphatic equivalent, are used when a pronoun is thesubject immediately following a verb. In all other instances the forms , , iadand their emphatic equivalents are used.


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THE CARDINAL NUMBERS

0 a nid 21 fiche a haon1 a haon 22 fiche a d2 a d 30 trocha3 a tr 35 trocha a cig

4 a ceathair 40 daichead/ceathracha5 a cig 46 daichead a s6 a s 50 caoga/leathchad7 a seacht 57 caoga a seacht8 a hocht 60 seasca9 a naoi 69 seasca a naoi10 a deich 70 seacht11 a haon dag 77 seacht a seacht12 a d dhag 80 ocht13 a tr dag 88 ocht a hocht14 a ceathair dag 90 ncha15 a cig dag 99 ncha a naoi

16 a s dag 100 cad17

a seacht dag 200 dh chad18

a hocht dag 300 tr chad19 a naoi dag 1,000 mle20 fiche


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NUMERICAL ADJECTIVES

1 capall (aon chapall amhin) 11 aon chapall dag2 dh chapall 12 dh chapall dag3 tr chapall 13 tr chapall dag4 ceithre chapall 14 ceithre chapall dag

5 cig chapall 15 cig chapall dag6 s chapall 16 s chapall dag7 seacht gcapall 17 seacht gcapall dag8 ocht gcapall 18 ocht gcapall dag9 naoi gcapall 19 naoi gcapall dag10 deich gcapall 20 fiche capall

The singular form of the noun is usually retained following numbers.

COUNTING IRREGULAR NOUNS

There are a number of exceptions: ceann, bliain, ficheand uair.

bliain(year)bliain amhin one yeardh bhliain two yearstr bliana three yearsceithre bliana four yearscig bliana five yearss bliana six yearsseacht mbliana seven yearsocht mbliana eight yearsnaoi mbliana nine yearsdeich mbliana ten yearsaon bhliain dag eleven years

The same rules apply when counting 12-19 years

dh bhliain dag twelve yearstr bliana dag thirteen yearsseacht mbliana dag seventeen years

uair(houror time)

uair one hourdh uair two hourstr huaire three hoursceithre huaire four hourscig huaire five hourss huaire six hoursseacht n-uaire seven hoursocht n-uaire eight hoursnaoi n-uaire nine hours


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deich n-uaire ten hours

PERSONAL NUMBERS

1 duine (aon duine amhin) 11 aon duine dhag2 beirt 12 drag3 trir 13 tr dhuine dhag4 ceathrar 14 ceithre dhuine dhag5 cigear 15 cig dhuine dhag6 seisear 16 s dhuine dag7 seachtar 17 seacht nduine dhag8 ochtar 18 ocht nduine dhag9 naonr 19 naoi nduine dhag10 deichnir 20 fiche duine

Nouns following the personal numbers are usually written in the genitive plural.

seisear inonacha(six daughters)seachtar mac(seven sons)ceathrar deirfiracha(four sisters)

Nouns beginning with a consonant are aspirated following beirt.

beirt mhac(two sons)beirt fhidlir(two fiddlers)

ORDINAL NUMBERS

1 an chad l (the first day) 11 an t-aon l dag2 an dara l 12 an dara l dag3 an tr l 13 an tr l dag4 an ceathr l 14 an ceathr l dag5 an cigi l 15 an cigi l dag6 an s l 16 an s l dag7 an seacht l 17 an seacht l dag8 an t-ocht l 18 an t-ocht l dag9 an nao l 19 an nao l dag

10 an deichi l 20 an fichi l

Nouns beginning with a consonant, except those beginning in d, h, l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-, sm-,sp-, st-,aspirate the noun following an chad.

an chad fhear(the first man)butan chad duine(the first person)


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Nouns beginning with a consonant are not affected by ordinal numbers an dara - andeichi; nouns beginning with a vowel, however, are preceded by a h.

an dara bean(the second woman)

an tr hit(the third place)an s hoche (the sixth night)an deichi hiarracht(the tenth attempt)


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THE VERB

The majority of verbs in Irish are regular.

Regular Verbs

Regular verbs are divided into two conjugations i.e. the first conjugation and the secondconjugation.

Remember!: Caol le caol agus leathan le leathan

The Imperative Mood

The first conjugation:

Broad Slender

1 sg. bogaim caillim2 sg. bog caill3 sg. bogadh s / s cailleadh s / s1 pl. bogaimis caillimis2 pl. bogaig caillig3pl. bogaids caillidsPassive bogtar cailltear

The second conjugation:

Broad Slender1 sg. admham bailm2 sg. admhaigh bailigh3 sg. admhaodh s / s bailodh s / s1 pl. admhamis bailmis2 pl. admhag bailg3pl. admhads baildsPassive admhatear bailtear

The negative of the imperative is formed by placing nbefore the verb. Verbs beginningwith a consonant remain unaffected when preceded by n; those beginning with a vowelare preceded by h.

N bog sin.(Dont move that.)N hl an t-uisce.(Dont drink the water.)

The Present Tense

In the first conjugation the endings annor eannare placed at the end of the imperativesingular form of the verb.


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Broad SlenderImperative bog (move) caill (lose)1 sg. bogaim caillim2 sg. bogann t cailleann t3 sg. bogann s/ s cailleann s/ s1 pl. bogann muid / bogaimid cailleann muid / ithimid

2 pl. bogann sibh cailleann sibh3pl. bogann siad cailleann siad

In the second conjugation the ighcontained in the imperative form of the verb isreduced to and the ending onnisadded.

Broad SlenderImperative admhaigh(admit) bailigh(collect)1 sg. admham bailm2 sg. admhaonn t bailonn t3 sg. admhaonn s/s bailonn s/s

1 pl. admhaonn muid bailonn muid2 pl. admhaonn sibh bailonn sibh3pl. admhaonn siad bailonn siad

In the Present Tense a question is formed by placing anbefore the verb. An demands aneclipse on all verbs beginning with a consonant except those beginning in l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-, sm-, sp-, st-. Verbs beginning in a vowel remain unaffected.

An mbogann t as an teach sa samhradh?(Do you move from the house in summer?)An mbailonn s na pist?(Does he collect the children?)An lann t caife?(Do you drink coffee?)

N before the verb indicates a negative statement. N aspirates all verbs beginning with aconsonant except those beginning in l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-, sm-, sp-, st-. Verbs beginning in avowel remain unaffected.

N bhogaim.(I dont move.)N laim an oiread sin.(I dont drink much.)

There is no Irish equivalent ofyes/no; when answeringyesor no, the verb used in thequestion must be also used in the answer.

An gceannaonn t brga ansin?(Do you buy shoes there?)Ceannam./ N cheannam. (Yes./No.)

The Future Tense

In first conjugation the endings faidhor fidhare placed after the imperative form ofthe verb.


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Broad Slender

Imperative bog(move/ leave) caill(lose)1 sg. bogfaidh m caillfidh m2 sg. bogfaidh t caillfidh t3 sg. bogfaidh s / s caillfidh s / s

1 pl. bogfaidh muid / bogfaimid caillfidh muid / caillfimid2 pl. bogfaidh sibh caillfidh sibh3pl. bogfaidh siad caillfidh siad

In the second conjugation the aighcontained in the imperative form of the verb isreplaced by idhor eoidh.

Broad SlenderImperative admhaigh(admit) bailigh(collect)1 sg. admhidh m baileoidh m2 sg. admhidh t baileoidh t

3 sg. admhidh s / s baileoidh s / s1 pl. admhidh muid / admhimid baileoidh muid / baileoimid2 pl. admhidh sibh baileoidh sibh3pl. admhidh siad baileoidh siad

The format for asking a question in the Future Tense resembles that used in the PresentTense. The same rules apply.

An+ eclipse + verb (+ noun / pronoun).N+ aspiration + verb (+ noun/ pronoun).

An mbogfaidh t do rothar?(Will you move your bicycle?)N bhogfaidh.(No./ I will not.)

An admhidh siad go raibh siad mcheart?(Will they admit they were wrong?)N admhidh.(No./ They will not.)

The Past Tense

In the first conjugation the imperative form of verbs beginning with a consonant, with theexception of those beginning with d, h, l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-, sm-, sp-, st-, are aspirated; verbsbeginning with a vowel are preceded by d; verbs beginning in f-are both aspirated andpreceded by d.

The first conjugation:

Broad SlenderImperative bog(move) caill(lose)


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1 sg. bhog m chaill m2 sg. bhog t chaill t3 sg. bhog s / s chaill s / s1 pl. bhogamar / bhog muid chailleamar / chaill muid2 pl. bhog sibh chaill sibh3pl. bhog siad chaill siad

The second conjugation follows the same rules as those used in the first conjugation inthe Past Tense.

Broad SlenderImperative admhaigh(admit) fiafraigh (ask)1 sg. dadmhaigh m dfhiafraigh m2 sg. dadmhaigh t dfhiafraigh t3 sg. dadmhaigh s / s dfhiafraigh s / s1 pl. dadmhaigh muid dfhiafraigh muid2 pl. dadmhaigh sibh dfhiafraigh sibh

3pl. dadmhaigh siad dfhiafraigh siad

In the Past Tense a question is formed by inserting arbefore the verb. Ardemands thatall following verbs beginning with a consonant be aspirated, except those beginning in d,h, l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-, sm-, sp-, st-. Verbs beginning in a vowel remain unaffected.

Ar bhog t do rothar?(Did you move your bicycle?)Ar fhiafraigh t de c raibh s?(Did you ask him where he was?)Ar l siad an caife?(Did they drink the coffee?)

Norbefore the verb indicates a negative statement.Nor aspirates all verbs beginningwith a consonant except those beginning in d, h, l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-, sm-, sp-, st-. Verbsbeginning in a vowel remain unaffected.

Ar bhog t do rothar?(Did you move your bicycle?)Bhog./ Nor bhog. (Yes./No.)

Ar l siad an caife?(Did they drink they coffee?)Dl./ Nor l.(Yes./No.)

Ar fhiafraigh t de c raibh s?(Did you ask him where he was?)Dfhiafraigh./ Nor fhiafraigh.(Yes / No.)

Irregular Verbs

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past TenseAbair(Say) Deirim Darfaidh m Dirt m

An ndeir t? An ndarfaidh t? An ndirt t?Deirim / N deirim Darfaidh / N darfaidh Dirt / N dirt


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Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past TenseClois(Hear) Cloisim Cloisfidh m Chulala m

An gcloiseann t? An gcloisfidh t? Ar chuala t?Cloisim / N chloisim Cloisfidh / N chloisfidh Chuala / Nor chuala

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past Tense

Dan(Do) Danaim Danfaidh m Rinne mAn ndanann t? An ndanfaidh t? An ndearna t?Danaim / N dhanaimDanfaidh / N dhanfaidh Rinne / N dhearna

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past TenseFaigh(Get) Faighim Gheobhaidh m Fuair m

An bhfaigheann t? An bhfaighidh t? An bhfuair t?Faighim / N fhaighim Gheobhaidh / N bhfaighidh Fuair/N bhfuair

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past TenseFeic(See) Feicim Feicfidh m Chonaic m

An bhfeiceann t? An bhfeicfidh t? An bhfaca t?

Feicim / N fheicim Feicfidh/ N fheicfidh Chonaic/ N fhaca

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past TenseIth(Eat) Ithim osfaidh m Dith m

An itheann t? An osfaidh t? Ar ith t?Ithim/ N ithim osfaidh/ N osfaidh Dith/ Nor ith

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past TenseTabhair Tugaim Tabharfaidh m Thug m(Give) An dtugann t? An dtabharfaidh t? Ar thug t?

Tugaim/ N thugaim Tabharfaidh/ N thabharfaidhThug/ Nor thug

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past TenseTar(Come) Tagaim Tiocfaidh m Thinig m

An dtagann t? An dtiocfaidh t? Ar thinig t?Tagaim / N thagaim Tiocfaidh / N thiocrfaidh Thinig / Nor thinig

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past TenseTigh (Go) Tim Rachaidh m Chuaigh m

An dtann t? An rachaidh t? An ndeachaigh t?Tim / N thim Rachaidh / N rachaidh Chuaigh / N dheachaigh

Imperative Present Tense Future Tense Past Tense

B(Be) T m / Tim Beidh m Bh mAn bhfuil t? An mbeidh t? An raibh t?T m / Nl m Beidh / N bheidh Bh / N raibh

The verb b (be)The verb to bein Irish is unique in that it has two distinct forms in the Present Tense: thePresent Indicative and the Present Habitual.


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Present Indicative Present Habitual1stsg. t m (tim) bonn m (bm)2ndsg. t t bonn t3rdsg. masc. t s bonn s3rdsg. fem. t s bonn s1stpl. t muid bonn muid

2nd

pl. t sibh bonn sibh3rdpl. t said bonn siad

Dependent forms of the verb following goand nachare as follows:

Positive NegativePresent Indicative go bhfuil nach bhfuilPresent Habitual go mbonn nach mbonnPast Indicative go raibh nach raibhFuture Indicative go mbeidh nach mbeidh

THE COPULA

The copula is frequently used in conjunction with nouns / pronouns:

Is mise ine. Is altra m.(Im ine, Im a nurse.)

in discussing possession:

Is liomsa an mla.(The bag is mine.)

in comparing nouns:

Is ille Mirn n Aisling.(Mirn is prettier than Aisling.)

in describing feelings:

Is maith liom fon dearg.(I like red wine.)Is fuath liom an tobac.(I hate tobacco.)

A question is formed in the Present and Future Tenses by replacing is with an.N preceding the noun / pronoun indicates a negative statement.

An maith leat fon dearg?(Do you like red wine?)Is maith/ N maith.(Yes/No.)

An fuath leis peil?(Does he hate football?)Is fuath/ N fuath.(Yes/No.)

An minteoir ine? (Is ine a teacher?)N hea, is altra .(No. shes a nurse.)


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PREPOSITIONS

There are two groups of prepositions1. simple prepositions2. compound prepositions

Simple PrepositionsNouns following ag, as, chuig, remain unchanged.Nouns following do, de, f, faoi, ar, are aspirated.Nouns beginning with a vowel and following le, goarepreceded by a hNouns following iare eclipsed.

Compound prepositionsNouns following compound prepositions (e.g. ar feadh, ar son, os comhair) assume thegenitive case.

Prepositions with the Singular Article

When joined to the definite article, a number of prepositions change form. This is usuallyfor pronunciation reasons.

do+ an > don(to/for the)i+ an > sa(in the)1i + an > san(in the)2le+ an > leis an(with the) + an n(from the)

1When preceding a noun beginning with a consonant2When preceding a noun beginning with a vowel

Prepositions eclipse (or aspirate in the case of Ulster Irish) following nouns beginningwith a consonant, with the exception of those beginning with d, h, l, n, r, t, sc-, sl-, sm-,sp-, st-.

ag an bhfuinneog(Ulster: ag an fhuinneog) (at the window)leis an bpiste(Ulster: leis an bpiste) (with the child)butn scoil (from the school)

Nouns that follow don, denand saare aspirated:

don bhean(for the woman)sa bhaile(at home)

1When preceding a noun beginning with a consonant2When preceding a noun beginning with a vowel


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Feminine nouns beginning with a vowel and used in conjunction with a preposition andthe definite article remain unaffected; masculine nouns lose the t-:

an t-arn(the bread) ar an arn (on the bread)an gbhean(the young woman) leis an gbhean(with the young woman)

Prespositions with the Plural Article

With the exception of iand le,prepositions remain in their original form when used inconjunction with the plural article.

i + na> sna(in the)le+ na> leis na(with the)

The plural article nadoes not aspirate following nouns but does demand a hin front ofnouns beginning with a vowel.

ar na fir(on the men)leis na hair(with the ministers)


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PREPOSITIONAL PRONOUNS

1stsg. 2ndsg. 3rdsg. masc. 3rdsg. fem. 1stpl. 2ndpl. 3rdpl.m t s s muid sibh siad

ag(at) agam agat aige aici againn agaibh acuar(on) orm ort air uirthi orainn oraibh orthuas(from) asam asat as aisti astainn asaibh astuchuig (to) chugam chugat chuige chuici chugainn chugaibh chucudo (to/for) domh duit d d dinn daoibh dibhle(with) liom leat leis li linn libh leo(from) uaim uait uaidh uaithi uainn uaibh uathu

how the language works

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