PART III.—SYNTAX.
CHAPTER I.
The Article.
470. In Irish the article always precedes its noun, and agrees with it in gender, number and case as, an fear, the man; na fir, the men; an ḟir, of the man; na mná, of the woman.
471. When one noun governs another in the genitive case the article cannot be used with the first noun: as, mac an ḟir, the son of the man; fear an tiġe, the man of the house, &c.
Notice the difference between the son of the man, mac an ḟir, and a son of the man, mac do’n ḟear.
Exceptions. (1) When a demonstrative adjective is used with the first noun (the governing one), the article must also be used; as, tá an teaċ sain mo ċarad le díol, that house of my friend’s is for sale.
(2) If the two nouns form a compound word, the article is used before the first, if used in English: a newspaper, páipeur nuaiḋeaċta; but, the newspaper, an páipeur nuaiḋeaċta.
(3) When the noun in the genitive case is an indefinite[1] one, which denotes a part of something, the material of which a thing is made, or the contents of the first noun, the article is used with the first noun when it is used in English:—
- an greim aráin, the piece of bread.
- an mála mine, the bag of meal.
- an crúisgín uisge, the little jug of water.
We say blas aráin, for, the taste of bread; bolaḋ éisg, the smell of fish; mac ríoġ, the son of a king; because if the noun in the genitive expresses quality, connection, or origin, the governing noun does not take the article.
472. If a nominative be followed by several genitives the article can be used only with the last (if “the” be used in English), as, truime ċinn an ċapaill, the weight of the horse’s head.
The article is often omitted before a noun which is antecedent to a relative clause; as, Is é duine do ḃí ann. He is the person who was there.
473. In the following cases the definite article is frequently used in Irish though not used in English.
(1) Before surnames, when not preceded by a Christian name, as, Raiḃ an Breaṫnaċ ann? Was Walsh there?
(2) Before the names of some countries, as, an Spáinn, Spain; an Ḟrainc, France; rí na h‑Éireann, the king of Ireland; also before Rome, ’san Róiṁ, in Rome; ó’n Róiṁ, from Rome. The article is not used before the names of Ireland, England or Scotland in the nominative and dative cases.
(3) Before abstract nouns: an t‑ocras, hunger.
We frequently use an bás for “death.”
The article is not used in such sentences, as:—
- Tá ocras orm. I am hungry.
(4) Before nouns qualified by the demonstrative adjectives: an fear sain, that man; an ḃean so, this woman.
(5) Before adjectives used as nouns:
- an ṁaiṫ agus an t‑olc, goodness and badness.
(6) After “Cé” meaning “which” or “what.”
- Cé an fear? Which man?
- Cé an leaḃar? What book ?
(7) To translate “apiece,” “per” or “a” before words expressing weight and measure;
- Raol an ceann. Sixpence apiece.
In speaking of a period of time sa (ins an) is used, as, uair sa mbliaḋain, once a year.
(8). Before titles:
(9) To express any attribute:
(10) The article is used before the word denoting the use to which a thing is put, or the place where a thing is found or produced.
Compare these with the following:—
- An mála mine. The bag of meal.
- An crúisgín uisge. The jug of water.
(11) Before the word “uile” meaning “every.”
- An uile ḟear. Every man.
- An uile ṫír. Every country.
(12) Whenever an indefinite noun, accompanied by an adjective is predicated of a pronoun by means of the verb is, the definite article must be used with the noun whenever the adjective is placed immediately after the verb.
- Is breáġ an lá é. It is a fine day.
- Is maiṫ an fear ṫú. You are a good man.
(13) Before the names of seasons, months, days of the week (when not preceded by the word dé).
- An é an Saṫarn atá againn? Is to-day Saturday?
| An indiu an Luan? An é seo an Luan? |
Is this Monday? |
Indiu an Aoine. To-day is Friday.
- Notes