Cillian Breatnach ã
NOUNS AND THEIR CASES.
There are 5 cases of nouns in Irish:
1. The Nominative case - when the noun is in its ordinary form and is functioning as the subject of the sentence M.sh. Tá an madadh taobh amuigh the dog is outside
2. The Accusative Case - the noun is in the accusative case when it is functioning as the object of the sentence M.sh. Tógann Seán an tábla
3. The Genitive Case - this case relates to possession. M.sh. Teach Mháire Maire’s house It is also used in other circumstances (see notes on declensions)
4. The Dative Case - the noun is in the dative case when it is governed by a preposition M.sh. Tá an deasc ag an fhuinneog the desk is at the window
5. The Vocative Case - this occurs when speaking to a person (a + aspiration) M.sh. a Mháire, goitse anseo! Mary come here!
THE DATIVE CASE
The present dative case in Irish only changes 6 nouns, the rest of the time the dative equals the nominative.
M.sh. ag an doras / faoin tábla
Nouns affected:
Cluas / Bos / Cos / Lámh / Bróg / Éire
Ear / Palm / Leg / Hand / Shoe / Ireland
N.B. All 6 nouns are Feminine
These nouns take the dative case after any simple preposition and after the number “Dhá”.
The dative forms of these nouns are:
Cluais / Bois / Cois / Láimh / Bróig / Éirinn
M.sh. Tá dhá chluais orm
Tá dhá bhois aige
Cad é atá ar cois?
Lámh i láimh
Dhá bhróig
In Éirinn
THE VOCATIVE CASE
The vocative case is used when addressing people or animals. The vocative is preceded by “a” which aspirates the noun. The adjective is made slender in the vocative singular masculine, but not in the feminine.
M.sh. a dhuine uasail / a bhean uasal
The adjective is aspirated in the vocative singular, but not in the vocative plural:
M.sh. a bhuachaill mhaith / a bhuachaillí maithe.
Cuid samplaí:
A Sheáin a Mháire
A chait a chapaill
A dhaoine uaisle a mhná uaisle
A chara a chairde
A Shiúr dhíl a Athair Oirmhinnigh
A Bhráthair a Mháthair Ionúin
A Dhaidí a Mhamaí
NOUNS AND THEIR DECLENSIONS
THE FIRST DECLENSION
All nouns in the first declension are masculine and end in a broad consanant.
THE SECOND DECLENSION
All nouns in the second declension are feminine with the exception of three masculine nouns which follow the rules of the second declension;
Im / sliabh / teach (masc.)
All feminine nouns in this declension end in a consonant.
THE THIRD DECLENSION
Nouns in the third declension are both masculine and feminine and end in a consonant. They all have strong plurals. Contains professions m.sh. muinteoir.
THE FORTH DECLENSION
Nouns in the forth declension are both masculine and feminine and all end in a vowel or “ín”.
All cases in the singular are the same.
All cases in the plural are the same.
THE FIFTH DECLENSION
Mostly feminine nouns ending in a slender consonant or a vowel in the nominative singular.
Mostly strong plurals.
PLURAL FORM OF NOUNS
All plural nouns are either weak or strong.
Nouns will be weak if the nominative plural is formed by adding “a”
m.sh. cos - cosa
bróg - bróga
OR
If the nominative plural form ends in a consonant
m.sh. gasúir
báid
Weak plurals are always eclipsed in the genitive
m.sh. (nom. Sg.) an fear (nom. Pl.) na fir
(gen. Sg.) hata an fhir (gen. Pl.) hataí na bhfear
To form the Genitive Plural:
If the noun is a weak plural, you eclipse and put the noun into the nominative singular.
Strong Plurals:
These are formed by adding:
-í -acha -te
-aí -eacha
-anna -ta
-eanna -the
These remain the same for both nominative and genitive plurals.
m.sh. cótaí na muinteoirí
ainmneacha na ngléasanna
áilleacht na n-áiteanna
N.B. The genitive plural form of the noun will be eclipsed after “na” (the).
NA DÍOCHLAONTAÍ - THE DECLENSIONS
There are 5 groups of nouns in Irish called Declensions. The genitive is required in the following instances:
1. To show ownership / possesssion or relationship between 2 nouns Madadh an fhir - the dog of the man - the man’s dog
Airgead na mná - the money of the woman - the woman’s money
Scoil na mbuachaillí - the school of the boys - the boys’ school
Deireadh an lae - the end of the day
2. After verbal nouns:
Ag rith an rása
Ag ithe an dinnéir
Ag ól liomanáide
Ag tógáil tí
Ag caitheadh airgid
3. After the words chun, trasna, timpeall
Chun na scoile
Trasna na farraige
Timpeall na tíre
N.B. The genitive form does not follow chun, trasna or timpeall, when followed directly by a verbal noun
M.sh. chun an scoil a bhaint amach. In order to reach the school.
4. After compound prepositions:
Ar fud na tíre throughout the country
Ar feadh na seachtaine for the week (duration)
i rith an tsamhraidh during the summer
i lár na hoíche in the middle of the night
i ndiaidh an dinnéir after the dinner
ar chúl an tí behind / at the back of the house
ar feadh na bliana for the year (duration)
AN CHÉAD DÍOCHLAONADH - THE FIRST DECLENSION
The first declension contains nouns that are all masculine and end in a broad consonant in the nominative singular.
M.sh. an bád / an capall / an bóthar
Rialacha:
1. In the Genitive Singular “An” aspirates all masculine nouns in the Genitive Singular
M.sh. cóta an fhir - the man’s coat.
2. Nouns beginning with “S” an followed by a vowel or the letters “L”, “N”, “R”, will have “t” prefixed when preceded by the article “An”
3. M.sh. Sagart- teach an tsagairt
Slaghdán- leigheas an tslaghdáin
The Genitive case is formed by making the noun slender. This is done in a number of ways:
· Place “i” between the last vowel and the last consonant M.sh. capall - ag ceannach an chapaill - buying the horse cnoc - barr an chnoic - at the top of the hill
However this cannot always be done by merely inserting “i”. Some endings are changed as follows;
· Change final “-ach” to “-aigh” “-each” to “-igh” M.sh. An clúdach dath an chlúdaigh
An soitheach barr an tsoithigh
In words of more than 1 syllable: “-íoch” to “ígh”
M.sh. beithíoch to beithígh
· Change final “-ea” to “-i”
“-éa” to “-éi”
“-ío” to “-í”
“-ia” to “-éi”
M.sh. An fear hata an fhir the man’s hat
An páipéar dath an pháipéir colour of the paper
An gníomh méid an ghnímh amount of action
An giall pian an ghéill pain of the jaw
N.B. In phrases like “the name of the paper”, “the colour of the pen”, the first the is omitted in the Irish phrase.
M.sh. ainm an pháipéir
Dath an phinn
AN DARA DÍOCHLAONADH - THE SECOND DECLENSION
The second declension contains nouns which are feminine and end in a consonant. It contains 3 exceptions which are masculine - im, sliabh and teach.
Rialacha:
1. the general rule for forming the genitive singular is to
a) make it slender (if not already)
b) add e
M.sh. an leabharlann - ag fágáil na leabharlainne
The Library - leaving the Library
An fhuinneog - bun na fuinneoige
The window - the bottom of the window
2. change final -each to í
-ach to í
M.sh. an ghirseach - ainm na girsí
An ghealach - solas na gealaí
N.B.
3. With feminine nouns “An” (the) changes to “na” in the Genitive Singular.
M.sh. réiteach na faidhbe - the solution to the problem
4. aspiration does not occur in the genitive singular of the second declension; M.sh. an fheirm - clós na feirme
5. feminine nouns beginning with an “S” followed by a vowel or “l”, “n”, or “r” willhave a “t” prefixed in the nominative singular
M.sh. an tsúil - dath na súile
An tsrón - barr na sróine
6. Plural form: Many plurals are formed by simply adding “-a” to the singular form
M.sh. cluas - cluasa
Cloch - clocha
Such plurals are weak therefore the genitive plural will be the same as the Nominative Singular.
M.sh. na bróga móra - costas na mbróg mór
Na cosa beaga - mná na gcos beag
All other plurals are strong therefore all cases in the plural are the same. The Genitive Plural form of the noun is eclipsed after “na” (the) and “n-” is prefixed to vowels.
M.sh. na carraigeacha - méid na gcarraigeacha
Na háiteanna - ainm na n-áiteanna
EXAMPLES OF SECOND DECLENSION NOUNS:
a)Nom. Sg. b)Nom. Pl.
1. an fhuinneog na fuinneoga
c)Gen.Sg d)Gen.Pl.
Ag péinteáil na fuinneoige ag péinteáil na bhfuinneog
2. An chláirseach na cláirseacha
ceol na cláirsí ceol na gcláirseach
3. An cheist na ceisteanna
ag freagairt na ceiste ag freagairt na gceisteanna
4. An eaglais na heaglaisí
lucht na heaglaise lucht na n-eaglaisí
5. An charraig na carraigeacha
datha na carraige dath na gcarraigeacha
6. An tír na tíortha
muintir na tíre muintir na dtíortha
NOUNS WITH IRREGULAR GENITIVE SINGULAR
Deoch ag ceannach dí deochanna
Foireann ag piocadh foirne foirne
Obair chun na hoibre oibreacha
Paidir ag rá paidre paidreacha
Scian costas na scine sceana
NOTE THE GENITIVE PLURALS OF THE FOLLOWING NOUNS:
1. binn na beanna
barr na binne ar bharr na mbeann
2. deoir na deora
méid na deoire ag sileadh na ndeor
3. súil na súile
dath na súile radharc na súl
4. dúil na dúile
méid na dúile a Rí na ndúl
5. glúin na glúine
craiceann na glúine ag ní na nglún
AN TRÍÚ DÍOCHLAONADH - THE THIRD DECLENSION
The third declension contains nouns which are both masculine and feminine. They all end in a consonant. They all have strong plurals.
The genitive singular is generally formed by adding “a” or by making broad and then adding “a”.
The vowel changes are therefore the opposite of those in the first and second declensions.
“i”, “io”, and “ei” will change to ea
“éi” will change to éa
“ui” will change to o
“í” will change to ío
M.sh. rith reatha
Fios feasa
Tincéir tincéara
Cuid coda
Feadaíl feadaíola
1. Professional nouns (occupations) are all masculine. The nominative plural is formed by adding “-í”
An badóir An t-aisteoir An grósaeir
An cainteoir An báicéir An bearbóir
An cuntasóir An cúntóir An custaméir
An dlíodóir An dochtúir An feirmeoir
An fáilteoir An péintéir An rinceoir
An saighdiúir An bainisteoir An buachaill
An búistéir An ceimiceoir An ceoltóir
An fiaclóir An t-innealtóir An t-iriseoir
An leictreoir An meicneoir An múinteoir
An peileadóir An pluiméir An poitigéir
An polaiteoir An scríobhneoir An siopadóir
An siúinéir An stiúrthóir An tábhairneoir
An tailliúir An tuairisceoir An clódóir
An cuairteoir An t-eagarthóir An léitheoir
An moltóir An paisinéir An sprionlóir
An strainséir An Gaeilgeoir
2. Masculine nouns (1 syllable, broad ending) with strong plurals in “-anna”.
An ceacht na ceachtanna
An bláth na bláthanna
An cath na cathanna
An dath na dathanna
An loch na lochanna
An rang na ranganna
An t-am na hamanna
An fáth na fáthanna
An guth na guthanna
An modh na modhanna
3. Masculine nouns(1 syllable, broad ending) with strong plurals in “-aí”.
An rud na rudaí
An roth na rothaí
An rás na rásaí
4. Feminine nouns with more than 1 syllable ending in -cht with strong plurals in “-aí”
An bheannacht na beannachtaí
An charthanacht na carthanachtaí
An mhallacht na mallachtaí
An scoláireacht na scoláireachtaí
An eolaíocht na heagraíochtaí
An cháilíocht na cáilíochtaí
An chosúlacht na cosúlachtaí
An iarracht na hiarrachtaí
An eisceacht na heisceachtaí
An léacht na léachtaí
5. Feminine nouns with more than 1 syllable ending in “áint”, “úint”, “-irt”, with strong plurals in “-í”, “-aí”.
Note the Genitive Singular in these examples.
(a) final “-t” is dropped from the nouns ending in “-int” M.sh. canúint canúna
(b) final “-t” becomes “-th” in words ending in “irt”
M.sh. imirt imeartha
NOM. SING. GEN. SING. NOM. PLURAL
An tiomaint -na tiomána
An chinniúint -na cinniúna na cinniúintí
An bhagairt -na bagartha na bagairtí
An tagairt -na tagartha na tagairtí
An bhuairt -na buartha na buarthaí
An oiliúint -na hoiliúna
An díbirt -na díbeartha
An íobairt -na híobartha na híobairtí
6. Other common third declension nouns with strong plurals:
An cith -an cheatha na ceathanna
An crios -an chreasa na criosanna
An t-anam -an anama na hanamacha
An gleann -an ghleanna na gleannta
An droim -na droma na dromanna
An chuid -na coda na codanna
An fhuil -na fola
An bhliain -na bliana na blianta
An fheoil -na feola na feolta
An mhóin -na móna na móinte
An mhil -na meala
An tsíocháin -na síochána
An toil -na tola na tola
An troid -na troda na troideanna
An Cháisc -na Cásca na Cáiscí
CLEACHTADH SA RANG
Cuir isteach an foirm cheart den fhocal idir luibíní.
N.B. Tá firinscneach agus baininscneach ann.
1. Féach ar charr an (aisteoir) sin.
2. Ná bí ag cur amú (am).
3. Níl oifig an (bainisteoir) oscailte.
4. Cad é a shíleann tú faoi óráid an (cainteoir)
5. Thit an ceannaire i lár an (cath).
6. Ní mór duit freastal ar riachtanais an (custaiméir).
7. Ní aontaím le polasaí an (deachtóir) sin.
8. Fágadh é ina luí ar chnámh a (droim).
9. Ar léigh tú alt an (eagarthóir).
10. Tá obair na (feirmeoir) an-chrua.
11. Stróic sé clúdach an (foclóir).
12. Bhí cónaí air i lár an (gleann)
13. An bhfaca tú aghaidh an (moltóir) le linn na Cásca.
14. Suíonn sé ag bun an (rang).
15. Is breá liom céimeanna an (rinceoir) sin.
16. Molaim misneach an (scríbhneoir) sin.
17. Tá roth an (tarracóir) pollta.
18. Bíonn brú (trácht) i lár na cathrach gach lá.
19. Cuirfear tuairimí na (tuismitheoir) san áireamh.
20. Nuair a smaoiním ar chathaoir an (fiaclóir).
21. An maith leat blas an (fíon) sin.
22. Ní raibh doras na (paisinéir) iomlán druidte.
23. Is fiú éisteacht le barúil an (moltóir).