Caibidil a Cúig: Prepositions (Réamhfhocail)
other prepositions
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go (dtí) = to
go dtí lit: "until coming " (tí is an old subjunctive of tar = to come)
Initial Mutations :
-
without article: (mostly only go): no lenition: go hÉirinn = to Ireland
-
with article (always go dtí): no lenition or eclipsis: go dtí an teach = to the house (in Dingle though it's eclipsis)
Pronominal forms:
-
no definite pronominal forms, go dtí is used e.g.: go dtí é = to him, go dtí mé = to me
(etymol. the pronominal forms of chun/chuig belong to go)
Use:
- The goal of a spatial movement (to): go dtí an teach = to the house , go only for plce names without an article: go Meiriceá = to America (for place names with article: see do/chun)
-
temporal length ( until ): go dtí an lá sin = up until this day , go only in idiomatic expressions: go maidin = until morning
-
up to, except : Ní fheabhas go dtí é = There's nothing better than it
go = with
Initial Mutations:
-
without article : eclipsis
Pronominal forms:
-
There are only special pronominal forms for possessive pronouns
- |
with poss.pron. |
with my |
go mo |
with your |
go do |
with his |
gona |
with her |
gona |
with our |
gonár |
with your(pl.) |
go bhur |
with their |
gona |
Use:
- with (rare): go n-onóir = with honour
- Measurements: ...and a half: go leith (lit.: "with half "). e.g: trí chéad go leith punt = 350 pounds
- in expressions.: go bhfios dom = as far as I know ( lit.: "with knowledge to me "), go gcuimhin liom = as far as I remember, go gclos dom = so I hear
- without eclipsis: see go (dtí)
There is a good case for the fact that the conjunction go = that comes from this preposition.
Etymologisch related with Latin "cum".
gan = without
Initial Mutations :
- without article: lenition (mostly only preceding abstract/general terms) e.g: gan phósadh = unmarried
but always no lenition
- of d, s, t, f: e.g.: gan fear = without a man
- in infinitive constructions
- if the noun carries a further attribute
- proper names : e.g.: gan Pól = without Paul
- with article: no lenition/eclipsis
Pronominal forms:
- no pronominal forms : gan mise = without me, gan é = without him
Use:
- without: gan obair = without work
- double (or with ná): neither nor : gan obair gan arán = gan obair ná arán = neither work nor bread
- to negate the verbal noun: not : Tá mé sásta gan siúil = I'm fine to not walk.
mar = like, as
Initial Mutations :
- without article: lenition e.g.: mar fhear = like a man
- with article: eclipsis e.g.: mar an ngréin = like the sun
Pronominal forms:
- no pronominal forms : mar mise = like me
Use:
- like, as: mar bhean = as a woman, like a woman
- fitting, as (type of): gach éinne mar a dhúchas = everyone according to his nature
- mar atá = as there is, especially, namely
- mar gheall ar = because of: mar gheall ar an mbád = due to the boat
- mar le = for: (seeing as, in light of): Is breá an aimsir í, mar le geimhreadh = for winter it is nice weather.
os = over
os is an old preposition, which today only finds use in set combinations, no lenition/eclipsis, also ós, uas,
earlier also prepositional pronouns uasam, uasat, uaiste, uasainn, uasaibh, uasta,
related with thuas, anuas, suas, lastuas (see directional adverbs)
Use:
- os cionn = over,above: os mo chionn = above me
- os comhair, os coinne = across:
- os ard = loud, open, public (adverbial)
- os íseal = with a soft voice, in secret
- os meán = off the scale
seachas = except
seachas is a compound of seach and the copula is, this is why it is rarely seens as seach is or only seach (also rare with prepositional pronouns: seacham, seachat, etc.)
Use:
- others except: seachas thú féin = besides yourself, daoine seachas ise = people other than her
- other/rather than : an teach seachas an ceann seo = another house than this one
- seachas mar a + direct relative clause: compared to , like
- better than : seachas a chéile = rather than the other
is = until
only used with article an ( = is an) (actually: is an < i san = in the)
Use:
- temporal until: mí is an lá inniu = today one month ago(lit. "one month until the day today "), bliain is an t-am seo = this time last year (lit. "year until this time ")
a = to
a is (almost) only used preceding verbal nouns,
It is actually a short form of the preposition do = to.
Sometimes, in older literature, and in Munster, do still is used instead of a:
e.g.: "chun na Gaedhilge d'fhoghluim" = chun na Gaeilge a fhoghlaim = to learn Irish.
Initial Mutations:
- without article : lenition
Use:
- in clauses like the "extended infinitive with to": e.g.: Bhí mé sásta míle a shiúl = I was happy to walk a mile.
- not in the "simple infinitive with to" or only rarely used
- instead of ag in the progressive in the relative clause: e.g.: an fear atá litir a scríobh = the man that is writing a letter. The object comes before the VN and is in the nominative/accusative (not the genitive)
- Except preceding verbal nouns, a appears rarely: e.g. in a chlog = O'clock : a trí a chlog = 3 O'clock
dar = by
A rather rare preposition, used in interjections and similar expressions.
e.g.: dar Dia! = by God!, dar m'anam! = my soul!, dar m'fhocal! = my word!
suas
prepositions
Gramadach na Gaeilge
© Lars Bräsicke 1999 / 2000
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