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Book 3:
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Preface
Phonetics

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exercise CXXXII

The verb is in relative sentences

§ 762. The relative forms for is are—

present tense as, not usually is (iss)
perfect tense do ba, do often omitted
conditional mood do ba, do often omitted
future tense ḃus (Wus), rarely used.

§ 763. These forms are usually found with the compartive and superlative of adjectives, and sometimes with the positive.

§ 764. Is tú an fear as fearr, you are the best man; lit. the man who is best. Now usually written is fearr (iss faar)

Ba mise an fear do b'ḟearr, I was the man who was best. Often softened to a b'ḟearr (ă baar).

Ní ḃéiḋ in Éirinn fear ḃus fearr ioná é, there will not be in Erin a man who will be better than he.

Do ḃéiḋeaḋ an capall ag an ḃfear do b'ḟearr, the best man would have the horse.

§ 765. Notice that the comparative and superlative of adjectives have the same form, and that instead of saying "the best man", we say "the man who is (was, would be, will be) best".

§ 766. When there is a negative in the relative sentence—

Present— Tír naċ beag, the land which is not small, rud naċ cóir, a thing which is not right.

Conditional—Tír naċ mba áil liom, rud naċ mba ċóir, a land I would not like, a thing that would not be right. But in the spoken language the orm of the perfect tense, as follows, is generally used.

Perfect—Rud maċar (or nár) ḃa áil liom, a thing that was not a desire with me, usually rud márḃ áil (Naurv aul) liom, a thing I did not like. Rud nár ċóir, a thing that was not right.

Future— rud naċ mba ṁaiṫ, not used in Spoken Language.

§ 767. Some comparatives.

(), comparative and superlative of mór, bigger, greater, greatest
luġa (Loo'-ă), compar. and superlative of beag, less, littler, least.
fearr (faar), compar. and superlative of maiṫ, better, best.
measa (mas'-ă), compar. and superlative of olc, worse, worst.

§ 768. Translate into English

Abair ob'-ĕr say!
ná h-abair sin   don't say that
duḃairt dhoo'-ărt said

Fuair Eudhmonn an leabhar do b'fhearr, agus fuair Cormac an leabhar ba lugha. Ní'l agam acht an t-ubhall beag so, so é an t-ubhall is measa. Nach bhfuil an áit is fearr agat? An tír is fearr liom. Béidh an áit bhus (usually is) measa ag an bhfear is measa. Ní'l an áit so chomh maith leis an áit atá agaibh-se. Is measa Seaghán ioná Seumas. Ná h-abair sin: ná h-abair rud nach cóir. Cad dubhairt an buachaill beag? Dubhairt sé rud nár (which was not = nachar bha, with bha omitted) chóir. Atá an capall is fearr shuas ar an sliabh. An bhfuil an teanga is mó ag an duine is lugha? An bhean is lugha in Éirinn. Ba liom an teach ba mhó.

§ 769. Translate into Irish

  • The biggest hill in Ireland?
  • Is the smallest field yours? No, it belongs to that big man.
  • John said a thing that was not right.
  • He is living on the largest island.
  • Brigid gave me the spinning wheel which was smallest.
  • The biggets man was sitting int he smallest chair.
  • This poor man has the largest family.
  • My father gave to me the biggest book, and he gave to James the smallest book.
  • THe smallest book is as goos as the biggest book.
  • Put the smallest saddle on the horse, I am going out on the mountain.
  • You ought not go out toady, it is too cold.

 

 

note that
phonetic
symbols
are not
necessarily pronounced
as in English

See § 13-16

 

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