Date: Thu, 2 Jan 2003 14:44:57 -0000
From: Colin Mark <[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Tha v Is
Tip of the Week 48
Comparative and Superlative. (Part 1)
Expressing comparison in Gaelic can appear quite complicated if you include
all the permutations. For this reason, I'll stick to the more 'everyday'
type of expression.
First of all, a special form of the adjective is used, called the
'comparative' form. In regular adjectives, this has the same form as the
genitive case, feminine, of the adjective. If you are a beginner, this, of
course, won't mean very much yet!
Most adjectives, particularly those of more than one syllable, insert an 'i'
into the last vowel and add 'e' a' bheinn ud = that mountain a' bheinn seo = this mountain
an taigh agamsa = my house an taigh agadsa your house (where 'my'
and 'your' are emphasised)
to the end.
e.g. 'bàn' fair (haired) 'bàine' fairer
'beartach' rich 'beartaiche' richer
If the adjective already has an 'i' in the last vowel, only 'e' is
added.
e.g. 'glic' wise 'glice' wiser
Some adjectives in English have irregular comparative and superlative
forms
e.g. good, better, best (rather than good, gooder goodest!)
Similarly, some adjectives in Gaelic have an irregular form.
The commonest of these are:
'beag' small 'lugha' smaller (though you can have 'bige')
'mòr' big 'mò (or 'motha') bigger
'math' good 'feàrr' better
Relatively few add an 'a' to the end
e.g. 'meanbh' tiny 'meanbha' tinier
The simplest expression of comparison has the pattern:
X is Y than Z.
e.g. Jean is taller than Morag.
This is most commonly expressed using the verb 'tha' as follows:
Tha X nas Y na Z.
- where 'tha' means 'is', 'nas' means 'what is' and 'na' means 'than'.
Therefore:
Tha Sìne nas àirde na Mòrag. (literally: Jean is what is taller than
Morag.)
If you are a beginner, why not try some for yourself? Here is some
vocabulary to help you. You may also use the adjectives and nouns given
above.
| Calum = Malcolm |
Sìne = Jean |
Iain = John |
| a' bheinn ud |
that mountain |
|
| a' bheinn seo |
this mountain |
|
| an taigh agamsa |
my house |
where my and |
| an taigh agadsa |
your house |
your are emphasised |
============================
These all change in the same way as àrd above:
| àrd |
high/tall |
| òg |
young |
| cas |
steep |
| fad |
long |
| bàn |
fair (haired) |
| blàth |
warm |
=============================
These change in various ways:
| sean |
old |
sine |
| teth |
hot |
teotha |
| math |
good |
fheàrr |
| trom |
heavy |
truime |
| glic |
wise |
glice |
Now let's see how many sensible comparisons you can make. Post them to the
list, if you wish.
e.g.
Tha an taigh agamsa nas fheàrr na an taigh agadsa.
My house is better than your house.
Note that adjectives in this situation do not normally lenite, but those
beginning with 'f' usually do. Hence 'fheàrr' rather than
'feàrr'.
More next week!
Cailean
Am Marcair Dubh
Is i a' Ghàidhlig Cànan mo Dhùthcha.
URL: http://www.gaeldesign.com/colinmark
|
| Get your own
Free Home Page