Date: Thu, 30 Jan 2003 11:04:17 -0000
From: Colin Mark <[email protected]>
Subject: Tip of the Week 50
Tip of the Week
50
So what happened to 49? Well, inadvertently, I used the number 45 twice in a
row, so this should bring the numbering to the correct level.
Comparative and Superlative. (Part 3)
So far, we have dealt only with direct comparison i.e. saying that X is
bigger etc. than Y, but now we are going to deal with situations where the
comparison is less direct, i.e. X is the [biggest etc.] of the [group] or X
is the [bigger etc.] of the [pair].
You will note that Gaelic does not differentiate between comparative and
superlative. It is the context which tells you what the equivalent English
is.
Here are the patterns you use:
First for a male subject and present tense.
Is e Calum as treasa den triùir.
It is (he) Calum who is strongest of the three.
Calum is the strongest of the three.
Now a female subject and present tense.
Is i Sìne as òige den dithis.
It is (she) Jean who is younger of the two.
Jean is the younger of the two.
And now in the past tense:
B' e Calum (a) bu treasa den triùir.
It was (he) Calum, who was strongest of the three.
Calum was the strongest of the three.
B' i Sìne (a) b' òige den dithis.
It was (she) Jean who was younger of the two.
Jean was the younger of the two.
You don't have to mention the group, of course.
Is e Uilleam as àirde.
William is taller / tallest
Is i Màiri as òige.
Mary is older / oldest / the eldest.
Cailean
Is i a' Ghàidhlig Cànan mo Dhùthcha.
URL: http://www.gaeldesign.com/colinmark
|
| Get your own
Free Home Page