User:Erisceres/O'Nolan's Introduction to Studies in Modern Irish

Lesson I: Classification Sentences Using Masculine Nouns and Pronouns with the Copula and an Indefinite Predicate

In classification sentences using copular syntax, a subject is described by a predicate, while the copula is the element that links the two together.

Key: copula, predicate, subject.

The Present Copula

The copula is the element that links the subject to a predicate. The affirmative copula is often dropped in speech.

Forms of the Copula:

• is – affirmative copula
• ní^H – negative copula
• an – interogative copula

The Indefinite Predicate

The predicate is the element that describes the subject. In classification clauses, the predicate is always indefinite; it cannot be a definite noun or a personal pronoun.

Indefinite Predicate Pronoun:

In classification sentences, the predicate is typically a noun used to classify the subject with. When emphasis is placed on the predicate, the indefinite subpredicate pronoun in also employed in conjunction.

• ea – the indefinite subpredicate pronoun

Interrogative Predicate Pronouns:

Clauses using the interrogative predicate pronouns already have the copula within them, thus no separate copular element is used in such a clause.

• cad … ? – “what … ?”
• cé acu … ? – “whether … ?”, “which … ?” (where an alternative is presented)

Note:

In this type of syntax where the predicated is headed by the interrogative predicate pronoun cé acu, an alternative is presented, divided by the conjunction nó; the preceding prepositional pronoun acu refers to this presented alternative.

e.g. Cé acu leabhar nó peann é seo? “Is this a book or a pen?”

The Masculine Subject

The subject is the element that is being described. Unless a specific noun is being used to refer to the subject, it is generally referred to with a pronoun. The pronoun itself conforms to the grammatical gender and number of the predicate, being a direct reference to the predicate itself. Where the predicate consists of a singular masculine noun, the singular masculine disjunctive pronoun é is used for the subject.

Subject Pronouns and Nouns:

• é – masculine subject pronoun
• é seo – “this” (masc.)
• é sin – “that” (masc.)

With a definite noun subject, a subsubject pronoun is usually employed proleptically to the subject.

• é an rud é sin – “it, the thing that is is” (masc.)

Note:

The initial proleptic pronoun é refers to an rud (rud being a masculine noun), not to the predicate as with é sin.

General Vocabulary

Masculine Nouns:

• leabhar – “a book”
• peann – “a pen”
• peann luaidhe – “a pencil”
• bosca – “a box”
• bord – “a table”
• lasán – “a match”
• sparán – “a purse”

Conjunctions:

• nó – “or”
• ná – “nor”
• ní … ná – “neither … nor”
• ach – “but”

Syntax

In simple classification syntax, the indefinite predicate follows immediately after the copula, and precedes the subject:

• copula + predicate + subject
• Is leabhar é. “It is a book.”

Where the indefinite predicate is emphasised, it precedes the copula while the indefinite subpredicate pronoun ea (only used in copular clauses) takes its original position:

• predicate + copula + ea + subject
• Leabhar is ea é. “It is a book” (rather than anything else suggested).

When responding to the interrogative, a simple response contains just the copula followed by ea:

• copula + ea
• An peann é? Is ea. “Is it a pen? Yes.”

When responding in the negative, the correct information can follow with a preceding ach:

• ní hea, ach + predicate
• An leabhar é sin? Ní hea, ach peann. “Is that a book? No, but a pen.”

In the interrogative where the predicate is unknown, interrogative predicate pronouns are used instead of the copula:

• Cad é an rud é sin? Is leabhar é. “What is that thing? It is a book.”
• Cé acu leabhar nó peann é seo? Peann is ea é. “Which is this, a book or a pen? It is a pen.”
• Cé acu leabhar nó peann é sin? Ní leabhar ná peann é, ach lasán. “Which is that, a book or a pen? It is neither a book nor a pen, but a match.”

Salutations

• Dia is Muire dhuit. – “Hello.” (greeting to one person)
• Dia is Muire dhíbh. – “Hello.” (greeting to multiple people)
• Dia is Muire dhuit is Pádraig. – “Hello.” (response to one person)
• Dia is Muire dhíbh is Pádraig. – “Hello.” (response to multiple people)
• Slán agat. – “Goodbye.” (said to one person staying)
• Slán agaibh. – “Goodbye.” (said to multiple people staying)
• Slán leat. – “Goodbye.” (said to one person leaving)
• Slán libh. – “Goodbye.” (said to multiple people leaving)