Category Archives: grammar notes

A review of Nolan

Posted on April 6, 2013 by gleannghaibhle

My book review of Gerald Nolan’s Studies in Modern Irish Part 1 is now completeand can be read here.

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Notes on Nolan (the Relative Clause)

Posted on January 25, 2013 by gleannghaibhle

THE RELATIVE CLAUSE Below are listed the many instances where a direct relative is used where an indirect relative would be more logical: A. Temporal Clauses. Direct relative particle a is used in temporal clauses where the indirect relative would … Continue reading →

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Notes on Nolan 10

Posted on December 20, 2012 by gleannghaibhle

h) Proleptic de can be used to stand for whole clauses: Níor mhiste deimhin a dhéanamh de go ndéanfaidís Gaeil Alban do dhísciú, where de tees up the subsequent go-clause. Another example: ná dein iúnadh dhe go nduart leat: ní … Continue reading →

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Should Vocatives Decline?

Posted on November 13, 2012 by gleannghaibhle

Whether vocatives should decline or not is a constantly raised question. It seems most vocatives don’t decline, as “metaphorical” nouns do not take a morphological vocative. Let’s look at vocatives under a number of categories. 1. Collective nouns do not … Continue reading →

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Notes on Nolan 9

Posted on October 30, 2012 by gleannghaibhle

Chapter 2 – prolepsis Prolepsis is the anticipation of what comes later in the sentence and is a significant feature of Irish grammar. Words than can be used proleptically include: a) pronouns é, í, iad, ea. For example, the use … Continue reading →

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Understanding the Copula

Posted on October 21, 2012 by gleannghaibhle

Understanding the Copula The copula is one of the most awkward areas of Irish syntax to master. This is not helped by the fact that the promoters of an artificial ‘Standard Irish’ have muddied the waters with a confused explanation … Continue reading →

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Notes on Nolan 8

Posted on October 21, 2012 by gleannghaibhle

Questions like an é Tomás Ó Ceallaigh do bhí ann? follow the ordinary syntax of the copula. However, what? and who? questions form a general exception to the syntax of the copula. This is because there is no real predication: the … Continue reading →

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Notes on Nolan 7

Posted on October 21, 2012 by gleannghaibhle

p41 Nolan points out that copulas of identification an classification often come together: deir cuid acu gurb é Ieremias é nú duine de sna fáidhibh. The reason why names are often indefinite in copula sentences is because Pádraigjust means a person bearing … Continue reading →

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Notes on Nolan 6

Posted on October 16, 2012 by gleannghaibhle

p29 Identification copulas, Type IV, PVpS: these have the predicate brought forward for emphasis or rhetorical effect. In this case, the temporary predicate pronoun is retrospective rather than anticipatory. Tosach an uilc is é is usa do chosc. Another example … Continue reading →

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Notes on Nolan 5

Posted on October 15, 2012 by gleannghaibhle

p27 Identification Type III, VpSP: this differs from Type II (where the subject contains an expressed or implied relative clause or genitive that can be resolved into one) by having  a definite noun as the subject, possibly with a demonstrative … Continue reading →

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