View source for Genitive Formation

==Genitive Articles==
The [[Genitive Case (definition)|genitive]] is used to indicate an object that is a possessor. 

The masculine singular genitive pattern is identical to the feminine common case pattern, and dative case forms. 

:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
|+<b>Singular Masculine Genitive</b>
!Before
!form
!Example
|-
|[[Labial (definition)|labial]] and [[Velar (definition)|velar]] [[Stop (definition)|stops]] (b, p, g, c) and m 
|a'<sup>L</sup>
|a' bhòrd
|-
|f
|an<sup>L</sup>
|an fhuachd
|-
|s followed by vowels, l, n, r
|an t- (i.e. an<sup>T</sup>)
|an tsluaigh
|-
|all other sounds
|an
|an taighe
|}
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>


The feminine genitive is identical to common case plural

:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
|+<b>Feminine Singular Genitive</b>
!Before
!form
!Example
|-
|[[Consonant (definition)|consonants]] 
|na
|na muc
|-
|Vowels
|na h-  (i.e. an<sup>H</sup>)
|na h-adhairce
|}
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>

The plural of genitive uses some variety of Nan/Nam:
:{| border=1 cellpadding="5", rules="all" style="text-align:center"
|+<b>Plural Genitive of both Genders</b>
!Before
!form
!Example
|-
|[[Labial (definition)|labial consonants]] 
|nam
|nam bocsaichean
|-
|All other sounds
|nan
|nan taighean
|}
:<small>(table based on Fisher (2004)</small>


==Forming the Genitive of Nouns==

Varies depending upon declension class and gender

===singular===

The following vowel changes mark attenuation
*i) a --> ui
*ii) ea --> i
*iii) ea --> ei
*iv) ia --> èi
*v) ò --> ùi
*vi) eu --> eòi
*vii) io -> i (this is is rarely found after the spelling reform)


====Declension Class A: The Genitive and the Common Class Are Identical====
Apart from mutations triggered by the appropriate article, the shape of the noun is identical in the common and genitive case with Declension Class A nouns.

*an duine --> an duine
*am posta -->  a' phosta
*a' chuairt --> na chuairt

====Declension Class B: Attenuate the final consonant ====

'''''Class B1: insert an i before the final consonant'''''
*an cat --> a' chait
*an cladach --> a' chladaich
*an sabhal --> an t-sabhail
*am balach --> a' bhalaich
*an rathad --> an rathaid
*an glumag --> a' ghlumaig

'''''Class B2: Change the final vowel'''''

*an t-allt --> an uillt (B2i) 
*an ceann --> a' chinn (B2ii)
*an t-each --> an eich (B2iii)
*am fiadh --> an fhèidh (B2iv)
*an t-òrd --> an ùird (B2v) 
*an eun --> an eòin (B2vi)

====Declension Class C: Broaden the final consonant ====


====Declension Class D: Suffix either e or a (ə) ====

'''''Class D1: suffix -e'''''
*an t-Sàbaid --> na Sàbaide (but note Latha na Sabaid with no e)

'''''Class D2: suffix -e, attenuate final consonant with -i-''''''
*an t-slat --> na slaite
*a' ghlumaig --> na glumaige

'''''Class D3: suffix -e, attenuate with a vowel change'''''
*an uinneag --> na h-uinneige

'''''Class Dy: suffix -e, syncope, attenuate if necessary'''''
*a' mhadainn --> na maidne

'''''Class Dz: suffix -a''''''
*an t-am --> an ama
*am fiodh --> an fhiodha
*an loch --> an locha

'''''Class Daa: suffix -a, broaden by deleting orthographic i'''''
*
'''''Class Dbb: suffix -a, broaden by orthographic vowel change''''''
*
'''''Class Dcc: suffix -a, syncope, broaden by orthographic vowel change''''''
*an dùthaich --> na dùthcha

====Declension Class E: Suffix -d====

====Declension Class F: Suffix -n ====


*an cù --> biadh a' choin

====Declension Class G: Suffix -(e)ach====

*Litir --> Litreach
*caora --> caorach

====Irregular Nouns====

===Genitive Plurals===
 
Plurals of the type ending in -an, ean, remain the same in the plural genitive. 

na taighean is both plural common case and plural genitive.

==Word Order in Possessive Genitive Constructions==

Possessed + Genitive Article + possessor (genitive case)

==Forming the Genitive of Adjectives==


beag --> bhig (m),
mòr --> mhòir

==See Also==

*[[Articles]]
*[[Genitive Case (definition)]]
*[[Genitive Constructions]]
*[[Case (definition)]]
*[[Noun Declension]]

==References==

MacDonald, J.A. (1976) ''Gàidhlig Bheo, vol 3.'' National Extension College
[[Category:Morphology]]
[[Category: Case]]