Genitive Formation
Contents
- 1 Genitive Articles
- 2 Forming the Genitive of Nouns
- 2.1 singular
- 2.1.1 Declension Class A: The Genitive and the Common class are identical
- 2.1.2 Declension Class B: Attenuate the final consonant
- 2.1.3 Declension Class C: Broaden the final consonant
- 2.1.4 Declension Class D: Suffix either e or a (ə)
- 2.1.5 Declension Class E: Suffix -d
- 2.1.6 Declension Class F: Suffix -n
- 2.1.7 Declension Class G: Suffix -(e)ach
- 2.1.8 Irregular Nouns
- 2.1 singular
- 3 Word Order in Possessive Genitive Constructions
- 4 Forming the Genitive of Adjectives
- 5 See Also
Genitive Articles
The 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.
Singular Masculine Genitive Before form Example labial and velar stops (b, p, g, c) and m a'L a' bhòrd f anL an fhuachd s followed by vowels, l, n, r an t- (i.e. anT) an tsluaigh all other sounds an an taighe
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
The feminine genitive is identical to common case plural
Feminine Singular Genitive Before form Example consonants na na muc Vowels na h- (i.e. anH) na h-adhairce
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
The plural of genitive uses some variety of Nan/Nam:
Plural Genitive of both Genders Before form Example labial consonants nam nam bocsaichean All other sounds nan nan taighean
- (table based on Fisher (2004)
Forming the Genitive of Nouns
Varies depending upon declension class and gender
singular
The following vowel changes mark attenuation The following vowel changes are common:
- 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
- an duine --> peann an duine
- am posta --> peann a' phosta
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-' Class D3: suffix -e, attenuate with a vowel change Class D4: suffix -e, attenuate, prepositional form is different Class D5: suffix -e, syncope Class D6: suffix -a'
- an t-am --> an ama
Class D7: suffix -a, broaden by deleting orthographic i Class D8: suffix -a, broaden by orthographic vowel change'
Declension Class E: Suffix -d
Declension Class F: Suffix -n
- an cù --> biadh a' choin
Declension Class G: Suffix -(e)ach
Irregular Nouns
Word Order in Possessive Genitive Constructions
Possessed + Genitive Article + possessor (genitive case)
Forming the Genitive of Adjectives
beag --> bhig (m),
