Dual (definition)

The Dual is a special inflectional mark used to indicate that two items are used.

In Gaelic the dual is only used after the numeral dà/dhà "two".

• The masculine dual is identical in form to the common case singular. (e.g. aon bhalach 'one boy', dà bhalach 'two boys')
• The feminine dual is identical in form to the prepositional case singular (e.g. ag a' chraoibh, 'at the tree' dà chraoibh "two trees"

WHen used with an article, the singular article is used: an dà bhalach.

External Links

• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dual_(grammatical_number)
• http://www.jstor.org/discover/10.2307/30070373?uid=3739552&uid=2129&uid=2&uid=70&uid=4&uid=3739256&sid=21101110931201

References

• Gàidhlig Bheo volume 3, page 6