Demonstratives
Demonstratives in Gaelic can take the form of (i) demonstrative adjectives, (ii) demonstrative pronouns, or (iii) demonstrative adverbs. Demonstrative adjectives pattern similarly to other adjectives in Scottish Gaelic in that they modify a noun and succeed it in the sentence. Demonstrative pronouns behave in a similar fashion to their pronoun counterparts in that they can take the place of a determiner phrase. The behavior of demonstrative adjectives is the most exceptional of the demonstratives in that they mark a difference between adverbs of location (I am here) versus adverbs of motion (I went here).
Scottish Gaelic marks demonstratives in reference to distance from the speaker in three degrees: 'proximant', 'distal', and 'far distal'. As seen in the table below, the three different levels correspond roughly to the English 'here', 'there', and 'yonder'. An interesting feature of these three levels is that they can be used to indicate spatial as well as temporal distance. When the 3rd degree demonstrative adjective (ud) is used to describe a noun, then typically the noun is something out of sight for both the speaker and the listener. The 2nd degree demonstrative adjective (sin), on the other hand, marks the noun in question as being something far away but within sight. Similarly, the same demonstratives can be used to indicate distance in a more abstract, temporal manner. When the 2nd degree 'sin' is used in reference to come temporal concept ("an latha sin" 'that day') it is meant to indicate that there is some day in the future that is being discussed, and that the day is specific. Whereas if the speaker uses the 3rd degree 'ud' in reference to a day in the future ("an latha ud" 'some day (in the future)') it is meant that the day is hypothetical.
Gaelic Demonstratives
| Pronoun | Adj | ADVmovement | ADVlocation | English | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Proximate | seo | seo | an-seo | an-sheo | this |
| Distal | sin | sin | an-sin | an-shin | that |
| Far Distal | siud | ud | an-siud | an-shiud | yonder |
Transitivity
Demonstratives in Gaelic, just like those found in other languages, can be used in two different ways: transitively or intransitively. Intransitive demonstratives are used on their own without any other elements such as in example (1). Transitive demonstratives, on the other hand, are always collocated with a noun as demonstrated in example (2).
1) this is mine
2) this book is mine
Transitive demonstratives in Gaelic are created by combining an article, a noun, and a demonstrative particle, in that order. There are three demonstrative particles: seo proximate (this), sin distal (that), siud or 'ud or siud far distal (yonder).
3)
an cù seo the dog this 'this dog'
4)
an cù sin the dog that 'that dog'
5)
an cù 'ud/siud the dog yonder 'yonder dog'
If the noun is modified by an adjective, the adjective comes before the demonstrative particle:
6)
an cù mòr seo the dog big this 'this big dog'
Intransitive demonstratives in Gaelic do not need any other elements such as an article and a noun.
7)
Thoir dhomh seo give to.me this 'Give me this'
8)
Thoir dhomh sin give to.me that 'Give me that'
