Pied Piping

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  • Cò air a bha an ad?
  • Cò leis a tha am bata "who owns the stick"
  • Cò aige a tha am bata "who has the stick"

Preposition stranding

bhruidhinn thu ris?
who speak.pst 2sg to.def
'Who did you speak to?'
an cànanaich' a bhruidhinn thu ris?
who the linguist wh-C speak.pst 2sg to.def
'Which linguist did you speak to?'

Pied-piping

Less natural compared to the preposition stranding version; Stress on is required; only possible with an echo question reading.

a bhruidhinn thu?
to who wh-C speak.pst 2sg
'To whom did you speak?'
Ri an cànanaich' a bhruidhinn thu ris?
to who the teacher wh-C speak.pst 2sg
'To which teacher did you speak?'

Pied-piping Inversion

The preposition must be definite.

ris a bhruidhinn thu?
who to wh-C speak.pst 2sg
'Who to did you speak?'
*Cò a bhruidhinn thu
who to wh-C speak.pst 2sg
an tidsear ris a bhruidhinn thu?
who the teacher to.def wh-C speak.pst 2sg
'Which teacher to did you speak?'
*Cò an tidsear ri a bhruidhinn thu?
who the teacher to wh-C speak.pst 2sg