Genitive Formation

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 D: Suffix either e or a (ə)

• an t-Sàbaid --> na Sàbaide (but note Latha na Sabaid with no e)

Declension Class F: Suffix -n

• an cù --> biadh a' choin

Word Order in Possessive Genitive Constructions

Possessed + Genitive Article + possessor (genitive case)

Forming the Genitive of Adjectives

beag --> bhig (m),

See Also

• Articles
• Genitive Case (definition)
• Genitive Constructions
• Case (definition)
• Noun Declension