Difference between revisions of "Plural Formation"

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!Common/Dative plural
 
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|am balach
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|na balaich
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|boy
 
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===Orthographic vowel change ===
 
===Orthographic vowel change ===

Revision as of 09:18, 29 July 2012

  • for a definition of plural see Plural (definition)
  • for an article on the inflection of adjectives in the plural see XXX

Attenuation (Slenderization)

Orthographic i

Make the final consonant slender orthographically by inserting an i before the final consonant (attenuate the final consonant). This sometimes shifts the pronunciation of the final vowel as well. /bor'əNəx/ --> /bor'əNiç/.

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
am balach na balaich boy
am boireannach na boireannaich woman
an cat na cait cat
an t-òran na h-òrain song
an solus na soluis light

Orthographic vowel change

Make the final vowel slender (attenuate it) by changing the orthographic vowel

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
am bòrd na bùird table
an t-iasg na h-èisg fish
am mac na mic son


Suffix (e)an

Suffix -an

Common singular Common/Dative Plural English
a' bhròg na brògan shoe
am brat na bratan carpet
a' bhùth na bùthan shop
a' chluasag na cluasagan pillow
a' chraobh na chraobhan tree
a' dhealbh na dealbhan
an gille na gillean boy
an làr na làran floor
an leanabh na leanabhan child
a' mhuc na mucan pig
a' nighean na nigheanan girl
am pàisde na pàisdean infant
a' phòg na pògan kiss
an sgàthan na sgàthanan mirror
a' sgian na sgianan knife
an uinneag na h-uinneagan window

Suffix -ean

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
an càird na càirdean relative
an caraid na caraidean friend
an clòsaid na clòsaidean closet
an t-iasgadair na h-iasgadairan fisherman
an taigh na taighean house
an t-sùil na sùilean eye

Make slender and suffix -ean

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
an clàrsach na clàrsaichean harp
an rathad na rathaidean road
am monadh na monaidhean moor


Syncope and suffix -(e)an

The Broad and Slender of new consonant cluster may change., then suffix -ean or -an

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
am bràthair na bràithrean brother
an dorus na dorsan door
an t-ubhal na h-ubhlan egg

Suffix annan

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
rium riumannan room

Suffix t(e)an

(other changes including deleting final vowel and broadening and making slender)

Common singular Common/Dative plural English
am baile na bailtean a' bheinn na beanntan mountain
an sgoil na sgoiltean

Suffix (a)ichean/achan

Suffix aichean

singular plural English
am bus na busaichean bus
an car na càraichean car
an sgona na sgonaichean scone
an t-ogha na h-oghaichean grandchildren

Suffix -ichean

singular plural English
an bocsa na bocsaichean box
am bàta na bàtaichean boat
an lampa na lampaichean lamp
an t-ogha na h-oghaichean grandchildren

Syncope and Suffix -aichean

singular plural English
cathair cathraichean chair
an seòmar na seòmraichean box


Suffix -achan

singular plural English
a' chiste na cisteachan chest

Suffix -chan

singular plural English
am balla na ballachan wall
an sofa na sofachan sofa

Irregular Plurals

singular plural English
a' bhò na ba cow
a' chaora na caoraich sheep
an cù na coin dog
an duine na daoine husband/person
a' mhuir na marannan sea
a' phiuthair na peathraichean sister

See Also

External Links

References

  • Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications.