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Cad é an Gaeilge atá ar...

  • 07-02-2014 2:03pm
    #1
    Registered Users Posts: 69 ✭✭


    "To be honest..."
    "I like most music genres".
    "I'm glad to hear it".

    And most importantly how do I say "I have (song name) stuck in my head"?

    Go raibh maith agaibh!


«1

Comments

  • Registered Users Posts: 69 ✭✭freethink3r


    Chónaigh mé ann ó rugadh mé

    And is this correct grammar?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 536 ✭✭✭nosietoes


    "To be honest..."
    "I like most music genres".
    "I'm glad to hear it".

    And most importantly how do I say "I have (song name) stuck in my head"?

    Go raibh maith agaibh!

    Well you could say 'I ndairire' or 'caitheadh me a ra' for 'to be honest'


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,914 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    "To be honest..."
    "I like most music genres".
    "I'm glad to hear it".

    And most importantly how do I say "I have (song name) stuck in my head"?

    Go raibh maith agaibh!

    Chun a bheith macánta...
    Taitníonn ceol ó an-chuid seánraí liom.
    Deas é sin a chloisteáil.
    Tá ______ greamaithe i mo chloigean!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,953 ✭✭✭deirdremf


    "To be honest..."
    Déanta na fírinne ...
    "I like most music genres".
    Is maith liom beagnach gach cineál ceoil.
    "I'm glad to hear it".
    Is maith liom é sin a chloisteáil.
    And most importantly how do I say "I have (song name) stuck in my head"?
    Ní féidir liom fáil réidh le .... as mo cheann.
    Go raibh maith agaibh!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,953 ✭✭✭deirdremf


    Chónaigh mé ann ó rugadh mé

    And is this correct grammar?
    Grammatically, yes. But it needs some sort of a complement.

    Tá mé i mo chónaí ann ó rugadh mé.
    is what i'd say.

    Or you could say something like this:

    Chónaigh mé ann ó rugadh mé go dtí go raibh mé sé bliana d'aois.


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Táim ar strae leis an abairt seo:

    "I asked him if he could give me a job for the summer"

    D'fhiafraigh mé de má d'fhéadfadh sé post a thabhairt dom don samhraidh?

    Míle buíochas.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭pog it


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    Táim ar strae leis an abairt seo:

    "I asked him if he could give me a job for the summer"

    D'fhiafraigh mé de má d'fhéadfadh sé post a thabhairt dom don samhraidh?

    Míle buíochas.

    Well you have a few options with 'don samhradh'.

    See this from nualéargais grammar guide online:
    ts: In Ulster and Munster, a t-prefix is used with all nouns, beginning with s, if the preposition + article normally incurs lenition, and not eclipsis.
    e.g.: ar an tsúil = on the eye, ar an tsagart = on the priest
    ts (fem.): In the standard and Connacht, a t-prefix only precedes feminine nouns, independent of a customary lenition or eclipsis following the preposition + article.
    e.g.: ar an tsúil = on the eye but: ar an sagart = on the priest

    So, in other words if you are writing using the standard or Connacht dialect then you can leave it as 'don samhradh' but with Munster dialect or Ulster, it would be 'don tsamhradh'.

    I can't see the reason to add in the 'i' here unless it's some use of historic dative singular. It's probably fine though.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭pog it


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    Táim ar strae leis an abairt seo:

    "I asked him if he could give me a job for the summer"

    D'fhiafraigh mé de má d'fhéadfadh sé post a thabhairt dom don samhraidh?

    Míle buíochas.

    You could rephrase this as 'D'iarr mé post/jab samhraidh air' but that is more like 'I asked him for a summer job'.
    Fiafraigh implies a question.

    Or d'fhéadfadh tú a rá '....arbh fhéidir leis post a thabhairt dom...'


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 941 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    Táim ar strae leis an abairt seo:

    "I asked him if he could give me a job for the summer"

    D'fhiafraigh mé de má d'fhéadfadh sé post a thabhairt dom don samhraidh?

    Míle buíochas.

    ".....an bhféadfadh sé"


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    pog it wrote: »
    You could rephrase this as 'D'iarr mé post/jab samhraidh air' but that is more like 'I asked him for a summer job'.
    Fiafraigh implies a question.

    Or d'fhéadfadh tú a rá '....arbh fhéidir leis post a thabhairt dom...'

    Míle buíochas as an bhfreagra agus go háirithe an difríocht idir 'D'iarr' agus 'D'fhiafraigh' a chur ar mo shúile dom. Níor smaoinigh mé faoi sin roimhe seo.

    Pota Focal:

    "iarr VERB
    PAST d'iarr, PRESENT iarrann, FUTURE iarrfaidh, VERBAL NOUN iarraidh, VERBAL ADJECTIVE iarrtha
    »
    ask, request
    iarrann [A] [rud] ar [A] asks for [something]
    d'iarr mé gloine uisce ar an bhean I asked the woman for a glass of water
    DO NOT CONFUSE WITH fiafraigh"

    I.S.: Before this = 'roimhe seo' nó 'roimh seo'?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭pog it


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    I.S.: Before this = 'roimhe seo' nó 'roimh seo'?

    Níl a fhios agam a chara.

    You could try searching on 'corpas.focloir.ie' to see which one of the two turns up with the most references. You'll need to register first before you can search there.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Are both of these correct, and if so do they mean precisely the same thing?

    "chun [rud] a fheiceáil/a dhéanamh etc"

    "le [rud] a fheiceáil/a dhéanamh etc"

    I would use 'chun' in the above context, but "le feiceáil/le déanamh", ach nílim cinnte an bhfuilim ceart nó mícheart agus cén fáth.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭pog it


    They do come down to the same thing as far as I know.
    The difference between them might be a question of dialect or even that 'le' is softer.
    I've heard 'le haghaidh rud a dhéanamh' as well.

    Someone else may be better able to explain the difference. I'm not a native speaker.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Micilin Muc


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    I.S.: Before this = 'roimhe seo' nó 'roimh seo'?

    "Roimhe seo"
    "Leis seo"
    "air seo"
    "aige seo"

    Always the masculine singular, (unless we're talking about a female). Never just the preposition on its own.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 941 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    Are both of these correct, and if so do they mean precisely the same thing?

    "chun [rud] a fheiceáil/a dhéanamh etc"

    "le [rud] a fheiceáil/a dhéanamh etc"

    I would use 'chun' in the above context, but "le feiceáil/le déanamh", ach nílim cinnte an bhfuilim ceart nó mícheart agus cén fáth.

    They are both correct and mean the same thing.
    'Chun' is rarely used in Donegal and in the case you mention the 'le' is exactly what is used there instead of the 'chun'.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Thanks to the three of you once again.

    Staying on the "chun" structure, actually on the wider structure above. I hope I explain my problem clear here.

    1) I'm going shopping = Táim ag siopadóireacht
    2) I'm going shopping = Táim ag dul chun siopadóireacht a dhéanamh (Lit. I'm going to do shopping)


    First, is my literal translation of No. 2 above correct? Second, are both of these sentences using the ainm briathartha? If so, what grammatical term allows me to distinguish between both of them? If they mean the same thing, when would you use one over the other?

    Third, I think I am overusing 'chun' when I write such sentences as in No. 2 above. Is it possible, indeed better Irish, to leave it out and say, for instance, "Táim ag dul siopadóireacht a dhéanamh".

    Any advice will be appreciated/Bheinn buíoch díbh [duit?] as aon chomhairle.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 542 ✭✭✭GaelMise


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    1) I'm going shopping = Táim ag siopadóireacht
    2) I'm going shopping = Táim ag dul chun siopadóireacht a dhéanamh (Lit. I'm going to do shopping)

    I would say that number 1 above means 'I am shopping' not 'I am going shopping'.
    Third, I think I am overusing 'chun' when I write such sentences as in No. 2 above. Is it possible, indeed better Irish, to leave it out and say, for instance, "Táim ag dul siopadóireacht a dhéanamh".

    That does not look right to me, I would use chun in that sentance.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,914 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    Simplest thing above would be to say "Táim ag dul ag siopadóireacht".


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    An File wrote: »
    Simplest thing above would be to say "Táim ag dul ag siopadóireacht".

    OK. That's what I would have used. However, I'm now trying to expand my Irish and fully understand why people would use, say, "ag siopadóireacht" (shopping) over "siopadóireacht a dhéanamh" (do the shopping?). Also, can one use the latter, for instance, without "chun" or "le" before it?

    Would anybody know if the Irish, and English translations, of the following sentences are correct?

    Bhí sé ag siopadóireacht (He was shopping)
    Bhí sé ag déanamh a chuid siopadóireachta (He was doing his shopping)
    Chuaigh sé chun a chuid siopadóireachta a dhéanamh (He went to do his shopping)
    Chuaigh sé chun siopadóireacht a dhéanamh (He went to do shopping)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    I remember, I think, that after the verbal noun the word goes in the genitive case - e.g. Bhíos ag ól di (I was drinking a drink) but "Bhí sé ag déanamh oibre bhaile" (He was doing homework) doesn't look correct, although 'Bhí sé ag déanamh a chuid oibre bhaile' (He was doing his homework) sounds OK.


    What are the main ways one can say "He was doing homework"?


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Teanga = feminine noun, according to Focal.ie.

    I came across the following sentence: "D’fhoilsigh sí aistí faoi ghnéithe den aistriúchán de Dracula in Bliainiris, agus faoi ról an teanga Ghaelach sa Churaclam"

    The highlighted part means "the role of the Irish language in the curriculum"? Yes? If so, why isn't the feminine noun 'teanga' preceded by 'na' rather than 'an'?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Micilin Muc


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    Teanga = feminine noun, according to Focal.ie.

    I came across the following sentence: "D’fhoilsigh sí aistí faoi ghnéithe den aistriúchán de Dracula in Bliainiris, agus faoi ról an teanga Ghaelach sa Churaclam"

    The highlighted part means "the role of the Irish language in the curriculum"? Yes? If so, why isn't the feminine noun 'teanga' preceded by 'na' rather than 'an'?

    Firstly 'an teanga Ghaelach' is a sign of bad Irish. It's just "Gaeilge". There is more than one "teanga Ghaelach".

    Secondly, yes, you're right, grammatically speaking, it should be "ról na teanga ..."

    :)


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 941 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    gaiscioch wrote: »

    Would anybody know if the Irish, and English translations, of the following sentences are correct?

    Bhí sé ag siopadóireacht (He was shopping)
    Bhí sé ag déanamh a chuid siopadóireachta (He was doing his shopping)
    Chuaigh sé chun a chuid siopadóireachta a dhéanamh (He went to do his shopping)
    Chuaigh sé chun siopadóireacht a dhéanamh (He went to do shopping)

    That looks fine to me.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 941 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    I remember, I think, that after the verbal noun the word goes in the genitive case - e.g. Bhíos ag ól di (I was drinking a drink) but "Bhí sé ag déanamh oibre bhaile" (He was doing homework) doesn't look correct, although 'Bhí sé ag déanamh a chuid oibre bhaile' (He was doing his homework) sounds OK.


    What are the main ways one can say "He was doing homework"?

    I have always said "bhí sé ag déanamh obair baile" but I'm told that doesn't fit in with the standard so you should run with "bhí sé ag déanamh obair bhaile" to comply with the caighdeán oifigiúil.
    There is a distinction to be made between 'homework' and 'work' done 'on/in the home', however the Ó Domhnaill dictionary links the standard version with 'homework'.
    Anybody else able to throw some light on this?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭pog it


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    I remember, I think, that after the verbal noun the word goes in the genitive case - e.g. Bhíos ag ól di (I was drinking a drink) but "Bhí sé ag déanamh oibre bhaile" (He was doing homework) doesn't look correct, although 'Bhí sé ag déanamh a chuid oibre bhaile' (He was doing his homework) sounds OK.

    Yep, 'bhíos ag ól dí' is spot on, but don't be surprised if you hear 'ag ól deoch' without the genitive form. The genitive here has disappeared in Conamara Irish and even good and older native speakers in that dialect will say 'ag ól deoch' so don't let that confuse you.
    If you have or can get your hands on Ó Siadhail's 'Learning Irish', he explains this in that book.

    The genitive is much easier when it comes to definite nouns but with indefinite nouns just be careful as there are different rules for different stuff.

    You may already be familiar with this, but say in something like
    'ag ól deoch the'
    deoch stays in its nominative form as it is said to be qualified by an adjective. Whereas in the first phrase 'ag ól dí', deoch is an indefinite noun and is unqualified, so the genitive applies.

    The Coiste Téarmaíochta has a great guide, http://www.acmhainn.ie/tearmai/seimhiu.htm, and covers a lot of ground in one place. Don't be put off if it looks a bit intimidating at first! It was Micilín Muc who posted this link in a thread I started here a while back.

    The examples you gave above also throw up another thing. Cuid is said to be a partitive genitive so it is a special category.
    So with your phrase 'ag deanamh a chuid oibre bhaile' I think this section of the guide applies:
    Ainmfhocal éiginnte agus cáilitheoir faoi réir ag focail éiginnte ghinearálta
    Má ghabhann aidiacht, nó ainmfhocal sa ghinideach i gcáil aidiachta, le hainmfhocal éiginnte, moltar an t-ainmfhocal agus an aidiacht a fhágáil gan infhilleadh i ndiaidh na bhfocal saghas, sórt, cineál agus focal a bhfuil an bhrí ghinearálta cineál, méid, cuid, easpa, iomarca leo:
    sórt lá breá, go leor fíon dearg

    So it should be:

    'Bhí sé ag déanamh a chuid obair bhaile'


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭pog it


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    Teanga = feminine noun, according to Focal.ie.

    I came across the following sentence: "D’fhoilsigh sí aistí faoi ghnéithe den aistriúchán de Dracula in Bliainiris, agus faoi ról an teanga Ghaelach sa Churaclam"

    The highlighted part means "the role of the Irish language in the curriculum"? Yes? If so, why isn't the feminine noun 'teanga' preceded by 'na' rather than 'an'?

    Micilín Muc is spot on there. The Irish language is translated to 'Gaeilge'.

    Great page here on this topic from Ciarán Ó Duibhín:
    http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/~oduibhin/alba/ouch.htm


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 941 ✭✭✭An gal gréine


    pog it wrote: »

    Great page here on this topic from Ciarán Ó Duibhín:
    http://www.smo.uhi.ac.uk/~oduibhin/alba/ouch.htm

    Brilliant piece pog it. Thanks for posting it.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    She inspired me: Spreag sí dom? Spreag sí mise? I would have thought "do" is the preposition but no reliable online resource confirms this.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Micilin Muc


    Thug sí spreagadh dom ;)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Thug sí spreagadh dom ;)

    Excellent. Is there any rule/pattern/guideline one can extrapolate from that? More precisely, if I can say 'D'inis sí dom', 'Dúirt siad liom" etc, why can't the verb 'spreag' begin the sentence rather than 'Thug'?


  • Registered Users Posts: 3 Scattered Battered


    Basically I'm trying to say "I wanted/hoped you were wrong/incorrect". The best I can come up with is "Bhí mé ag dúil gurbh dul amú ort". But I was wondering if it was possible to swap "Bhí mé ag dúil" for "theastaigh uaim" and, if so, how would one complete the sentence in that case? As "Theastaigh uaim gurbh dul amú ort" just doesn't sound right for some reason.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,953 ✭✭✭deirdremf


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    Excellent. Is there any rule/pattern/guideline one can extrapolate from that? More precisely, if I can say 'D'inis sí dom', 'Dúirt siad liom" etc, why can't the verb 'spreag' begin the sentence rather than 'Thug'?
    You can of course start the sentence with spreag.
    Spreag sí ... spreag and direct object pronoun
    or
    Thug sí spreagadh dom ... thug and indirect object pronoun dom


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,953 ✭✭✭deirdremf


    Basically I'm trying to say "I wanted/hoped you were wrong/incorrect". The best I can come up with is "Bhí mé ag dúil gurbh dul amú ort". But I was wondering if it was possible to swap "Bhí mé ag dúil" for "theastaigh uaim" and, if so, how would one complete the sentence in that case? As "Theastaigh uaim gurbh dul amú ort" just doesn't sound right for some reason.

    Well, to begin with there is a big difference between "wanted" and "hoped".

    So first of all get that right: the verb you need here in English is, I think, hope.
    I hope = tá súil agam
    I hoped = bhí súil agam

    So I'd say:
    Bhí súil agam go raibh dul amú ort.
    or
    Bhí súil agam nach raibh an ceart agat.

    To my mind, theastaigh ... uaim means I wanted
    while bhí mé ag dúil le means I was looking forward to.

    That said, context is important, and I am sure that you will find other nuances to the meaning in other contexts.


  • Registered Users Posts: 69 ✭✭freethink3r


    Thanks everybody!

    If someone could also tell me whether or not this has mistakes, that'd be great too :o

    I want to say "I would love to visit" or "I would visit" New York. I'm not sure if it's just Nua-Eabhrac or if it's An Nua-Eabhrac.

    "B'aoibheann liom Nua Eabhrac a fheiceáil"?
    "B'aoibheann liom thabhairfainn cuairt ar Nua Eabhrac"?

    Or is "Thaistileoinn Nua Eabhrac" a bit neater to use if you're not great at sentence structure?


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,914 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    "B'aoibheann liom thabhairfainn cuairt ar Nua Eabhrac"?

    B'aoibheann liom cuairt a thabhairt ar Nua Eabhrac.


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  • Registered Users Posts: 69 ✭✭freethink3r


    An File wrote: »
    B'aoibheann liom cuairt a thabhairt ar Nua Eabhrac.

    Yeah, dealraíonn sin níos maithe.

    It's just that I was looking at a website that has:


    Rachainn, cinnte. Rachainn ar thuras timpeall an domhain. Thaistileoinn timpeall na hÁise ar feadh sé mhí nó mar sin agus ansin thabharfainn cuairt ar Mheiriceá Theas. D’fhanfainn ansin ar feadh sé mhí eile agus d’fhoghlaimeoinn roinnt Spáinnise

    Is "thabharfainn cuairt ar..." correct there?


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,914 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    "Thabharfainn cuairt [ar]" means "I would visit".

    "Ba mhaith liom cuairt a thabhairt" means "I would like to pay a visit".


  • Registered Users Posts: 5 ExiledMike


    Hey everyone!

    How would you say 'Corrections are welcome' (or 'I welcome any corrections') as gaeilge? I find it's a useful phrase to have when posting things in a new language. :)


    Míle buíochas!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,842 ✭✭✭Micilin Muc


    Fáilte roimh cheartúcháin.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,912 ✭✭✭pog it


    Fáilte roimh cheartúcháin.


    :eek:


    :)


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  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    I've a recurring grammar question. When two nouns come together, the second noun goes in the genitive. When a noun is followed by an adjective the adjective gets a seimhiú if the noun is feminine - e.g. bean mhaith; fear maith.

    My understanding of an adjective is that it describes or qualifies a noun. I know leabhar is a noun as is gramadach, but why does 'gramadach' not work as an adjective when it's describing the type of book, leabhar gramadach, rather than leabhar gramadaí?

    PS: For the noun 'grammar' Focal.ie has 'graiméar' (of book) and 'gramadach' (of science). What's the difference between both? Should it be Leabhar Graiméir?


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 634 ✭✭✭Míshásta


    Fáilte roimh cheartúcháin.

    I used to see the abbreviation FRC used after posts in Irish once upon a time - I used to put it under messages also.

    This indicated that the poster welcomed corrections to any mistakes he or she might have made.

    However, I don't see it used anymore. Of course there is virtually no posting in Irish on forums unfortunately.


  • Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,914 Mod ✭✭✭✭Insect Overlord


    Míshásta wrote: »
    However, I don't see it used anymore. Of course there is virtually no posting in Irish on forums unfortunately.

    Facebook and Twitter have taken over. All the Gaeilge forums I know of are sadly quiet!


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 634 ✭✭✭Míshásta


    gaiscioch wrote: »
    I've a recurring grammar question. When two nouns come together, the second noun goes in the genitive. When a noun is followed by an adjective the adjective gets a seimhiú if the noun is feminine - e.g. bean mhaith; fear maith.

    My understanding of an adjective is that it describes or qualifies a noun. I know leabhar is a noun as is gramadach, but why does 'gramadach' not work as an adjective when it's describing the type of book, leabhar gramadach, rather than leabhar gramadaí?

    PS: For the noun 'grammar' Focal.ie has 'graiméar' (of book) and 'gramadach' (of science). What's the difference between both? Should it be Leabhar Graiméir?

    Although I have reasonable Irish (I hope :) ) - I'm not too good at the gramadach.

    However, I think "leabhar gramadach" is not correct - where did you come across it?

    "leabhair graiméir" is an unnecessary usage of two words where one would suffice. "Grammar book" is simply "graiméar".

    Irish is more specific than English in this case, having a separate word for the 'subject' and 'the book about the subject'

    Is mar sin mar a thuigimse an scéal ar aon nós.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 634 ✭✭✭Míshásta


    Yeah, dealraíonn sin níos maithe.

    níos fearr


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Míshásta wrote: »
    Although I have reasonable Irish (I hope :) ) - I'm not too good at the gramadach.

    However, I think "leabhar gramadach" is not correct - where did you come across it?

    "leabhair graiméir" is an unnecessary usage of two words where one would suffice. "Grammar book" is simply "graiméar".

    Irish is more specific than English in this case, having a separate word for the 'subject' and 'the book about the subject'

    Is mar sin mar a thuigimse an scéal ar aon nós.

    Thanks; never knew a grammar book was simply 'graiméar'. I've never seen "leabhar gramadach" either - always leabhar gramadaí. But on further searching I think the answer to my question is simply that it's not only adjectives which modify nouns and in the case of 'leabhar gramadaí' we have a compound noun with the second noun modifying the first and therefore because there are two nouns together the second is in the genitive. I think! (corrections welcome). In English a noun can work as an adjective - e.g. mountain in 'mountain bike' - I just am not sure if the same applies in Irish, or when it applies.


  • Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 1,534 ✭✭✭gaiscioch


    Gáirdín Cuimhneacháin an Gharda Síochána (Garda Síochána memorial gardens)

    Gáirdín Cuimhneacháin = two nouns together (gáirdín & cuimhneachán, with the latter put in genitive, cuimhneacháin)?

    an Gharda Síochána = of the Garda Síochána (genitive case)

    "An" indicates that the noun following is masculine, and that 'Garda Síochána' is therefore masculine. So my next question is: does the first word in a compound noun (Garda Síochána?) always determine the gender of the whole compound noun? (i.e. Garda is masculine and Síocháin is feminine but if the above sentence is in the genitive case 'Garda Síochána' seems to be masculine)?

    Anybody throw light on the pattern here?


  • Registered Users Posts: 3 Scattered Battered


    So for years I assumed that "An Coláiste Ollscoile, Baile Átha Cliath" was how you said "UCD" in Irish as it was written in many official UCD documents, and various Irish language websites so have been saying "D'fhreastail mé ar Choláiste Ollscoile Bhaile Átha Cliath". But recently I've had a few more fluent Irish speakers correct me saying that UCD is "Ollscoil Bhaile Átha Cliath" and didn't explain why the Coláiste bit was dropped.

    And so, now I'm confused as to which is correct: "D'fhreastail mé ar Choláiste Ollscoile Bhaile Átha Cliath" or "D'fhreastail mé ar Ollscoil Bhaile Átha Cliath"?


  • Administrators, Entertainment Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 18,750 Admin ✭✭✭✭✭hullaballoo


    UCD has always been (An) Coláiste Ollscoile Baile Átha Cliath (COBÁC). Without "coláiste", it could be confused with the TCD, which is known in English (albeit not commonly) as "University of Dublin". "University of Dublin" is "Ollscoil Baile Átha Cliath".


    I'm open for correction, but that would be my take on the reason why "coláiste" is always included when referring to UCD.


  • Closed Accounts Posts: 69 ✭✭David Webb


    "To be honest..."
    "I like most music genres".
    "I'm glad to hear it".

    And most importantly how do I say "I have (song name) stuck in my head"?

    Go raibh maith agaibh!

    In Cork Irish (my version of it at least):

    To be honest: chun na fírínne ' reá dhuit
    I like most music genres: gach aon tsaghas ceóil, is maith liom iad uile, nú geall leis
    I'm glad to hear it: cuireann sé áthas orm é an méid sin d'aireachtaint
    I have a song name stuck in my head: tá ainm amhráin éigint sáite istigh im cheann


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