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Dhá, dó and beirt....

  • 18-07-2011 8:52pm
    #1
    Fr33thinker
    Closed Accounts Posts: 21 ✭


    Can someone set me straight on this. Dó is for inanimate objects, beirt is solely for humans, and what about dhá?


Comments

  • #2
    implausible
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,937 ✭✭✭implausible


    Dó is the name of the number - a haon, a dó, a trí. Dhá is for describing the number of things, you put it in front of the object - dhá bhliain. Beirt is for counting people - beirt cailín.


  • #3
    TheBody
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,633 ✭✭✭TheBody


    Hi OP,

    As a general rule "Dhá" is for counting nouns- dhá ríomhaire, dhá bhliain. We use beirt for people as you said- beirt deatháireacha. We use dó if we are just counting for example- a dó a chlog.


  • #4
    dambarude
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 2,503 Mod ✭✭✭✭dambarude


    And both 'dhá' and 'beirt' take a séimhiú (h)!


  • #5
    TheBody
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,633 ✭✭✭TheBody


    dambarude wrote: »
    And both 'dhá' and 'beirt' take a séimhiú (h)!


    Afraid I disagree with you there. Beirt does not take a séimhiú. Dhá does as you said.


  • #6
    dambarude
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 2,503 Mod ✭✭✭✭dambarude


    TheBody wrote: »
    Afraid I disagree with you there. Beirt does not take a séimhiú. Dhá does as you said.

    I'll have to disagree with your disagreement!

    'Beirt' does take a séimhiú (unless it's after d or t), but the other uimhreacha pearsanta (triúr, ceathrar srl.) don't.

    I refer you to this for more info on it.


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  • #7
    TheBody
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 5,633 ✭✭✭TheBody


    Hi,

    I'm afraid I'll have to disagree with you disagreeing with my disagreement! If you were to go with the rule on pg 29 of that document you should be able to say "beirt lheachtoir", obviously this is wrong.

    Perhaps it's a case that there is a difference in the dialects and pronunciations? Anyway, I think we answered the OPs question at any rate!


  • #8
    dambarude
    Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 2,503 Mod ✭✭✭✭dambarude


    Maybe I'm taking too much for granted...

    Any word that starts with a letter that can be séimhiú'd will take one after 'beirt', save d or t (and s, depending on who you're talking to). That's because of the DNTLS rule.

    H, L, R, and N cannot take a séimhiú, so yes, you're correct in saying 'beirt lhéachtóirí' is wrong. I just presumed that'd be known, but I shouldn't have.

    And you're right, the OP's question has been answered so I'll shut up now- this is a topic for another forum!


  • #9
    randylonghorn
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 29,509 ✭✭✭✭randylonghorn


    dambarude wrote: »
    this is a topic for another forum!
    Indeed! >.<


This discussion has been closed.
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