Adjectives
Position of adjectives
An important distinction between Irish and English is that the default position for attributive adjectives is after the noun in Irish.
| Example: |
Lá maith= Good day. |
|
Lá = day. Maith= good. |
Gender
Irish adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they refer to.
So, adjectives tend to follow the same rules as nouns.
Masculine nouns
usually end with a
broad vowel (AOU)
| An t-asal = the donkey |
An fear = the man |
Feminine nouns
usually end with a
slender vowel (IE)
| An chistin = the kitchen |
An eochair = the key |
The adjective adds a
séimhiú (h) if attached to a feminine noun
| Ceistdheacair = difficult question |
| Seachtain ghnóthach = busy week |
If following a masculine noun, it doesn't take a
séimhiú (H)
| Fear saibhir = rich man |
| Buachaill dícheallach = hardworking boy |
If attached to a plural noun, the adjective adds “-a/e”
| Cailín maith = good girl |
Buachaill ard = tall boy |
| Cailíní maithe = good girls |
Buachaillí arda = tall boys |
If the adjective already ends with a vowel, there is no change
| Oíche dorcha = dark night |
| Oícheanta dorcha = dark nights |
If the plural noun ends with a slender consonant, the adjective takes a séimhiú
| Fir fhlaithiúla = generous men |
| Teaghlaigh mhóra = big households |
Common adjective endings are:
| -iúil |
(suimiúil = interesting, difriúil = different) |
| -(e)ach |
(salach= dirty, uafásach= terrible) |
| -mhar |
(grianmhar = sunny, greannmhar= funny) |
| -air |
(deacair = difficult, láidir= strong) |
In plural form, they become
| -úla |
(suimiúla = interesting, difriúla = different) |
| -e)acha |
(salacha= dirty, uafásacha= terrible) |
| -mhara |
(grianmhara = sunny, greannmhara= funny) |
| -ra/re |
(deacra= difficult, láidre= strong) |
The Comparative Form of Adjectives:
Irregulars
| Mór = big |
níos mó= bigger |
is mó= the biggest |
| Beag= small |
níos lú= smaller |
is lú= the smallest |
| Maith= good |
níosfearr= better |
is fearr= the best |
Regulars
(if adjective ends with a consonant, slenderise and add “e”)
| Óg = young |
níos óige = younger |
is óige = youngest |
| Sean = old |
níos sine = older |
is sine = oldest |
(if adjective ends with (a)ir, change to ra/re)
| Saibhir= rich |
níos saibhre= richer |
is sine = richest |
| Deacair= difficult |
níos deacra= more difficult |
is deacra= most difficult |
(if adjective ends with (i)úil, change to (i)úla)
| Dathúil= pretty |
níos dathúla= prettier |
is dathúla= prettiest |
| Sláintiúil= healthy |
níos sláintiúla= healthier |
is sláintiúla= healthiest |
(if adjective ends with (e)ach, change to (a)í)
| Brónach= sad |
níos brónaí= sadder |
is brónaí= saddest |
| Úsáideach= useful |
níos úsáidí= more useful |
is úsáidí= most useful |
(if adjective ends with a vowel, no change)
| Éasca= easy |
níos éasca= easier |
is éasca= easiest |
| Nua= new |
níos nua= newer |
is nua= newest |
Note:
Adjectives starting with S are normally positive, those starting with D are normally negative
| Examples: |
Sona = happy/good |
Dona = bad |
|
Suairc= cheerful/bright |
Duairc= bleak/dark |
Numbers
When a number is between 2 and 19, and before a noun and adjective, put the adjective in the plural and add a séimhiú (déag = teen, also takes a séimhiú after nouns ending with a vowel)
| Examples: |
Trí mhadra = 3 dogs |
Trí mhadra dhonna = 3 brown dogs |
|
Ocht n-éan déag = 18 birds |
Ocht n-éan déag ghlasa = 18 green birds |
|
Cúig bhosca dhéag = 15 boxes |
Cúig bhosca dhéag dhearga = 15 red boxes |
Modifiers
We use some particles to express “very” / “too”, etc, with adjectives
An- = very
| Examples: |
An-mhaith = very good |
An-chairdiúil = very friendly |
An-éasca = very easy |
We don't add a séimhiú for words beginning with D N T L S
| Examples: |
An-sásta = very happy |
| Ró= too |
róthe = too hot |
ró-éasca= too easy |
