The individual questions below are written in the form of the pronunciation guide. Read them aloud, or have someone read them to you. As you hear them, try to make up simple answers to them. If you are not sure of the meanings, look at the Key at lesson end. Specimen answers are given there, too.
KUN-uhs taw* too in-YOO?
KAW* vwil duh K*OH-tuh?
NAHK* rev shaw*n suh TAHK*?
kay* hay* SHIN er un MOH-uhr?
Where you stand
You have learned the basic elements of the first two declensions, or groups of nouns. We will continue with practice and drilling on these to make you more familiar with the various forms and to allow you to recognize them in reading and listening.
It will probably take a little time before you begin to use the genitive form in your own speech and writing, but you will do so more quickly if you make a conscious effort to do this.
Start first by using the compound prepositions, such as "os comhair" (ohs KOH-ir), in front of, whenever you can. These prepositions take the genitive, and they have the advantage of word order similar to that in English: "in front of the school" is "os comhair na scoile" (nuh SKUHL-e). "During the day" is "le linn an lae" (le lin un LAY*).
The next step for you will be use of the genitive with the verbal noun. For example, "playing tennis" is " ag imirt leadóige" (eg IM-irt la-DOH-i-ge).
Finally, after more practice, you will begin to introduce expressions like "múinteoirína scoile seo" (moo-in-TYOHR-ee nuh SKUHL-e shuh), teachers of this school, easily into your conversation.