The accusative case with the relative

This apparently formidable subject becomes simple when the everyday meaning of it is explained by illustration:

I prepared the lunch that Seán ate; d'ullmhaigh méan lón a d'ith Seán.

He will sell the boat that he bought last year; díolfaidh séan bád a cheannaigh séanuraidh.

The rule for "nach" and "nár" hold here, too. Samplaí:

D'fhill séar an doras nár oscail an múinteoir; he returned to the door that the teacher didn't open.

Chuir mo mháthair ar an mbord an gloine nach bhfaca mé; my mother put on the table the glass that I didn't see.

The danger of ambiguity or misunderstanding can arise here, however. Obviously, in the sentences just preceding, there is no mistaking who or what is doing or receiving the action in the second clause. For example, a door does not open a teacher, nor does a boat buy a person.

In other situations, however, the meaning may not be clear:

Sinéan fear a thuigeann Seán, This could be either "That is the man who understands Seán" or "That is the man whom Seán understands."

To avoid the ambiguity, follow this pattern:

Sinéan fear a dtuigeann Seáné; that is the man whom Sean understands; and keep the meaning of "Sinéan fear a thuigeann Seán" as "That is the man who understands Seán."

The "a" relative word in this usage eclipses instead of aspirating. In the past tense, "ar" and "nár" serve, with an "é," "í," or "iad" at the sentence end. The six irregular verbs: "déan, abair, téigh, feic, faigh, tá" are preceded by "a" and "nach" in the past, with eclipses occurring.

Examples:

Chonaic méan fear a bhuaileann mná; I saw the man who strikes women.

Chonaic méan fear nach mbuaileann mná; I saw the man who doesn't strike women.

Chonaic méan fear a mbuaileann mnáé; I saw the man whom women strike.

Chonaic méan fear nach mbuaileann mnáé; I saw the man whom women don't strike.

Chonaic méan fear ar bhuail mná. Chonaic méan fear ar bhuail mnáé.

Chonaic méan fear a fhuair Seán. Chonaic méan fear a bhfuair Seáné.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
Cleachtadh	\|	Irish Lesson 125

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