In the first sentence the year is supposed to be completed at the time we are speaking about, and is, therefore, past with regard to the time we are describing.
In the second sentence the time at which the action of staying (if we be allowed to use the word “action”) took place at the very beginning of the year that he spent there. The year itself came after the time we are describing; therefore it is future with regard to that time
It will be a great assistance to the student to remember that ar feaḋ or go ceann are used when in the English sentence the fact is merely stated, as in sentence (2); and that le is used when a secondary tense ought to be used in the English sentence, as in sentence (1).
(e) When “for” means “for the sake of,” use ar son followed by a genitive case.
- He toiled for a little gold. Ṡaoṫruiġ sé ar son beagáin óir.
(f) When “for” is used in connection with “buying” or “selling,” use ar followed by a dative case.
| He bought it for a pound. | Ċeannuiġ sé ar punt é. |
| I sold it for a shilling. | Ḋíolas ar sgilling é. |
(g) “For” after the English verb “ask” is not translated in Irish.
| He asked me for a book. | D’ iarr sé leaḃar orm. |
| Ask that man for it. | Iarr ar an ḃfear soin é. |
(h) “For” after the word “desire” (dúil) is usually translated by i (=in): as, Desire for gold, dúil i n‑ór or, dúil ins an ór.
