Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/305

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289


A pers. pron, 3rd pers. sing., masc. gen., conjunctive form, nom. case, being the subject of ṫáinig.
le
A preposition governing the dative case.
capall
A common noun, first declens. gen. capaill, 3rd pers. sing., masc. gend. and dative case governed by le.
a
The softened form of the preposition do, which causes aspiration, and governs the dative case.
ċeannaċ.
A verbal noun, genitive ceannuiġṫe, 3rd pers. sing., dative case, governed by the preposition a.


IDIOMS.

TÁ … AGAM, I HAVE.

638. As already stated there is no verb “to have” in Irish. Its place is supplied by the verb followed by the preposition ag. The direct object of the verb “to have” in English becomes the subject of the verb in Irish: as, I have a book. Tá leaḃar agam. The literal translation of the Irish phrase is “a book is at me.

This translation appears peculiar at first sight, but it is a mode of expression to be found in other languages. Most students are