Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/231

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537. The relative particle, whether expressed or understood, always causes aspiration: as, an fear ḃeas ag obair, the man who will be at work.

538. The relative when preceded by a preposition causes eclipsis (unless the verb be in the Past Tense). When the relative a signifies “all that” or “what” it causes eclipsis: as, an áit i n‑a ḃ‑fuil sé, the place in which he is; a ḃfuil i mBaile-Áṫa-Cliaṫ, all that is in Dublin.

539. When the relative is governed by a preposition and followed by a verb in the Past Tense, the relative combines with ro (the old sign of the Past Tense), and does not eclipse: an áit ar ṫuit Aoḋ, the place where (in which) Hugh fell.

540. The eight verbs which do not admit of the compounds of ro being used before them (see par. 279) form an exception to the last rule: as, an tír i n‑a dtáinig sé the country into which he came.

541. In English, when the relative or interrogative pronoun is governed by a preposition, the pronoun very often comes before the governing word: as, What are you speaking about? The man that he gave the book to is here. In colloquial Irish it is a very common practice to separate the relative particle from the preposition which governs it ; but instead of using a simple preposition at the end of the sentence, as in English, we use a prepositional pronoun. Thus we