Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/233

when not an interrogative, we must use one of the prepositions (ag, do, i) + relative particle + possessive adjective (before the noun).

The man whose son was sick.

an fear

$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$

dá agá i n‑a

$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

raiḃ a ṁac tinn.

but dá, agá, or ’gá, i n‑a are often shortened to a, go, and ’na; hence the above sentence in colloquial Irish would be —

an fear

$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$

a go ’na

$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

raiḃ a ṁac tinn.

The woman whose son is sick visited us yesterday.

an ḃean úd

$\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$

go ’ġá &c.

$\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}$

ḃfuil a mac tinn ṫáinig sí ar ċuairt indé ċugainn.

545. To translate the English relative pronoun when governed by an active participle, we employ a somewhat similar construction; as—

The hare that the hounds are pursuing.

An girrḟiaḋ go ḃfuil na gaḋair ar a lorg (or ar a ṫóir, or ag tóraiġeaċt air).

The man whom I am striking.

An fear atá agam ’á (d’á, ġá) ḃualaḋ.