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adjekt2.htm
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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<link href="stíl.css" rel="stylesheet">
<link rel="icon" href="favicon.ico">
<meta charset="UTF-8">
<meta name="Author" content="Lars Bräsicke">
<meta name="GENERATOR" content="me fein">
<title>Comparative forms</title>
</head>
<body text="#000000" bgcolor="#FFCC99" link="#0000EE" vlink="#551A8B" alink="#FF0000" background="bg524f.jpg">
<table width="100%" bgcolor="#FFCC99">
<tr>
<td>
<h1 id="oben"><span class="red">Caibidil a Dó: The
adjective (an Aidiacht)</span></h1>
<h2 class="red">Comparative forms
(an Chomparáid)</h2>
</td>
</tr>
</table>
<hr width="100%">
<table width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<tr>
<td><a href="#Steigerungsform">The comparative</a> <br>
- <a href="adjekt2.htm#regelmaessig">regular form</a>
<br> - <a href="adjekt2.htm#unregelmaessig">irregular form</a>
<br> - <a href="#mo">comparative with mó and lú</a>
<br> - <a href="adjekt2.htm#de">the suffix -de</a>
<br><a href="adjekt2.htm#Komparativ">use of the comparative</a>
<br>
<a href="adjekt2.htm#praedik">predicative and adverbial use</a> <br>
- <a href="adjekt2.htm#spleach">dependent comparative</a>
<br>
- <a href="adjekt2.htm#neamhspleach">autonomous comparative</a>
<br>
<a href="adjekt2.htm#attrib">attributive use</a> <br>
- <a href="adjekt2.htm#unbest-unabh">autonomous comparative
and indef. noun</a> <br>
- <a href="adjekt2.htm#jed">every other case</a> <br>
- <a href="adjekt2.htm#bestimmt">definite noun</a> <br>
<a href="adjekt2.htm#Gleichheit">the equative</a></td>
</tr>
</table>
<h2 id="Steigerungsform"> <i><span class="red">the comparative
(an chomparáid)</span></i></h2>
In Irish there are <b>only two grades of comparison (céimeanna comparáide):</b>
<ul>
<li>the <b>positive (bunchéim)</b> <br>
This is the base form of the adjective</li>
<li>the <b>comparative (breischéim)</b> <br>
The comparative expresses, depending on the context, the <i>superlativ (sárchéim)</i>
as well! A superlativ on it's own does not exist.</li>
</ul>
<p>(The differentiation found in many books, and even grammar books, of the comparatives
with <i>níos</i> of a "superlative" using <i>is</i> too simplified
and just wrong)
<h3 id="regelmaessig"><b class="red">The regular form of the
comparative form (foirm bhreischéime)</b></h3>
<p>The regular form is the <b><i>feminine genitive singular form</i></b>
of the adjective (see <a href="adjekt3.htm"> declension</a>) <br>
Here again as a rundown:
<ul>
<li><b class="lightgreen">1st declension:</b>
<ol>
<li>adjectives <b><i>ending in a consonant </i></b> are palatalised + <b class="red">-e</b>:
<br>
e.g: <i>ban - baine, glic - glice, ramhar - raimhre, moch - moiche, imríoch
- imríche</i></li>
<li>adjectives <b><i>ending in -ach/ -each</i></b> get the suffix <b class="red">-aí/-í</b>:
<br>
e.g.:<i>aisteach - aistí, salach - salaí</i> <br>
(in the old spelling: <b class="red">-aighe/-ighe</b>
> -aí/í, e.g. <i>aisteach - aistighe</i>)</li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><b class="lightgreen">2nd declension:</b>
<ol>
<li>adjectives <b><i> ending in -úil:</i></b> get the suffix <b class="red">-úla</b>:
<br>
e.g: <i>spéisiúil - spéisiúla</i></li>
<li>adjectives <b><i>ending in -ir:</i></b> get the suffix <b class="red">-ra</b>:
<br>
e.g: <i>deacair - deacra, cóir - córa</i></li>
</ol>
</li>
<li><b class="lightgreen">3rd declension:</b>
<ol>
<li>adjectives <b><i>ending in a vowel :</i></b> in the standard, the comparative
form = the base form<br>
e.g: <i>dorcha - dorcha, beo - beo</i></li>
<li>in Connacht, <i><b>monosyllabic</b></i> adjectives <i><b>ending in a
vowel </b></i> a comparative form with the additional suffix <b class="red">-(o)cha</b>
<br>
e.g.: <i>beo - beocha, breá - breácha, buí - buíocha</i>.
<br>
The same comparative form occurs with monosyllabic adjectives of the 1st
declension <i><b>ending in -bh</b></i> ( -bh mostly voiceless) <br>
e.g.: <i>tiubh</i> [t'u:] - <i>tiúcha</i> (standard: <i>tibhe</i>),
<i>dubh</i> [du:] - <i>dúcha</i> (standard: <i>duibhe</i>).</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="unregelmaessig"><b class="red">The irregular form:</b></h3>
<p>There are only a few irregular comparative forms: <br>
<table border width="200" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<tr>
<td><b>English</b></td>
<td><b>positive</b></td>
<td><b>comparative</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>good</td>
<td class="red bold">maith</td>
<td class="red bold">fearr</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>bad</td>
<td class="red bold">dona</td>
<td class="red bold">measa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>evil</td>
<td class="red bold">olc</td>
<td class="red bold">measa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>small</td>
<td class="red bold">beag</td>
<td class="red bold">lú</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>big</td>
<td class="red bold">mór</td>
<td class="red bold">mó</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>long</td>
<td class="red bold">fada</td>
<td><b><span class="red">faide</span>,
<br><span class="red">sia</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>pretty</td>
<td class="red bold">breá</td>
<td class="red bold">breátha</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>hot</td>
<td class="red bold">te</td>
<td class="red bold">teo</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>simple</td>
<td class="red bold">furasta</td>
<td class="red bold">fusa</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>much</td>
<td class="red bold">iomaí</td>
<td class="red bold">lia</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>close</td>
<td class="red bold">fogas</td>
<td class="red bold">foisce</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>nice</td>
<td class="red bold">ionúin</td>
<td><b><span class="red">ansa</span>, <span class="red">ionúine</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>likely </td>
<td class="red bold">dócha</td>
<td class="red bold">dóichí</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>strong </td>
<td class="red bold">tréan</td>
<td><b><span class="red">tréise</span>, <span class="red">tréine</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>dry </td>
<td class="red bold">tirim</td>
<td><b><span class="red">tirime</span>, <span class="red">tiorma</span></b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>rather </td>
<td class="red bold">-</td>
<td class="red bold">túisce</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>closer (to) </td>
<td class="red bold">-</td>
<td><b class="red">neasa</b> (do)</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><i>mó</i> and <i>lú</i> are also used for <i>more</i> and <i>less</i>.
<h3 id="mo"><b><span class="red">forming</span><font color="#CC0000">
the comparative with <i>mó</i> and <i>lú</i></font></b></h3>
<p>Some adjectives have the same comparative form as the base form (as in the
standard of all of the 3rd declension). <br>
In order to signify the comparative, one can additionally use the word <b class="red">mó</b>
(= bigger, more) or <b class="red">lú</b> (= smaller,
less). <br>
Theoretically, this form is possible with all adjectives. <br>
Especially <i>lú</i> one can make a softened statement in the sense of
"less": (e.g.: <i>is lú is sean = not so old, less old</i>). Here one
often uses the abstract noun instead of the adjective (<i>níos lú
fearúileacht = less masculine</i>) <br>
<table border width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<tr>
<td><b>tense</b></td>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>present </td>
<td><b class="red">is mó / lú is</b> + adjective-base form</td>
<td>Is mó is crua é ná riamh = it is worse than ever</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>preterite/conditional</td>
<td nowrap><b class="red">ba mhó / lú ba</b> + adjective-base form</td>
<td nowrap>Ba mhó ba chrua é ná riamh. = it was worse
than ever </td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>alternative</td>
<td><b class="red">is mó / lú</b> + noun</td>
<td>an fear is mó cáil = the most famous man </td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>The latter form is very similar to the German genitive attributive "ein man
<i>größten Ruhmes</i>"=a man of greatest fame
<h3 id="de"><b><span class="red">the suffix <i>-de</i> = the...the:</span></b></h3>
<p>Sometimes <b class="red">-de</b> is added to the comparative
form<br>
Mainly, this has the meaning <i>"the...-er"</i> <br>
e.g. <i>fearrde = the better, móide = the bigger/more</i><i>, lúide
= the less</i> </p>
<p>Actually, this <i>-de</i> is the <a href="praepro.htm">prepositional pronoun</a>
<b><i>de</i></b> (preposition <a href="de.htm">de</a> + é) and literally
means "of him, of it" <br>
Principally, this acts as a pronoun that refers to a preceding or following
part of the sentence. <br>
e.g.:
<br>
<i>Is fusai<b>de</b> é a dhéanamh. = the simpler it is done.</i>
(literally: "Is simpler-of it it to do") <br>
<i>Is fearr<b>de</b> é thú. = the better it is for you</i> (literally:
"Is better-of it it you") <br>
<i>Ní mis<b>te</b> (measa + de) liom é. = it doesn't bother me.</i>
(literally: "not-is worse-of it with-me it", also: "it is not any worse, I think")
<br>
<i>Ní mói<b>de</b> go rachfaidh mé. = It is not likely,
that I will go.</i> (literally: "not-is bigger-of it that I will go", also:
"it is not any more, that ...") <br>
<i>Is mói<b>de</b> an trua. = the more tragic it is.</i> (literally:
"it bigger-of it the pity")
<p>móide and lúide serve also as "plus" and "minus" <br>
<i>lúide 10 bpunt = minus 10 Pfund</i> (lit. "less-of it10 Pfund", "the
less 10 Pfund")
<p><b><i>de</i></b> can less often also stand alone with the base form of the
adjective: <br>
e.g.: <i>Bí cinnte <u>de</u> go ... = be sure <u>of it</u> , that ...</i>
<p>Instead of the suffix <i>-de</i> in the comparative, <b>is amhlaidh is</b>
+ <i>comparative</i> is used in the sense of <i>"the...the"</i>. <br>
This is especially done in constructions with the <a href="adjektiv.htm#jedesto">abstract
noun</a>.
<p><hr width="100%">
<h2 id="Komparativ"><i class="red">use of the comparative (comhréir na breischéime)</i></h2>
<p>The comparative form can <b><i>not </i></b> be used like a normal adjective
predicative and attributive. It is a <i>purely predicative</i> adjective form
(e.g.: "he is bigger"). An attributive use ("the bigger man") can only
with the help of a relative clause, in which the comparative is the predicate.
(e.g.: "the man who is bigger"). <br>
Furthermore, the comparative form can only be used with the copula (also "níos"
is a copular form) <br>
When using the comparative form one must make sure that if the adjective is
to be used
<ul>
<li><b><i>predicative/adverbial</i></b> (e.g. I am bigger/I run faster) or</li>
<li><b><i>attributive</i></b>(e.g.: I am the bigger/biggest man, I am the faster/fastest
runner)</li>
</ul>
and also if it is to be
<ul>
<li><b><i>dependent </i></b>(with a comparative object: e.g. I am bigger <i>than
you </i>) or</li>
<li><b><i>autonomous</i></b> (without a comparative object: I am bigger).</li>
</ul>
<h3 id="praedik"><span class="red">predicative and adverbial use:</span></h3>
<h4 id="spleach"><b><i><span class="lightgreen">the
dependent comparative (comparáid spleách)</span></i></b></h4>
<p>This use is marked by the use of the der conjunction <b><span class="red">ná</span>
= als</b>.
<p>In <b>clauses with a real verb</b>:
<ul>
<li>In the <b>present</b>, <b class="red">níos</b> is
placed before the comparative form. <br>
<i>Níos</i> is formed out of <i>ní </i>(= thing) and <i>is</i>
(= <a href="kopul1.htm">copula </a>). Literally translated, níos would
mean "a thing that is...".[ <a href="#fn1" id="fnverweis1">1</a>
] <br>
This <i>ní</i> (= thing)<i> </i>is not to be confused with the negativen
verbal particle <i>ní</i> (= not).</li>
<li>Because instead <i>is</i> is <i>ba </i>in the <b>preterite/conditional</b>,
there is the possibility of <b class="red">ní ba</b>
(literally: "a thing that was..."). <br>
Also often appearing as one word: <b class="red">níba</b>.
But níos is also used in the preterite/conditional.</li>
</ul>
<table width="900" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<tr>
<td><b>tense</b></td>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>present </td>
<td><b class="red">níos</b> + comparative form</td>
<td>Tá an ghrian <span class="red"> <b><i>níos gile</i></b></span> ná an ghealach. = The sun is brighter than the moon.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>pret. and condit.</td>
<td><b class="red">ní ba / níba</b> + comparative form</td>
<td>Bhí an ghrian <b><i class="red">ní ba ghile</i></b>
ná an ghealach. = The sun was brighter than the moon.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>pret. and cond. preceding vowel/ fh</td>
<td><b class="red">ní b' / níb</b> + comparative form</td>
<td>Bhí an ghrian <b><i class="red">ní b'áille</i></b>
ná an ghealach. = The sun was prettier than the moon.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>In <b>copular clauses</b>:
<ul>
<li>The <b>copula </b> can take the place of bí<b> </b>in the present
and preterite/conditional, then <i>níos / níba</i> does not
occur <br>
but simply <b class="red">is / ba</b> (without ní)</li>
</ul>
<table width="900" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<tr>
<td><b>tense</b></td>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>present</td>
<td><b class="red">is</b> + comparative form</td>
<td><b><i class="red">Is gile</i></b> an ghrian ná
an ghealach. = The sun is brighter than the moon.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>pret. and condit.</td>
<td><b class="red">ba</b> + comparative form</td>
<td><i><b class="red">Ba ghile</b></i> an ghrian ná
an ghealach. = The sun was brighter than the moon.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>pret. and cond. preceding vowel /fh</td>
<td><b class="red">b'</b> + comparative form</td>
<td><b><i class="red">B'áille</i></b> an ghrian ná
an ghealach. = The sun was prettier than the moon.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p><i>Is fearr Gaeilge bhriste ná Béarla cliste! = Broken Irish
is better than clever English!</i>
<p><b>If a verb follows ná</b>
<p>In this case, <b class="red">ná (mar), seachas mar, thar mar</b>
appears with a direct relative clause: <br>
<i>Labhraíonn sé níos fearr ná (mar) a scríobhann
sé. = He speaks better than he writes. </i>
<h4>
<b id="neamhspleach"><i class="lightgreen">The autonomous comparative (comparáid néamhspleách)</i></b></h4>
If the <i>than-</i>part is omitted (e.g. "The sun is brighter" <b><i>instead of
</i></b> "The sun is brighter <i>than the moon</i>"), one speaks of the autonomous
comparative <br>
In the form of the clause, nothing changes.
<p>e.g.: <i>Tá an aimsír níos teo inniu. = The weather is
warmer today.</i> <br>
<i> Bhí an ghrian níba
ghile inné. = The sun was brighter yesterday.</i>
<h4><b><i class="lightgreen">miscellaneous</i></b></h4>
<p>To express the <b>increase of an attribute</b> (e.g."to get better"), one uses
the verb <b>éirigh</b> <br>
e.g.: <i>D'éirigh an aimsir níos teo ón lá inné
= The weather became warmer since yesterday.</i> <br>
Or one uses the <a href="adjektiv.htm#besserwerden">gradual abstract noun</a>
instead of the comparative form with the verb <b>téigh</b> + <b>i</b>:
<br>
e.g.: <i>Tá sé ag dul i bhfeabhas. = It will get better.</i>
<p>To make statements with <b>much + comparative</b> (e.g.: "much better"), one
uses <b class="red">mórán</b> = "an amount", <b class="red">cuid
mhaith</b> = "a good bit" or <b class="red">i bhfad</b>
= "in length" <br>
e.g. <i>cuid mhaith níos fearr = much better, mórán níos
mó = much bigger, i bhfad níos measa = much worse</i>. <br>
Similarly, one can also use numbers, especially <b class="red">seacht</b>
= "seven (times)". <br>
e.g.: <i>Tá sise seacht níos áille ná tusa. = She
is seven times prettier than you.</i>
<h3 id="attrib"><span class="red">Attributive use:</span></h3>
<p>The term "attributive" is really only in the German translation correct. <br>
In Irish, the comparative is not used attributively. Because of this, auxilliary
constructions with relative clauses are necessary (e.g. instead of "the bigger
man" follows "the man that is bigger" = <i>an fear is mó</i>)
<h4 id="unbest-unabh"><i><font color="#009900">indefinite noun <u>and</u>
autonomous comparative</font></i></h4>
<u>Only</u> in this case can one use <b><i class="red">níos /
níba + comparative</i></b> attributively
<p>e.g.: Ba mhaith liom <i>carr níos fearr</i>. = I would like to have<i>
a better car</i>. <br>
lit.: "would be good with-me <i>car thing-that-is better</i>"
<h4 id="jed"><i class="lightgreen">every other case</i></h4>
<p>In every other case, also:
<ul>
<li>definite noun and/or</li>
<li>dependent comparative (with a <i>than</i>-suffix)</li>
</ul>
If one uses the comparative as a <b><i class="red">dir. relative clause
with the copula </i></b> <br>
<table width="900" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<tr>
<td><b>tense</b></td>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>present</td>
<td><b class="red">is</b> + comparative form</td>
<td>Tá leabhar <b class="red">is mó</b> agamsa
ná do cheannsa. = I have a bigger book than you.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>pret. and condit.</td>
<td><b class="red">ba</b> + comparative form</td>
<td>Bhí leabhar <b class="red">ba mhó</b> agamsa
ná do cheannsa. = I had a bigger book than you.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>pret. and cond. preceding vowel/fh</td>
<td><b class="red">ab</b> + comparative form</td>
<td>Bhí leabhar <b class="red">ab áille</b>
agamsa ná do cheannsa. = I had a prettier book than you.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p id="bestimmt"><b><i class="lightgreen">definite nouns</i></b>
<p>This is especially the case in which the <b>superlative</b> would occur.
<br>
How to translate such an Irish expression (comparative or superlative), is only
to be seen from the context. <br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is mó = the bigger man</i> or: <i>the biggest man</i>
(lit.: "the man that is bigger") <br>
<br>
Note the following:
<ul>
<li>If <b class="red">ná</b> (<i>= than</i>) follows,
it is always in the comparative sense: <br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is mó ná mise = the man, that is bigger than
me</i></li>
<li>In the case of a comparative object, one uses, in the superlative sense,
not <i>ná</i> but
<ul type="square">
<li><b class="red">de</b> (<i>= of</i>) together with a
group term (the biggest<i> of ...</i>) <br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is mó de na daoine = the biggest man of the people,
an ceann is lú den bheirt = the smaller of the two</i></li>
<li><b class="red">ar</b> (<i>= on</i>) together with a
group term<br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is mó ar an domhan = the biggest man in the world,
ar a chineál = of his kind</i> <br>
"by far" is expresses <b class="red">ar fad</b> . <br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is mó ar fad = the by far biggest man</i></li>
<li>a further <b class="red">relative clause</b> <br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is mó atá ann = the biggest man that there
is </i></li>
<li>a further <b class="red">relative clause</b> with <b class="red">dá</b>
(<a href="de.htm">de</a> + <a href="satz4.htm#Verallg.%20Relativpronomen">gen.
relative pronoun a</a> > <b class="red">dá</b>)
<br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is mó dá bhfaca mé riamh = the biggest
man that I have ever seen</i> (literally: "... of-all-that saw I ever)";
<br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is mó dá bhfuil ann = the biggest man of
all that there is</i> (literally.: "... of-all-that are in-it")</li>
</ul></li>
<li>In identifying clauses one may omit the subject (because it is equal to
the predicate noun) <br>
e.g.: <i>Ba í an tsúil chlé (an tsúil) ba laige
aige. = The left eye is his weaker (eye)</i></li>
<li>Definite nouns with the comparative form are only possible with the article
(not with other defining words).
<ul type="square">
<li>This is why there can <b class="red">never a possessive pronoun</b>
occurring here! <br>
Instead of that, a short direct relative clause with a form of <a href="ag.htm">ag</a>:
(e.g.our = atá againn, my = atá agam, etc.), often there
is only one form of <b class="red">ag</b>: (e.g.: againn,
agat, etc.) <br>
e.g.: <i>ár dteach mór</i> = our big house <b>but:</b> <i><u>an</u>
teach is mó (atá) <u>againne</u></i> = our biggest house</li>
</ul></li>
<li>Often one uses, in place of a copular identification clause, a construction
of bí with the preposition <b class="red">ar</b>:
(see <a href="bi_ina.htm">identification clauses without the copula </a>)
<br>
e.g.: <i>Tá sé ar an duine is cliste sa rang. = He is the smartest
in the class.</i></li>
<li>To make a statement like "his is one of the smartest" (classificatory clause)
one uses again the preposition <b class="red">ar</b> + plural
of the noun: <br>
e.g.: <i>Tá sí ar na cailiní is áille atá
ann. = She is one of the prettiest girls that there is.</i></li>
<li>Statements like"the <b>second </b>biggest / <b>second</b> bigger" etc.:
<b class="red">an dara</b> + noun + <b class="red">comparative</b>
<br>
e.g.: <i>an dara fear is mó = the second largest man; an dara seomra
is dorcha = the second darkest room; an tríú háit is
fearr = the third best place</i></li>
<li>To make (actually predicative) statements like: "He is <b>the bigger/biggest</b>",
one uses the noun <b class="red">ceann</b> (= "head") as
a pronoun <br>
<table width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<tr>
<td><b>tense</b></td>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>present </td>
<td nowrap><b class="red">Is</b> + subject + <b class="red">an ceann + is </b> + comparative form</td>
<td nowrap> <i>Is</i> í an bhean <i>an ceann is mó</i>.
= The woman is the bigger / biggest.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>preterite / conditional </td>
<td nowrap><b class="red">Ba</b> + subject + <b class="red">an ceann + ba/ab</b> + comparative form </td>
<td nowrap> <i>Ba</i> í an bhean <i>an ceann ba mhó</i>.
= The woman was the bigger / biggest</td>
</tr>
</table><br></li>
<li>As one can see, the superlative thought is in its sense "attributive", it
is not possible to use it adverbiallly, e.g.: "Seán runs <i>the fastest</i>."
<br>
Either one uses the more comparative <i>Ritheann Seán níos luaithe.
= Seán runs faster.</i> <br>
or one must rearrange it to: [ <a href="#fn2" id="fnverweis2">2</a>
]: <br>
<i>Is é Seán is luaithe rith. = "Seán is the fastest
running "</i> <br>
<i>Is é Seán is luaithe a ritheann. = "Seán is the fastest
who runs"</i></li>
<li>A genitive expression like: "a man <i>of the highest fame</i>" is translated
with the nominative: <br>
e.g.: <i>an fear is airde clú = a man of the highest fame</i> (lit.:
"a man is highest fame")</li>
</ul>
<hr width="100%">
<h2 id="Gleichheit"><i class="red">The equative (an chéim
chóthroim)</i></h2>
<p>or also <i>degree of equity</i> (cóthroim = comh + trom = as strong)
<p>The equative expresses that 2 things are the same w.r.t. an attribute (e.g
You are as big as me.) <br>
Like in German one needs 2 words ("so...wie"="as ... as"): <b class="red">chomh</b>
(= "as") and <b class="red">le</b> (= "as", lit."with"). <br>
The adjective in the base form comes between the two. Instead of le also <b class="red">agus
/ is</b> (= "and") with a dir. relative clause can be used.
<h3><i class="lightgreen">The predicative equative</i></h3>
<p>Statements like<b>"He is as big as you"</b> <br>
<table width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<colgroup><col width="50%"><col width="50%"></colgroup>
<tr>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tá + subject + <b class="red">chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">le</b> + comparative object:</td>
<td>Tá mé <i>chomh</i> mór <i>le</i> Pól. = I am as big as Paul.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tá + subject + <b class="red">chomh</b> + adj.
+ <b class="red">agus (is)</b> + direct relative clause:</td>
<td>Tá mé <i>chomh</i> mór <i>is atá</i> Pól. = I am as big as Paul.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>For statements like "<b>He is just as big</b>" one uses the words <b class="red">seo/sin/siúd</b>
or <b class="red">céanna</b>. <br>
<table width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<colgroup><col width="50%"><col width="50%"></colgroup>
<tr>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tá + subject + <b class="red">chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">seo/sin/siúd</b></td>
<td>Tá sé <i>chomh</i> mór <i>seo</i>. = He is just as
big (as this).</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tá + subject + <b class="red">chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">céanna</b></td>
<td>Tá mé <i>chomh</i> sásta <i>céanna</i>. =
I am <i>just as </i> happy.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>It is also possible to use <b class="red">comh-</b> as a prefix
to the adjective or noun: <br>
Tá siad <i>comhairde</i> = They are <i>equally big</i>.
<p>Statements like "<b>He is so big that</b> ..." are made similarly to the German/English
with <b class="red">go</b> (= that), but connected via <b class="red">agus</b>
(or there is a demonstrative pronoun): <br>
<table width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<colgroup><col width="50%"><col width="50%"></colgroup>
<tr>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tá + subject + <b class="red">chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">agus go/nach</b></td>
<td>Bhí mé <i>chomh</i> sásta <i>agus go</i> raibh tú ann.
<br>
= I was <i>so</i> happy, <i>that</i> you were there.</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tá + subject + <b class="red">chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">sin</b> + <b class="red">go/nach</b></td>
<td>Bhí mé <i>chomh</i> sásta <i>sin go</i> raibh tú ann.
<br>
= I was <i>so</i> happy, <i>that</i> you were there.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>Statements like <b>"so big, as if..."</b> are formed with <b class="red">dá</b>
and an irreal conditional clause: <br>
<table width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<colgroup><col width="50%"><col width="50%"></colgroup>
<tr>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td>tá + subject + <b class="red">chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">agus dá</b></td>
<td>Bhí mé <i>chomh</i> dona <i>agus dá</i> mbeidh mé tinn.
<br>
= I was feeling so bad, as if I were sick.</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>The interrogative form <b>"how big is he?"</b> is <b class="red">cé
chomh</b> (= how?, lit. "who so?") again with <b class="red">le</b>
<br>
<i>Without</i> cé it can be used as an exlamation ("<b>how big he is!</b>")
<br>
As opposed to the German, the logical subject of such clauses appears after
<i>le</i> : <i>chomh mór leat! = how big you are!</i> (lit.: "so big
with-you") <br>
<table width="100%" bgcolor="#FFFFCC">
<colgroup><col width="10%"><col width="40%"><col width="50%"></colgroup>
<tr>
<td>-</td>
<td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>question:</b></td>
<td><b class="red">Cé + chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">le</b> + subject?</td>
<td><i>Cé chomh</i> sásta <i>le</i>at? = How happy are you?
<br>
<i>Cé chomh</i> sásta <i>le</i> Pól? = How happy is
Paul?</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><b>exclamation:</b></td>
<td><b class="red">Chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">le</b>
+ subject!</td>
<td><i>Chomh</i> sásta <i>le</i>at! = How happy you are! <br>
<i>Chomh</i> sásta <i>le</i> Pól! = How happy Paul is!</td>
</tr>
</table>
<p>examples: <br>
<i>Cé chomh hard leis an tsliabh? = How high is the mountain?</i> <br>
<i>Cé chomh beag leis an bpáirc? = How small is the park?</i>
<br>
<i>Féach, chomh domhain leis an loch! = Look, how deep the lake is!</i>
<p>Another form to express something similar is (without the equativr, but with
the abstract noun) see <a href="adjektiv.htm#wieerist">"amazing, how big he
is"</a> (also as a question: "how ... is he?") <br>
The interrogative form <i>cá + adj. = how ... is ...</i>, e.g. <i>Cá
hard é? = How high is it?</i> is also possible.
<h3><i class="lightgreen">The attributive equative</i></h3>
<p>Statements like e.g.: <b>"as good a man as you"</b>
<p><b>chomh</b> + adjective + <b>le</b> is simply placed after the noun. <br>
The classification is done via bí + ar or bí + i:
<p><table width="100%" bgcolor="#ffffcc">
<colgroup><col width="50%"><col width="50%"></colgroup>
<tr><td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td></tr>
<tr><td nowrap>noun + <b class="red">chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">le</b> + comparative object </td>
<td nowrap><i>Tá sé ar fhear chomh maith leat = He is as good
a man as you. <br>
Tá sé ina fhear chomh maith leat = He is as good a man as
you.</i> <br>
(lit.: "is he on / in-his man so good as-you")</td>
</tr></table>
<p>Possible is also: <b>chomh</b> + adj. + <b>de</b> + noun + <b>le</b>:
<p><table width="100%" bgcolor="#ffffcc">
<colgroup><col width="50%"><col width="50%"></colgroup>
<tr><td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td></tr>
<tr><td nowrap><b class="red">chomh</b> + adj. + <b class="red">de</b> + noun + <b class="red">le</b> + comparative object </td>
<td nowrap><i>Tá sé chomh maith d'fhear leat = He is as good a man
as you.</i> <br>
(lit.: "is he so good of man with-you")</td>
</tr></table>
<p>A substantivisation of the adjectives with the prefix <b>comh-</b> = "same"
(<b>có-</b> preceding mh-) is possible. Otherwise the substantivised
adjective remains unchanged to the adjective form. The comparative object acts
as the possessive pronoun.
<p><table width="100%" bgcolor="#ffffcc">
<colgroup><col width="50%"><col width="50%"></colgroup>
<tr><td><b> form</b></td>
<td><b>example</b></td></tr>
<tr>
<td nowrap>possessive pron. + <b class="red">comh-</b> + substantiv. adj. + <b class="red">de</b> + noun </td>
<td nowrap><i>Níl do chómhaith d'fhear anseo. = There is no
good man such as you here.</i> <br>
(lit.: "not-is your same-goodness of man here")</td>
</tr></table>
<p>
<hr width="100%">
<center>
<a href="#oben" title="nach oben">suas (top)</a> <br>
<br>
<a href="adjekt1.htm">adjectives</a>
<br><a href=".">Gramadach na Gaeilge</a>
<br>
<hr width="100%">
<font size="-2">© <a href="https://braesicke.de/index.htm">Lars Bräsicke</a> 1999 / 2002</font></center>
<p><br><br>
[ <a href="#fnverweis1" id="fn1">1</a> ] <font size="-1">The use of
a clause with <b>níos</b> deserves an explanation: <br>
Because a clause like "Tá an bhean níos fearr" ( = "The woman
is better") is comprised of two parts: a main clause "Tá an bhean ní"
( = "the woman is a thing") and one for the comparative customary copular relative
clause "is fearr" ( = "... that is better"). <br>
The main clause is problematic, because it is both logical ("the woman is a
thing") and grammatically (classificatory clause with bí instead of the
copula ) difficult to explain. <br>
It appears rather, that "ní" ( = "a thing") is not seen as a noun here,
but as an adverb, which explains the use of bí (tá) and also relates
the logically false statement "woman = thing". <br>
Earlier this "ní" was also no noun at all, but a topical pronoun, <i>a
n-í = the one who</i>, comparable to the still used <i>an té =
the person who</i> <br>
This "adverbial" or even "pronominal" ní connects to the copular relative
form "is" to "níos". </font> <br>
<br>
[ <a href="#fnverweis2" id="fn2">2</a> ] <font size="-1">thankfully
contributed by: Panu Höglund © 2002 </font><br>
<a href="https://github.com/cuplamilefocal/gnag">view on github</a>
<a href="https://braesicke.de/adjekt2.htm">view original German</a></body>
</html>