User:Erisceres/O'Nolan's Introduction to Studies in Modern Irish

Lesson I: Classification Sentences Using Masculine Nouns and Pronouns with the Copula and an Indefinite Predicate

In classification sentences using copular syntax, a subject is described by a predicate, while the copula is the element that links the two together.

Key: copula, predicate, subject.

The Masculine Subject

The subject is the element being described that is being described. Unless a specific noun is being used to refer to the subject, it is generally referred to with a pronoun. The pronoun itself conforms to the grammatical gender and number of the predicate. Where the predicate consists of a singular masculine noun, the singular masculine disjunctive pronoun é is used for the subject.

Subject Pronouns and Nouns:

• é – masculine subject pronoun
• é seo – “this” (masc.)
• é sin – “that” (masc.)
• rud – “a thing”
• an rud – “the thing”
• an rud é sin – “the sort of thing that that object is” (masc.)

The Indefinite Masculine Predicate

The predicate is the element that describes the subject.

Predicate Pronouns and Masculine Nouns:

• ea – the indefinite predicate pronoun

Conjunctions:

• nó – “or”
• ná – “nor”
• ní … ná – “neither … nor”
• ach – “but”

The Copula

In present/future main clauses, is is the affirmative copular form, ní – which triggers h-prothesis – is the negative copular form, and an is the interrogative copular form.

Forms of the Copula:

• is – affirmative copula
• ní^H – negative copula
• an – interogative copula

Syntax

In simple copular syntax, the indefinite predicate follows immediately after the copula, and precedes the subject:

• Is leabhar é. “It is a book.”

In intensive copular syntax, where the predicate is emphasised, the indefinite predicate precedes the copula while the neuter disjunctive singular predicate pronoun ea (only used in copular clauses) takes its original position:

• Leabhar is ea é. “It is a book” (rather than anything else suggested).

When responding to the interrogative, the affirmative form is is ea while the negative form is ní hea:

• An leabhar é sin? Ní hea. “Is that a book? No.”
• An peann é? Is ea. “Is it a pen? Yes.”

In the interrogative where the predicate is unknown, interrogative predicate pronouns are used instead of the copula:

• Cad é an rud é sin? Is leabhar é. “What is that thing? It is a book.”
• Cé acu leabhar nó peann é seo? Peann is ea é. “Which is this, a book or a pen? It is a pen.”
• Cé acu leabhar nó peann é sin? Ní leabhar ná peann é, ach lasán. “Which is that, a book or a pen? It is neither a book nor a pen, but a match.”

Note:

• Cad é an rud é sin? – This syntax has no copula element. The predicate is cad, “what”. The entire subject consists of é an rud é sin; the initial pronoun é refers to an rud.
• Cé acu leabhar nó peann é seo? – Again, this syntax has no copula element. The subject is simply é seo, “this”. Headed by the interrogative predicate pronoun cé, “which”, the subject presents an alternative divided by the conjunction nó, “or”; the preceding prepositional pronoun acu refers to this presented alternative leabhar nó peann, “a book or a pen”.