Ag Adhartachadh Cànan agus Dualchas nan Gàidheal
Basic Declension of Nouns and Adjectives
This is the fundamental paradigm. However, there are many nouns and adjectives that have certain case forms, etc., which are different; these must be learnt, and will be given in any good dictionary.
Masculine Nouns
Singular
| indefinite | definite | |
| nominative / accusative | bàrd mòr | am bàrd mòr |
| genitive | bàird mhòir | a’ bhàird mhòir |
| dative | bàrd mòr | a’ bhàrd mhòr |
| vocative | a bhàird mhòir! |
Plural
| indefinite | definite | |
| nominative / accusative | bàird mhòra | na bàird mhòra |
| genitive | bhàrd mòra | nam bàrd mòra |
| dative | bàird mhòra | na bàird mhòra |
| vocative | a bhàrda mòra! |
Feminine Nouns
Singular
| indefinite | definite | |
| nominative / accusative | cluas mhòr | a’ chluas mhòr |
| genitive | cluaise mòire | na cluaise mòire |
| dative | cluais mhòir | a’ chluais mhòir |
| vocative | a chluas mhòr! |
Plural
| indefinite | definite | |
| nominative / accusative | cluasan mòra | na cluasan mòra |
| genitive | chluasan mòra | nan cluasan mòra |
| dative | cluasan mòra | na cluasan mòra |
| vocative | a chluasa mòra! |
Points to Remember
- In the genitive singular of feminine nouns, the final -e is often dropped, especially with polysyllabic nouns. Adjectives accompanying feminine nouns in the genitive singular are often put in the dative case form (e.g. na cluaise mhòir instead of na cluaise mòire) in speech and informal writing.
- The genitive plural must end broad. It takes the form of the nominative singular or nominative plural, whichever ends broad. If both end broad (e.g. craobh, craobhan) then either may be used. The only exception is daoine.
- In the plural, lenition of adjectives only occurs when the noun ends slender.
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