Lag Iolraí? Weak plurals - huh?

Cad iad? Tá dhá cinéal ann. Two types.

1. Plural is created by slendarising the final sylable, ending with a slendarised consonant!! Críoch le consan caol!

Bád                 Báid
Fear                Fir
Taoiseach       Taoisigh

2. Plural is created by adding an "a"

Bróg                     Bróga
Leabharlann         Leabharlanna
Cleas                    Cleasa

Sin é!
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Tomhais!

1. Is iomaí crú a chaith sé ach níor shiúil sé slat aríamh?
   
2. Droichead thar loch gan mhaite gan chloch?
3. Is airde é ina shuí ná ina sheasamh?
4. Is airde é is an cloigeann bainte dé?
5. Lár a chroí istigh in a cheann agus é ina sheasamh?
6. Tá sé sa chúinne is ní fhágann sé é ach téann sé thart ar gach dúiche faoin ré?
7. Cén droim is láidre ar domhan?
   

 

Thuas agus Thíos, Suas agus Síos, Anuas agus Aníos. First Steps! Céad Céimeanna!

I introduced this topic a few days ago at an Irish Language event in Ollscoil an Chroí Rónaofa.
Some of the students were familiar with this, others were not. Unfortunately our time was short that day  by which I mean I was not sure at the end that everyone fully understood. A few students have since asked questions about this segment of the class, so I decided the best approach would be to post my notes here in case there are others for whom the fog has not yet fully dispersed.
Feel free to post your examples or questions in the Comments Section below as they may be helpful to others!
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                                Thuas agus Thíos, Suas agus Síos, Anuas agus Aníos.

These words all mean Up and Down when translated from Irish to English, but how do you know which to use? Note what they have in common: "uas" and "íos" and then consider the following.

1.  If there is no motion then Up and Down are represented by Thuas and Thíos respectively.

• Tá Seán thuas staighre. (Seán is upstairs) - no motion, it doesn't matter where you are!
• Tá Seán thíos staighre (Seán is downstairs) - no motion, it doesn't matter where you are! 

2.   Suas and Síos, Up and Down, are used with a verb of motion in the Irish language.

• Going Up = Ag dul suas
• Going Down = Ag dul síos.

3. What about Coming up and Coming down though?

We have a specific word in Irish for “from below”: aníos
We have a specific word in Irish for “from above”: anuas

“Coming up” implies “Coming from below” think of it this way, aníos
“Coming Down” implies “Coming from above”, anuas

So:

• Coming up = ag teacht aníos
• Coming down = ag teacht anuas
  
  
  

Examples: The choice of verb may depend on where you are in relation to what you are saying.

You are downstairs.

• Tá Seán ag teacht anuas an staighre (Seán is coming down the stairs - towards you - verb Tar)

• Tá Seán ag dul suas an staighre (Seán is going up the stairs - away from you - verb Téigh)

You are upstairs. 

• Tá Seán ag teacht aníos an staighre (Seán is coming up the stairs - towards you)

• Tá Sean ag dul síos an staighre. (Seán is going down the stairs - away from you)
  
  

How would you say, Conas a déarfá?

• The flowers are coming up!
•  My cat is sitting up in that tree!!
• The snow is falling down. 
• I’m going down to the 5th floor now. 
• I will be working down in the basement tomorrow. 
• Seán, come down! I need your assistance.

Once these céad céimeanna are clear then it will be easier for you to understand other concepts, mar shampla:
Sall/anall, siar/aniar, soir/anoir agus eile!