Aonad 37 Unit 37
NOTE: Click the sound file above to hear the Lesson.
Cúpla Focal
Last week’s lesson completes the Q&A programme for the Fáinne Airgid test – I hope you undertake the test with a teacher or you may do it via Skype or phone by contacting gaelarasmhicardgail@gmail.com
To see through our series of online lessons until the end of March, we will now look weekly at an aspect of grammar – keeping it simple and avoiding an overload of technical language – though some grammatical terms are necessary.
We will start this week by adding to our store of adjectives and by considering comparatives and superlatives , i.e. if we were to take the word ‘young’ in English, the comparative is ‘younger’ and the superlative is ‘youngest’ (you have met this example already).
Let’s look firstly at a list of adjectives and then we will embed some of them in sentences
|
Bunchéim |
Breischéim |
Sárcheim |
|
Óg (young) |
Níos óige |
Is óige |
|
Sean (old) |
Níos sine |
Is sine |
|
Cliste (clever) |
Níos cliste |
Is cliste |
|
Ard (tall, high) |
Níos airde |
Is airde |
|
Láidir (strong) |
Níos láidre |
Is láidre |
|
Lag (weak) |
Níos laige |
Is laige |
|
Bocht (poor) |
Níos boichte |
Is boichte |
|
Deas (nice) |
Níos deise |
Is deise |
|
Brónach (sad) |
Níos brónaí |
Is brónaí |
|
Leadránach (boring) |
Níos leadránaí |
Is leadránaí |
|
Suimiúil (interesting) |
Níos suimiúla |
Is suimiúla |
|
Cáiliúil (famous) |
Níos cáiliúla |
Is cáiliúla |
|
Dathúil (handsome) |
Níos dathúla |
Is dathúla |
|
Spéisiúil (interesting) |
Níos spéisiula |
Is spéisiula |
|
Leisciúil (lazy) |
Níos leisciúla |
Is leisciúla |
You will have spotted some patterns above though keep your ears alert for the following examples
|
Mór (big) |
Níos mó |
Is mó |
|
Beag (small) |
Níos lú |
Is lú |
|
Maith (good) |
Níos fearr |
Is fearr |
|
Olc (bad) |
Níos measa |
Is measa |
|
Tapa (quick, fast) |
Níos tapúla |
Is tapúla |
|
Te (hot) |
Níos teo |
Is teo |
Before listening, you may wish to fill in the gaps yourself in the following sentences - you might need a dictionary
Tá na daltaí níos _________ (óg) ná an múinteoir
The pupils are younger than the teacher
Tá na daltaí níos _________ (óg) ná an múinteoir
Tá mo sheanathair níos ____________ (sean) ná mo sheanmháthair
My grandfather is older than my grandmother
Tá mo sheanathair níos ____________ (sean) ná mo sheanmháthair
Tá mé níos _________ (maith) ag an Ghaeilge ná Máirín
I am better at Irish than Máirín
Tá mé níos _________ (maith) ag an Ghaeilge ná Máirín
Tá an Iodáil níos _______ (bocht) ná Meiriceá
Italy is poorer than America
Tá an Iodáil níos _______ (bocht) ná Meiriceá
Tá an truailliú níos ________ (olc) in Éirinn ná in aon tír eile
Pollution is worse in Ireland than it is in any other country
Tá an truailliú níos ________ (olc) in Éirinn ná in aon tír eile
Tá níos _________ (beag) daoine ag caitheamh toitíní
Fewer people are smoking
Tá níos _________ (beag) daoine ag caitheamh toitíní
Tá an Spáinn níos ________ (grianmhar) ná an Bhreatain
Spain is sunnier than Britain
Tá an Spáinn níos ________ (grianmhar) ná an Bhreatain
Is é Homer Simpson an t-athair is ___________ (clúiteach) ar domhan
Homer Simpson is the most famous father in the world
Is é Homer Simpson an t-athair is ___________ (clúiteach) ar domhan
Is é an Mháirt an lá is ________ (fada) agam mar ní chríochnaím go dtí a sé
Tuesday is my longest day as I don’t finish until 6 o’clock
Is é an Mháirt an lá is ________ (fada) agam mar ní chríochnaím go dtí a sé
Still using your dictionary, you may have time to check out comparatives and superlatives for the following adjectives:
Ciúin (quiet)
Uaigneach (lonely)
Glan (clean)
Salach (dirty)
Mall (slow, late)
Tábhachtach (important)
Misniúil (courageous, brave)
Cairdiúil (friendly)
Bán (white)
Go dtí an chéad Aonad eile, slán go fóill.
