Most polysyllables whereof the last vowel is broad, are masculine.

FEMININES. Nouns signifying females are feminine; as, bean a woman, mathair a mother, bo a cow, &c. Except bainionnach or boirionnach a female, mart a cow, capull a horse or mare, but commonly a mare, which are masculine, and caileann or cailinn a damsel, masculine or feminine.[31] Mark, vi. 28.

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Some nouns denoting a species are feminine, even when the individual spoken of is characterised as a male; as, gabhar fhirionn, a he-goat. Psal. l. 9.

Names of countries; as, Albainn Scotland, Eirinn Ireland.

Names of musical instruments; as, clarsach a harp, piob, a pipe.

Names of the heavenly bodies; as, Grian sun, Gealach moon.

Names of diseases; as, teasach a fever, a' ghriuthach the measles, a' bhreac the small-pox, a' bhuidheach the jaundice, a' bhuinneach, a diarrhoea, &c.

Collective names of trees or shrubs are feminine; as, giuthasach a fir wood, iugharach a yew copse, seileach a willow copse, droighneach a thorny brake.

Diminutives in ag or og; as, caileag a girl, cuachag a little cup.

Derivatives in achd; as, iomlanachd fulness, doillearachd duskiness, doimhneachd depth, rioghachd kingdom, sinnsireachd ancestry, &c.

Abstract nouns formed from the genitive of adjectives; as, doille blindness, gile whiteness, leisge laziness, buidhre deafness, &c.

Many monosyllables in ua followed by one or more consonants are feminine; as, bruach a bank, cruach a heap, cuach a cup, cluas an ear, gruag the hair of the head, sguab a sheaf, tuadh a hatchet, tuath peasantry.

Almost all polysyllables, whereof the last vowel is small, except those in air and iche, already noticed, are feminine.

A few nouns are of either gender; Salm a Psalm, creidimh belief, are used as masculine nouns in some places, and feminine in others. Cruinne the globe, talamb the earth, land, are masculine in the nominative; as, an cruinne-cé the globe of the earth. Psal. lxxxix. 11., xc. 2.—D. Buchan. 1767. p. 12. 15; an talamh tioram the dry land. Psal. xcv. {43} 5. The same nouns are generally feminine in the genitive; as, gu crìch na cruinne to the extremity of the world. Psal. xix. 4.; aghaidh na talmhainn the face of the earth. Gen. i. 29. Acts xvii. 24.

OF DECLENSION.

Nouns undergo certain changes significant of Number and of Relation.

The forms significant of Number are two: the Singular, which denotes one; and the Plural, which denotes any number greater than one.

The changes expressive of Relation are made on nouns in two ways: 1. On the beginning of the noun; 2. On its termination. The relations denoted by changes on the termination are different from those denoted by changes on the beginning; they have no necessary connection together; the one may take place in absence of the other. It seems proper, therefore, to class the changes on the termination by themselves in one division, and give it a name, and to class the changes on the beginning also by themselves in another division, and give it a different name. As the changes on the termination denote, in general, the same relations which are denoted by the Greek and Latin cases, that seems a sufficient reason for adopting the term case into the Gaelic Grammar, and applying it, as in the Greek and Latin, to signify "the changes made on the termination of nouns or adjectives to mark relation".[32] According to this description of them, there are four cases in Gaelic. These may be {44} named, like the corresponding cases in Latin, the Nominative, the Genitive, the Dative, and the Vocative.[33] The Nominative is used when any person or thing is mentioned as the subject of a proposition or question, or as the object of an action or affection. The Genitive corresponds to an English noun preceded by of. The Dative is used only after a preposition. The Vocative is employed when a person or thing is addressed.

The changes on the beginning of nouns are made by aspirating an initial consonant; that is, writing h after it. This may be called the Aspirated form of the noun. The aspirated form extends to all the cases and numbers. A noun, whereof the initial form is not changed by aspiration, is in the Primary form.

The accidents of nouns may be briefly stated thus. A noun is declined by Number, Case, and Initial form. The Numbers are two: Singular and Plural. The Cases are four: Nominative, Genitive, Dative, and Vocative. The Initial form is twofold: the Primary form, and the Aspirated form peculiar to nouns beginning with a consonant.

In declining nouns, the formation of the cases is observed to depend more on the last vowel of the nominative than on {45} the final letter. Hence the last vowel of the nominative, or in general of any declinable word, may be called the characteristic vowel. The division of the vowels into broad and small suggests the distribution of nouns into two Declensions, distinguished by the quality of the characteristic vowel. The first Declension comprehends those nouns whereof the characteristic vowel is broad; the second Declension comprehends those nouns whereof the characteristic vowel is small.

The following examples are given of the inflection of nouns of the

FIRST DECLENSION.

Bard, mas. a Poet.

Singular. Plural. Nom. Bard Baird Gen. Baird Bard Dat. Bard Bardaibh Voc. Bhaird Bharda

Cluas, fem. an Ear.

Singular. Plural. Nom. Cluas Cluasan Gen. Cluaise Cluas Dat. Cluais Cluasaibh Voc. Chluas Chluasa

Formation of the Cases of Nouns of the First Declension.

Singular Number.

General Rule for forming the Genitive.—The Genitive is formed from the Nominative, by inserting i after the characteristic vowel, as, bàs mas. death, Gen. sing. bàis; fuaran m. a fountain, g. s. fuarain; clarsach f. a harp, g. s. clarsaich. Feminine monosyllables likewise add a short e to the Nominative; as, cluas f. an ear, g. s. cluaise; làmh a hand, g. s. làimhe[34].

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Particular Rules for the Genitive.—1. If the nominative ends in a vowel, the genitive is like the nominative; as, trà m. a time or season, g. s. trà; so also beatha f. life, cro m. a sheepfold, cliu m. fame, duine a man, Donncha Duncan, a man's name, and many others. Except bo f. a cow, g. s. boin; cu m. a dog, g. s. coin; bru f. the belly, g. s. broinn or bronn.

2. Nouns ending in chd or rr have the genitive like the nominative; as, uchd m. the breast, sliochd m. offspring, feachd m. a host, reachd m. statute, cleachd m. habit, beachd m. vision, smachd m. authority, fuachd m. cold, sprochd m. gloom, beannachd m. a blessing, naomhachd f. holiness, earr m. the tail, torr m. a heap. Except slochd g. s. sluichd m. a pit, unless this word should rather be written sloc, like boc, cnoc, soc.

3. Monosyllables ending in gh or th add a for the genitive; as, lagh m. law, g. s. lagha; roth m. a wheel, g. s. rotha; sruth m. a stream, g. s. srutha. Except àgh m. felicity, grace, or charm, g. s. aigh[35].

4. Monosyllables characterised by io either drop the o or add a for the genitive; as, siol m. seed, g. s. sìl; lion m. a net, g. s. lìn; crioch f. a boundary, g. s. crìch; cioch f. the pap, g. s. cìche; fion m. wine, g. s. fiona; crios m. a girdle, g. s. criosa; fiodh m. timber, g. s. fiodha. Except Criost or Criosd m. Christ, which has the gen. like the nominative.

5. Many monosyllables, whose characteristic vowel is a or o, change it into u and insert i after it; as, gob m. the bill of a bird, g. s. guib; crodh m. kine, g. s. cruidh; bolg or balg m. a bag, g. s. builg; clog or clag m. a bell, g. s. cluig; lorg f. a staff, g. s. luirge; long f. a ship, g. s. luinge; alt m. a {47} joint, g. s. uilt; alld m. a rivulet, g. s. uilld; car m. a turn, g. s. cuir; carn m. a heap of stones, g. s. cuirn. So also ceol m. music, g. s. ciuil; seol m. a sail, g. s. siuil. Except nouns in on and a few feminines, which follow the general rule; as, bròn m. sorrow, g. s. bròin; lòn m. food, g. s. lòin; cloch or clach f. a stone, g. s. cloiche; cos or cas f. the foot, g. s. coise; bròg f. a shoe, g. s. bròige. So also clann f. children, g. s. cloinne; crann m. a tree, g. s. croinn. Mac m. a son, has its g. s. mic.

6. Polysyllables characterised by ea change ea into i; as, fitheach m. a raven, g. s. fithich; cailleach f. an old woman, g. s. caillich[36]. These two suffer a syncope, and add e; buidheann f. a company, g. s. buidhne; sitheann f. venison, g. s. sithne.

Of monosyllables characterised by ea, some throw away a and insert i; as, each m. a horse, g. s. eich; beann f. a peak, g. s. beinne; fearg f. anger, g. s. feirge. Some change ea into i; as, breac m. a trout, g. s. bric; fear m. a man, g. s. fir; ceann m. a head, end, g. s. cinn; preas m. a bush, g. s. pris; breac f. the small-pox, g. s. brice; cearc f. a hen, g. s. circe; leac f. a flag, g. s. lice. Gleann m. a valley, adds e, g. s. glinne. Some add a to the nominative; as, speal m. a scythe, g. s. speala. Dream f. people, race, gean m. humour, have their genitive like the nominative. Feall f. deceit, g. s. foill or feill. Geagh m. a goose, makes g. s. geoigh.

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7. Nouns in eu followed by a liquid, change u into o and insert i after it; as, neul m. a cloud, g. s. neoil, eun m. a bird, g. s. eoin; feur m. grass, g. s. feoir; meur m. a finger, g. s. meoir; leus m. a torch, g. s. leois. Beul m. the mouth, g. s. beil or beoil; sgeul. m. a tale, g. s. sgeil or sgeoil. Other nouns characterised by eu add a for the gen., as, treud m. a flock, g. s. treuda; feum m. use, need, g. s. feuma; beum m. a stroke, g. s. beuma. Meud m. bulk, beuc m. a roar, freumh f. a fibre, root, hardly admit of a, but have their gen. rather like the nom.

8. Monosyllables characterised by ia change ia into ei; as, sliabh m. a moor, g. s. sleibh; fiadh m. a deer, g. s. feidh; biadh m. food, g. s. beidh or bidh; iasg m. fish, g. s. eisg; grian f. the sun, g. s. greine; sgiath f. a wing, g. s. sgeithe. Except Dia m. God, g. s. De; sgian f. a knife, g. s. sgine.

Piuthar f. a sister, has g. s. peathar; leanabh m. a child, g. s. leinibh; ceathramh m. a fourth part, g. s. ceithrimh, leabaidh or leaba f. a bed, g. s. leapa; talamh m. earth, g. s. talmhainn.

The Dative singular of masculine nouns is like the nominative; of feminine nouns, is like the genitive; as, tobar m. a well, d. s. tobar; clarsach f. a harp, g. s. and d. s. clarsaich; misneach f. courage, g. s. and d. s. misnich.



Particular Rules for the Dative of Feminine Nouns.—1. If e was added to the nominative in forming the genitive, it is thrown away in the dative; as, slat f. a rod, g. s. slaite—d. s. slait; grian f. the sun, g. s. greine, d. s. grein.

2. If the nominative suffered a syncope in forming the genitive, or if the last vowel of the genitive is broad, the dative is like the nominative; as, buidheann f. a company, g. s. buidhne, d. s. buidheann; piuthar f. a sister, g. s. peathar, d. s. piuthar.

The Vocative of masc. nouns is like the genitive; of feminine nouns is like the nominative; as, bàs m. death, g. s. bàis, v. s. bhais; cu m. a dog, g. s. coin, v. s. choin; grian f. the sun, v. s. ghaoth. {49}

Plural Number.

Nominative. Masculine nouns which insert i in the gen. sing. have their nom. plur. like the gen. sing.; as, oglach m. a servant, g. s. oglaich, n. p. oglaich; fear m. a man, g. s. and n. p. fir. Many of these form their nom. plur. also by adding a short a to the nominative singular. Other masculine nouns, and all feminine nouns, have their nom. plural in a, to which n is added, euphoniae causa, before an initial vowel[37].



Particular Rules for forming the Nom. Plur. in a or an.

1. By adding a to the nom. singular; as, dubhar m. a shadow, n. p. dubhara; rioghachd f. a kingdom, n. p. rioghachdan. Under this Rule, some nouns suffer a syncope; as, dorus m. a door, n. p. dorsa for dorusa.

2. Nouns ending in l or nn, often insert t before a; as, reul m. a star, n. p. reulta; beann f. a pinnacle, n. p. beannta. So lòn m. a marsh, n. p. lòintean.

3. Some nouns in ar drop the a, and add to the nom. sing. the syllable aich; and then the final a becomes e, to correspond to the preceding small vowel; as, leabhar m. a book, n. p. leabhraiche; tobar m. a well, n. p. tobraiche; lann. f. an enclosure, inserts d, n. p. lanndaiche. Piuthar f. a sister, from the g. s. peathar, has n. p. peathraiche; so leaba f. a bed, g. s. leapa, n. p. leapaiche. Bata m. a staff, n. p. batacha; la or latha a day, n. p. lathachan or laithean.

4. Some polysyllables in ach add e or ean to the genitive singular; as, mullach m. summit, g. s. mullaich, n. p. mullaichean; otrach m. a dunghill, n. p. otraichean; clarsach f. a harp, n. p. clarsaichean; deudach f. the jaw, n. p. deudaichean. So sliabh m. a moor, g. s. sleibh, with t {50} inserted, n. p. sleibhte. Sabhul m. a barn, g. s. sabhuil, n. p. saibhlean, contracted for sabhuilean.

The following Nouns form their Nominative Plural irregularly: Dia m. God, n. p. dée or diathan; scian f. a knife, n. p. sceana or scinichean; sluagh m. people, n. p. sloigh; bo. f. a cow, n. p. ba.



Genitive. 1. Monosyllables, and nouns which form their nominative plural like the genitive singular, have the genitive plural like the nominative singular; as, geug f. a branch, g. p. geug; coimhearsnach m. a neighbour, g. s. and n. p. coimhearsnach.

2. Polysyllables which have their nominative plural in a or an, form the genitive like the nominative; leabhar m. a book, n. p. and g. p. 'leabraichean'—When the nominative plural is twofold, the genitive is so too; as 'fear' n. a man, n. p. fir, or sometimes feara, g. p. fear or feara.

Cu m. a dog has its g. p. con; caora f. a sheep, g. p. caorach; sluagh m. people, g. p. sluagh or slogh.



Dative. The dative plural is formed either from the nominative singular or from the nominative plural. If the nominative plural ends in a consonant, the dative plural is formed by adding ibh to the nominative singular; as, crann m. a tree, n. p. croinn, d. p. crannaibh; mac m. a son, n. p. mic, d. p. macaibh. If the nominative plural ends in a vowel, the final vowel is changed into ibh; as, tobar a well, n. p. tobraiche, d. p. tobraichibh.

2. Monosyllables ending in an aspirated consonant, which have their nominative plural like the genitive singular, form their dative plural like the nominative plural; as, damh an ox, g. s. and n. p. daimh, d. p. daimh, not damhaibh; fiadh m. a deer, g. s. and n. p. and d. p. feidh. So sluagh m. people, host, g. s. sluaigh, n. p. and d. p. sloigh. Nouns ending in ch, of three or more syllables, form their dative plural like the nominative plural, rather than in ibh; as, coimhearsnach m. a neighbour, d. p. coimhearsnaich rather than coimhearsnachaibh; phairiseach m. a Pharisee, d. p. phairisich rather than phairiseachaibh. {51}

Vocative. The vocative plural is like the nominative plural, terminating in a, but seldom in an; as, fear m. a man, n. p. fir or feara, v. p. fheara; oglach m. a servant, n. p. oglaich, v. p. oglacha. Except perhaps monosyllables which never form their nominative plural in a, nor their dative plural in ibh; as, damh m. an ox, n. p. daimh, v. p. dhaimh; a shloigh, Rom. xv. 11.

The irregular noun Bean f. a woman, is declined thus:

Singular. Plural. Nom. Bean Mnai, mnathan Gen. Mna Ban Dat. Mnaoi Mnathaibh Voc. Bhean. Mhnathan.



SECOND DECLENSION.

Cealgair, mas. a deceiver.

Singular. Plural. Nom. Cealgair Cealgaire Gen. Cealgair Cealgair Dat. Cealgair Cealgairibh Voc. Chealgair. Chealgaire.

Clais, fem. a gully.

Nom. Clais Claisean Gen. Claise Clais Dat. Clais Claisibh Voc. Chlais. Chlaise.

Formation of the cases of nouns of the second Declension.

Singular Number.

General Rule for the Genitive. The genitive of polysyllables is like the nominative; of monosyllables is made by adding e to the nominative; as, caraid m. a friend, g. s. caraid; aimsir f. time, g. s. aimsir; tigh m. a house, g. s. tighe; ainm m. a name, g. s. ainme; im m. butter, g. s. ime; craig f. a rock, g. s. craige. {52}

Particular Rules for the Genitive. 1. Feminine nouns in ail and air drop the i and add ach; if the nominative be a polysyllable, ai is thrown away; as, sail f. a beam, g. s. salach; dail f. a plain, g. s. dalach; lair f. a mare, g. s. làrach; cathair f. a seat, g. s. cathrach; nathair f. a serpent, g. s. nathrach; lasair f. a flame, g. s. lasrach. To these add còir f. right, g. s. còrach or còire.

2. Monosyllables characterised by oi drop i and add a; as, feoil f. flesh, g. s. feola; tòin f. bottom, g. s. tòna; sròin f. the nose, g. s. sròine or sròna.

3. Monosyllables characterised by ui change ui into a or o, and add a; as, muir f. the sea, g. s. mara; fuil f. blood, g. s. fola or fala; druim f. a ridge, g. s. droma. Except sùil f. the eye, g. s. sùla; cuid f. a part, g. s. codach or cuid.

4. A few feminine polysyllables in eir form their genitive like monosyllables; as, inneir f. dung, g. s. inneire; suipeir f. supper, g. s. suipeire.

5. The following dissyllables seem to have formed their genitive like monosyllables, and then suffered a contraction. Sometimes the characteristic vowel is retained, and sometimes it is thrown away, the final e of the genitive being converted into a, when requisite to suit an antecedent broad vowel.

Amhainn, f. a river, g. s. aimhne, contracted for amhainne Aghainn } Aghann } f. a pan, g. s. aighne, aghainne Banais f. a wedding, g. s. bainse, banaise Coluinn f. the body, g. s. colna, colla coluinne Duthaich f. a country, g. s. duthcha, duthaiche Fiacail f. a tooth, g. s. fiacla, fiacaile Gamhuinn m. a steer, g. s. gamhna, gamhuinne Gualainn f. the shoulder, g. s. guaille, gualainne Madainn f. morning, g. s. maidne, madainne Obair f. work, g. s. oibre, obaire Uilinn f. the elbow, g. s. uillne, uilinne

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6. The following nouns form their genitive by dropping the characteristic small vowel; athair m. a father, g. s. athar; mathair f. a mother, g. s. mathar; brathair m. a brother, g. s. brathar; namhaid m. an enemy, g. s. namhad. Cnaimh m. a bone, g. s. cnamha; uaimh f. a cave, g. s. uamha. Mil f. honey, has g. s. meala.

7. A few monosyllables ending in a vowel have their genitive like the nominative; as, ni m. a thing, ti m. a person, ré m. the moon; to which add righ m. a king.

Dative. The dative singular is like the nominative; as, duine m. a man, d. s. duine; madainn f. morning, d. s. madainn.

Vocative. The vocative singular is like the nominative, as, caraid m. friend, v. s. charaid; mathair f. mother, v. s. mhathair.

Plural Number.

Nominative.—General Rule. The nominative plural is formed by adding to the nominative singular a or an, written e or ean to correspond to a preceding small vowel; as, piobair m. a piper, n. p. piobairean; aimsir f. time, season, n. p. aimsirean. Some nouns suffer a contraction in the nominative plural; as, caraid m. a friend, n. p. càirdean; naimhaid m. an enemy, n. p. naimhdean; fiacail f. a tooth, n. p. fiaclan.

Particular Rules. 1. Some nouns, whose last consonant is l or n, insert t in the nominative plural; as, tuil f. a flood, n. p. tuilte; smuain f. thought, n. p. smuaintean; coille f. a wood, n. p. coilltean; àithne f. a command, n. p. àithnte. The t is aspirated in dail f. a plain, n. p. dailthean; sail f. a beam, n. p. sailthean.

2. Some nouns in air, chiefly such as form their genitive singular in ach, retain the same syllable in the nominative plural, and insert i after a; as,

Cathair, f. a seat, g. s. cathrach, n. p. cathraichean. Lasair, f. a flame, g. s. lasrach, n. p. lasraichean. Nathair, f. a serpent, g. s. nathrach, n. p. nathraichean.

{54} So also cuid f. a part, from the g. s. codach, has the n. p. codaichean; athair m. a father, n. p. aithrichean; mathair f. a mother, n. p. maithrichean. To which add amhainn f. a river, n. p. aimhnichean; uisge m. water, n. p. uisgeachan; cridhe m. the heart, n. p. cridheachan.

The following nouns form their nominative plural irregularly; duine m. a man, n. p. daoine; righ m. a king, n. p. righre; ni m. a thing, n. p. nithe; cliamhuinn m. a son-in-law, or brother-in-law, n. p. cleamhna.

Genitive. The genitive plural of monosyllables and masculine polysyllables is twofold, like the nominative singular, and like the nominative plural; as, righ m. a king, g. p. righ or righre. The genitive plural of feminine polysyllables is like the nominative plural only; as, amhainn f. a river, g. p. aimhnichean. Suil f. the eye, has its g. p. sùl.

Dative. The dative plural is formed from the nominative plural by changing the final vowel into ibh; as, coluinn f. the body, n. p. coluinne, d. p. coluinnibh; cridhe m. the heart, n. p. cridheacha, d. p. cridheachaibh.

Vocative. The vocative plural is like the nominative plural; as, duine m. a man, n. p. daoine, v. p. dhaoine.

Final a or e in all the singular cases of polysyllables is occasionally cut off, especially in verse; as, leab bed, teang tongue, coill wood, cridh heart.

Of the Initial form of Nouns.

In nouns beginning with a consonant, all the cases admit of the aspirated form. In the vocative singular and plural the aspirated form alone is used, except in nouns beginning with a lingual, which are generally in the primary form, when preceded by a lingual; as, a sheann duine old man. Nouns beginning with s followed by a mute consonant have no aspirated form, because s in that situation does not admit of the aspirate. In nouns beginning with l, n, r, a distinction is uniformly observed in pronouncing the initial consonant, corresponding precisely to the distinction of primary and {55} aspirated forms in nouns beginning with other consonants. This distinction has already been fully stated in treating of pronunciation.

The general use of the singular and plural numbers has been already mentioned. A remarkable exception occurs in the Gaelic. When the numerals fichead twenty, ceud a hundred, mile a thousand, are prefixed to a noun, the noun is not put in the plural, but in the singular number, and admits no variation of case. The termination of a noun preceded by da two, is the same with that of the dative singular, except when the noun is governed in the genitive case, and then it is put in the genitive plural[38]; when preceded by fichead, ceud, &c., the termination is that of the nominative singular; thus da laimh two hands, da chluais two ears, dà fhear two men, fichead làmh twenty hands, ceud fear a hundred men, mìle caora a thousand sheep, deich mìle bliadhna ten thousand years[39].



CHAPTER III.

OF ADJECTIVES.

An adjective is a word used along with a noun, to express some quality of the person or thing signified by the noun.

Adjectives undergo changes which mark their relation to other words. These changes are made, like those on nouns, partly on the beginning, and partly on the termination, and may be fitly denominated by the same names. The changes on the beginning are made by aspirating an initial consonant. The numbers and cases, like those of nouns, are distinguished by changes on the termination. The gender is marked partly by the initial form, partly by the termination.

Adjectives whereof the characteristic vowel is broad, follow, {56} in most of their inflections, the form of nouns of the first declension, and may be termed Adjectives of the first declension. Those adjectives whereof the characteristic vowel is small, may be called Adjectives of the second declension.

Example of Adjectives of the First Declension.

Mòr, great.

Singular. Plural Mas. Fem. Com. Gend. Nom. Mor, Mhor, Mora. Gen. Mhoir, Moire, Mora. Dat. Mor, Mhoir, Mora. Voc. Mhoir, Mhor, Mora.

Formation of the Cases of Adjectives of the First Declension.

Singular.

Nominative. The feminine gender is, in termination, like the masculine.

The other cases, both mas. and fem., are formed from the nominative, according to the rules already given for forming the cases of nouns of the first declension. Take the following examples in adjectives:—

Genitive.—General rule. Marbh dead, g. s. m. mhairbh, f. mairbhe; dubh black, g. s. m. dhuibh, f. duibhe; fadalach tedious, g. s. m. fhadalaich, f. fadalaich.

Particular rules. 1. Sona happy, g. s. m. shona, f. sona; aosda aged, g. s. m. and f. aosda; beo alive, g. s. m. bheo, f. beo.

2. Bochd poor, g. s. m. bhochd, f. bochd; gearr short, g. s. m. ghearr, f. gearr.

3. Breagh fine, g. s. m. bhreagha, f. breagha.

4. Crion little, diminutive, g. s. m. chrìn, f. crìne.

5. Donn brown, g. s. m. dhuinn, f. duinne; gorm blue, g. s. m. ghuirm, f. guirme; lom bare, g. s. m. luim, f. luime. {57} But dall blind, g. s. m. dhoill, f. doille; mall slow, g. s. m. mhoill, f. moille; like the nouns crann, clann.

6. Cinnteach certain, g. s. m. chinntich, f. cinntich; maiseach beautiful, g. s. m. mhaisich, f. maisich. Tearc rare, g. s. m, theirc, f. teirce; dearg red, g. s. m. dheirg, f. deirge; deas ready, g. s. m. dheis, f. deise. Breac speckled, g. s. m, bhric, f. brice; geal white, g. s. m. ghil, f. gile.

7. Geur sharp, g. s. m. ghéir, f. géire; like the nouns breug, geug.

8. Liath hoary, g. s. m. leith, f. léithe; dian keen, g. s. m. dhéin, f. déine.

Irregulars. Odhar pale, g. s. m. and f. uidhir; bodhar deaf, g. s. m. bhuidhir, f. buidhir.

Dative.—General rule. Uasal noble, d. s. m. uasal f. uasail; bodhar deaf, d. s. m. bodhar, f. bhuidhir.

Particular rule. 1. Trom heavy, d. s. m. trom, f. thruim.

Vocative. Beag small, v. s. m. bhig, f. bheag.

Plural.

In Monosyllables the plural, through all its cases, is formed by adding a to the nom. sing.; in Polysyllables, it is like the nom. sing.; as, crom crooked, pl. croma; tuirseach melancholy, pl. tuirseach.

A few Dissyllables form their Plural like Monosyllables, and suffer a contraction; as, reamhar fat, pl. reamhra, contracted for reamhara. Gen. xli. 20.

Adjectives of the Second Declension.

All the Cases of Adjectives of the Second Declension are formed according to the general rules for nouns of the second declension; that is, Monosyllables add e for the gen. sing. fem. and for the plural cases; Polysyllables are like the nom. sing. throughout.

In the Second Declension, as in the First, Dissyllables sometimes suffer a contraction in the plural; as, milis sweet, pl. milse contracted for milise. {58}

Of the Initial Form of Adjectives.

Adjectives admit the aspirated form through all the Numbers and Cases. In Adjectives beginning with a Labial or a Palatal, the aspirated form alone is used in the gen. and voc. sing. masc. the nom. dat. and voc. sing. feminine.

Comparison of Adjectives.

There are in Gaelic two forms of Comparison, which may be called the First and the Second Comparative.

The First Comparative is formed from the gen. sing. mas. by adding e; as, geal white, g. s. m. gil, comp. gile, ghile; ciontach guilty, g. s. m. ciontaich, comp. ciontaiche. Some Adjectives suffer a contraction in the Comparative; as, bodhar deaf, comp. buidhre for buidhire; boidheach pretty, comp. boidhche for boidhiche.

If the last letter of the gen. be a, it is changed into e, and i inserted before the last consonant; as, fada long, g. s. m. fada, comp. faide; tana thin, g. s. m. tana, comp. taine.

The Second Comparative is formed from the first, by changing final e into id; as, trom heavy, 1. comp. truime, 2. comp. truimid; tiugh thick, 1. comp. tiuighe, 2. comp. tiuighid. Many Adjectives, especially Polysyllables, do not admit of the Second Comparative.

Both these forms of Comparison have an aspirated as well as a primary form, but are otherwise indeclinable.

The following Adjectives are compared irregularly.

Positive. 1. Comp. 2. Comp. Math, maith, good, fearr, feaird. Olc, bad, evil, miosa, misd. Mòr, great, mò, mòid. Beag, small, lugha, lughaid. Goirid, gearr, short, giorra, giorraid. Duilich, difficult, dorra. Teath, hot, teoithe, teoithid. Leathan, broad, leatha, lèithne. Fogus, near, foisge. {59} Càirdeach, akin, càra. Furas, easy, fhusa, Toigh, dear, docha. Ionmhuinn, beloved, annsa, ionnsa.

To these may be added the nouns—

Moran a great number or quantity, and Tuilleadh more.

The Superlative, which is but a particular mode of expressing comparison, is the same in form with the First Comparative.

An eminent degree of any quality is expressed by putting one of the particles ro, glé, before the Positive; as, ro ghlic very wise, glé gheal very white. The same effect is produced by prefixing fior true, sàr exceeding, &c., which words are, in that case, used adverbially; as, fior mhaiseach truly beautiful, sàr mhaith exceedingly good.

Cardinal Numbers.

1 Aon, a h-aon, one. 40 Dà fhichead. 2 Dà, a dhà 50 Deich is dà fhichead. 3 Tri. 60 Tri fichead. 4 Ceithir. 100 Ceud. 5 Cuig. 200 Dà cheud. 6 Sè, sia. 300 Tri ceud. 7 Seachd. 400 Ceithir cheud. 8 Ochd. 500 Cuig ceud. 9 Naoi. 1,000 Mìle. 10 Deich. 2,000 Dà mhìle. 11 Aon deug. 3,000 Tri mìle. 12 A dhà dheug. 10,000 Deich mìle. 13 Tri deug. 20,000 Fichead mìle. 20 Fichead. 100,000 Ceud mìle. 21 Aon thar fhichead. 200,000 Dà cheud mìle. 22 Dha 'ar fhichead. 1,000,000 Deich ceud mìle, 23 Tri 'ar fhichead. Mìle de mhìltibh. 30 Deich 'ar fhichead. &c. &c. 31 Aon deug thar fhichead.

{60}

Cardinal Numbers joined to a Noun.

Of the mas. gender. Of the fem. gender.

1 Aon fhear, one man. Aon chlach, one stone. 2 Dà fhear. Dà chloich. 3 Tri fir. Tri clachan. 10 Deich fir. Deich clachan. 11 Aon fhear deug. Aon chlach dheug. 12 Dà fhear dheug. Dà chloich dheug. 13 Tri fir dheug. Tri clachan deug. 20 Fichead fear. Fichead clach. 21 Aon fhear thar fhichead. Aon chlach thar fhichead. 22 Dà fhear thar fhichead. Dà chloich thar fhichead. 23 Tri fir fhichead. Tri clacha fichead. 30 Deich fir fhichead. Deich clacha fichead. 31 Aon fhear deug 'ar fhichead. Aon chlach dheug thar fhichead. 40 Dà fhichead fear. Dà fhichead clach. 41 Fear is dà fhichead. Clach is dà fhichead. 42 Dà fhear is dà fhichead. Dà chloich is da fhichead. 50 Deich is dà fhichead fear. Deich is da fhichead clach. 60 Tri fichead fear. Tri fichead clach. 70 Tri fichead fear agus deich. Tri fichead clach agus deich. 100 Ceud fear. Ceud clach. 101 Ceud fear agus a h-aon. Ceud clach agus a h-aon. 300 Tri cheud fear. Tri cheud clach. 1,000 Mìle fear. Mìle clach. 10,000 Deich mìle fear, &c. Deich mìle clach, &c.

Ordinal Numbers.

1 An ceud fhear, the first man; a' cheud chlach, the first stone. 2 An dara fear. 3 An treas fear, an tri-amh fear. 4 An ceathramh fear. 5 An cuigeamh fear. 6 An seathamh fear. 7 An seachdamh fear. 8 An t-ochdamh fear. {61} 9 An naothamh fear. 10 An deicheamh fear. 11 An t-aon fear deug. 12 An dara fear deug. 20 Am ficheadamh fear. 21 An t-aon fhear fichead. 22 An dara fear fichead. 31 An t-aon fhear deug thar fhichead. 40 An dà fhicheadamh fear. 60 An tri ficheadamh fear. 100 An ceudamh fear. 101 An t-aon fhear thar cheud. 120 Am ficheadamh fear thar cheud. 200 An da cheudamh fear. 1000 Am mìleamh fear, &c.

The following numeral Nouns are applied only to persons:—

2. Dithis, two persons. 7. Seachdnar. 3. Triuir. 8. Ochdnar. 4. Ceathrar. 9. Naoinar. 5. Cuignear. 10. Deichnar. 6. Sèanar.



CHAPTER IV.

OF PRONOUNS.

The Pronouns are, for the most part, words used instead of nouns. They may be arranged under the following divisions: Personal, Possessive, Relative, Demonstrative, Interrogative, Indefinite, Compound.

The Personal Pronouns are those of the 1st, 2d, and 3d persons. They have a Singular and a Plural Number, a Simple and an Emphatic Form. They are declined thus:— {62}

Singular. Plural. Simple Form. Emphat. F. Simple F. Emphat. 1. Mi, mhi, I, me, Mise, mhise. Sinn, we, us, Sinne. 2. {Th, thu, thou, } Tusa, thusa. Sibh, ye, you, Sibhse. {Thu, thee, } 3. {E, se, he, } Esan. {E, him, } {I, si, she, } Ise. {Iad, siad, they} {I, her, } {Iad, them, } Iadsan[40]

The Pronoun 'sibh' you, of the plural number is used almost universally in addressing a single person of superior rank or of greater age; while 'tu' thou, of the singular number is used in addressing an inferior or an equal. But the degree of seniority or of superiority, which is understood to entitle a person to this token of respect, varies in different parts of the Highlands[41]. The Supreme Being is always addressed by the pronoun 'tu' thou, of the singular number.

The Possessive Pronouns correspond to the Personal Pronouns, and, like them, may be called those of the 1st, 2d, and 3d persons singular, and 1st, 2d, and 3d persons plural. They have an Emphatic Form, which is made by connecting the syllable sa with the possessive pronoun of the 1st, 2d, {63} and 3d persons singular, and 2d person plural; ne with that of the 1st person plural, and san with that of the 3d person plural. These syllables are placed immediately after the nouns to which the possessive pronouns are prefixed, and connected by a hyphen.

These Pronouns are as follow:—

Simple. Emphatic. Simple. Emphatic. Singular. Plural. 1. Mo, my, mo mhac-sa 1. Ar, our, ar mac-ne 2. Do, thy, do ——sa 2. Bhur, 'ur, your, bhur ——sa 3. {A, his, a mhac-sa, san} 3. An, am, their, an, am ——sa, san {A, her, a mac-sa, san }

If the noun be followed by an adjective, the emphatic syllable is affixed to the adjective; as, do làmh gheal-sa thy white hand.

The possessive pronouns mo, do, when followed by a vowel, commonly lose the o, whose absence is marked by an apostrophe; as, m' aimn my name; d' athair[42] thy father. The same pronouns when preceded by the preposition ann in, suffer a transposition of their letters, and are written am, ad, one broad vowel being substituted for another, as, ann ad chridhe in thy heart, 1 Sam. xiv. 7, ann am aire in my thoughts.

The possessive pronoun a his, is often suppressed altogether after a vowel; as, na sanntaich bean do choimhearsnaich, no oglach, no bhanoglach, no dhamh, no asal, covet not thy neighbour's wife, or his man-servant, or his maid-servant, &c., Exod. xx. 17. In these and similar instances, as the tense is but imperfectly expressed (especially when the noun begins with a vowel), and cannot be gathered with certainty from any other part of the sentence, perhaps it might {64} be an improvement to retain the pronoun, even at the expense of cutting off the final vowel of the preceding word; as, n' a oglach, n' a bhanoglaich, &c. In many cases, however, this appears hardly practicable; as, cha bheo athair his father is not alive, which could not with any propriety be written cha bheo a athair[43].

The word fein corresponding to the English words self, own, is subjoined occasionally both to the personal and possessive pronouns: thus mi fein myself, mise fein I myself, thu fein thyself, thusa fein thou thyself, or thy own self, mo shluagh fein my own people.

The other Pronouns are as follow:—

Relative. Demonstrative. Interrogative. N. A, who, which, So, this, these. Co? who? that. G.&D. An. Sin, that, those. Cia? which? Nach, who not, Sud[44], ud, yon. Ciod, creud? what? which not, Na, that which, what[45].

Indefinite. Compound. Eigin, some. E so, this one, m. E sud, yon one, m. Ge b'e } whoever[46]. I so, this one, f. I sud, yon one, f. Cia b'e } {65} Eile, other. Iad so, these. Iad sud, yon, pl. Gach, } each, } E sin, that one, m. Cach eile, the rest. Cach, } every[47]. } Cach, others, the rest. Iad sin, those. Cach a chéile, Cuid, some. each other[48].



CHAPTER V.

OF VERBS.

A word that signifies to be, to do, or to suffer anything, is called a Verb.

The Verb in Gaelic, as in other languages, is declined by Voices, Moods, Tenses, Numbers, and Persons.

The Voices are two: Active and Passive.

The Moods are five: the Affirmative or Indicative, the Negative or Interrogative, the Subjunctive, the Imperative, and the Infinitive. Many, but not all, Transitive Verbs have a Passive Participle.

The Tenses are three: the Present, the Preterite, and the Future.

The Numbers are two: Singular and Plural.

The Persons are three: First, Second, and Third. The {66} distinction of number and person takes place only in a few tenses.

The inflections of Verbs, like those of nouns, are made by changes at the beginning, and on the termination.

The changes on the termination are made according to one model, and by the same rules. But for the sake of stating some diversity in the initial changes, it may be convenient to arrange the verbs in two conjugations, whereof the first comprehends those verbs which begin with a consonant, the second, those verbs which begin with a vowel. Verbs beginning with f, followed by a vowel, are ranged under the second conjugation, along with verbs beginning with a vowel.

The verb Bi be, which is used as an auxiliary to other verbs, is declined as follows:—

Bi, be.

Affirmative or Indicative Mood.

Present. Preterite. Future. Sing. Sing. Sing. 1. Ta mi, I am, Bha mi, I was, Bithidh mi, I will be, 2. Ta thu, Bha thu, Bithidh tu, 3. Ta e; Bha e; Bithidh se;

Plur. Plur. Plur. 1. Ta sinn, Bha sinn, Bithidh sinn, 2. Ta sibh, Bha sibh, Bithidh sibh, 3. Ta iad. Bha iad. Bithidh siad.

Negative or Interrogative Mood.

Present. Preterite. Sing. Sing. { 1 Bheil mi, I am not, Robh mi, I was not, ni { 2 Bheil thu, Robh thu, cha { 3 Bheil e; Robh e; nach { mur, { Plur. Plur. &c. { 1 Bheil sinn, Robh sinn, { 2 Bheil sibh, Robh sibh, { 3 Bheil iad. Robh iad.

{67}

Future. Sing. { Bi mi, I shall not be, ni { Bi thu, cha { Bi se; nach { mur, { Plur. &c. { Bi sinn, { Bi sibh, { Bi siad.

Subjunctive Mood.

Preterite or Imperfect. Future. Sing. Sing. 1 Bhithinn, I would be, Ma bhitheas mi, If I shall be, 2 Bhitheadh tu, Bhitheas tu, 3 Bhitheadh e; Bhitheas e;

Plur. Plur. 1 Bhitheadheamaid, Bhitheas sinn, Bhitheadh sinn, 2 Bhitheadh sibh, Bhitheas sibh, 3 Bhitheadh iad. Bhitheas iad.

Imperative Mood. Infinitive Mood. Sing. 1 Bitheam, let me be, Bith, being, 2 Bi, bi thusa, do bhith, } to be, 3 Bitheadh e; a bhith, } gu bhith, } to be, Plur. gu bith, } 1 Bitheamaid, iar bhith,} after being, been, 2 Bithibh, iar bith, } 3 Bitheadh iad. o bhith, from being, &c.

Compound Tenses.

Present. Preterite. Future. Affirmative Mood.

Sing. Sing. Sing. Ta mi iar bith, Bha mi iar bith, Bithidh mi iar bith, I have been, &c. I had been, &c. I shall have been, &c. {68}

Negative Mood.

Sing. Sing. Sing. ni, {Bheil mi iar bith, Robh mi iar bith, Bi mi air bith, &c. {I have not been. I had not been. I shall not have been.

Subjunctive Mood.

Preterite or Pluperfect. Future. Sing. Sing. 1 Bhithinn iar bith, Ma bhitheas mi iar bith, I should have been, &c. If I shall have been, &c.

The present affirmative ta is often written tha. This is one of many instances where there appears reason to complain of the propensity remarked in Part I. in those who speak the Gaelic, to attenuate its articulations by aspiration. Another corrupt way of writing ta which has become common, is ata. This has probably taken its rise from uniting the relative to the verb; as, an uair ata mi; instead of an uair a ta, &c., mar a ta, &c. Or perhaps it may have proceeded from a too compliant regard to a provincial pronunciation.

The pret. neg. robh appears to be made up of the verbal participle ro, the same with do, and bha, throwing away the last vowel; ro bha, robh.

The verb and pronoun of the 1st per. sing. and 3d per. plur. are frequently incorporated into one word, and written taim I am, taid they are.

The pres. neg. loses the initial bh after the participle cha not, mur if not, nach that not; n is inserted, euphoniae causa, betwixt the participle cha and the verb; as, cha n 'eil, mur 'eil, nach 'eil. This Tense is often pronounced beil after the participle am; as, am beil e? is it?

In the North Highlands, the pret. neg. often takes the common verbal participle do before it; as, cha do robh mi, or cha d'robh mi, I was not.

Initial b of the fut. neg. is aspirated after the participle cha not; as, cha bhi.

Initial bh of the pret. subj. loses the aspiration after the {69} participles ni not, mur if not, nach that not, gu that, nam if; as, mur bithinn, nam bitheadh tu.

The subjunct. and imper. often suffer a contraction, by changing ithea into io; as, biodh, biom, bios, &c.

Some of the compound tenses of Bi are rarely if ever used. They are here given complete, because they correspond to the analogy of other verbs; and show how accurately the various modifications of time may be expressed by the substantive verb itself.

Example of a verb of the First Conjugation. Buail to strike.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Simple Tenses.

Affirmative or Indicative Moods.

Preterite. Future. Sing. Sing. 1 Do bhuail mi, I struck, Buailidh mi, I will strike, Bhuail mi, 2 Bhuail thu, Buailidh tu, 3 Bhuail e; Buailidh se;

Plur. Plur. 1 Bhuail sinn, Buailidh sinn, 2 Bhuail sibh, Buailidh sibh, 3 Bhuail iad. Buailidh siad.

Negative or Interrogative Mood.

Preterite. Future. Sing. Sing. { 1 Do bhuail mi, I struck not Buail mi, I will not strike, ni { 2 Do bhuail thu, Buail thu, cha { 3 Do bhuail e; Buail e; nach { mur, { Plur. Plur. &c. { 1 Do bhuail sinn, Buail sinn, { 2 Do bhuail sibh, Buail sibh, { 3 Do bhuail iad. Buail iad.

{70}

Subjunctive Mood.

Preterite. Future. Sing. Sing. 1 Bhuailinn, I would strike, Ma bhuaileas mi, If I shall strike, 2 Bhuaileadh tu, Bhuaileas tu, 3 Bhuaileadh e; Bhuaileas e;

Plur. Plur. 1 Bhuaileamaid, Bhuaileas sinn, Bhuaileadh sinn, 2 Bhuaileadh sibh, Bhuaileas sinn, 3 Bhuaileadh iad. Bhuaileas iad.

Imperative Mood. Infinitive Mood. Sing. 1 Buaileam, let me strike, Bualadh, striking, 2 Buail, ag bualadh, a-striking, striking, 3 Buaileadh e; iar bualadh, struck, do bhualadh, } Plur. a bhualadh, } to strike, 1 Buaileamaid, ri bualadh, at striking, 2 Buailibh, le bualadh, with striking, 3 Buaileadh iad. o bhualadh, from striking, &c.

Compound Tenses.

Affirmative Mood.

Present. Preterite. Future. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Ta mi ag bualadh, Bha mi ag bualadh, Bithidh mi ag bualadh, I am striking, &c. I was striking, &c. I will be striking, &c.

{71} Present. Preterite. Future. 2. Comp. 2. Comp. 2. Comp. Ta mi iar bualadh, Bha mi iar bualadh, Bithidh mi iar bualadh, I have struck, &c. I had struck, &c. I will have struck, &c.

Negative Mood

Present. Preterite. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. { Bheil mi ag bualadh, Robh mi ag bualadh, { I am not striking, &c. I was not striking, &c. { { Future. { 1. Comp. { Bi mi ag bualadh, ni { I will not be striking, &c. cha { nach { Present. Preterite, mur, { 2. Comp. 2. Comp. &c. { Bheil mi iar bualadh, Robh mi iar bualadh, { I have not struck,&c. I had not struck, &c. { { Future. { 2. Comp. { Bi mi iar bualadh, { I will not have struck, &c.

Subjunctive Mood.

Preterite. Future. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Bhithinn ag bualadh, Ma bhitheas mi ag bualadh, I would be striking, &c. If I shall be striking, &c.

2. Comp. 2. Comp. Bhithinn iar bualadh, Ma bhitheas mi iar bualadh, I would have struck, &c. If I shall have struck, &c. {72}

Imperative Mood. Infinitive Mood. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Bitheam ag bualadh, Do bhith ag bualadh, Let me be striking, &c. To be striking, &c. Iar bith ag bualadh, Been striking, &c.

2. Comp. 2. Comp. Bitheam iar bualadh, Do bhith iar bualadh, Let me have struck, &c. To have been striking, &c.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirmative Mood.

Simple Tenses.

Preterite. Future. Sing. Sing. 1 Do bhuaileadh mi, I was struck. Buailear mi, I shall be struck. Bhuaileadh mi, 2 Bhuaileadh thu, Buailear thu, 3 Bhuaileadh e; Buailear e;

Plur. Plur. 1 Bhuaileadh sinn, Buailear sinn, 2 Bhuaileadh sibh, Buailear sibh, Bhuaileadh iad. Buailear iad.

Negative Mood.

Preterite. Future. Sing. Sing. { 1 Do bhuaileadh mi, Buailear mi, { I was not struck, I shall not be struck, ni { 2 Do bhuaileadh thu, Buailear thu, cha { 3 Do bhuaileadh e; Buailear e; nach { mur, { Plur. Plur. &c. { 1 Do bhuaileadh sinn, Buailear sinn, { 2 Do bhuaileadh sibh, Buailear sibh, { 3 Do bhuaileadh iad, Buailear iad.

{73}

Subjunctive Mood.

Preterite. Future. _Sing._ _Sing._ 1 Bhuailteadh mi, _ Ma bhuailear mi, _I would be struck,_ _If I shall be struck._ 2 Bhuailteadh thu, Bhuailear thu, 3 Bhuailteadh e; Bhuailear e;

Plur. Plur. 1 Bhuailteadh sinn, Bhuailear sinn, 2 Bhuailteadh sibh, Bhuailear sibh, 3 Bhuailteadh iad. Bhuailear iad.

Imperative Mood.

Sing. Plur. 1 Buailtear mi, Let me be struck, 1 Buailtear sinn, 2 Buailtear thu, 2 Buailtear sibh, 3 Buailtear e. 3 Buailtear iad.

Participle. Buailte, struck.

Compound Tenses

Affirmative Mood.

Present. Preterite. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Ta mi buailte, I am struck, &c. Bha mi buailte, I was struck, &c.

Future. 1. Comp. Bithidh mi buailte, I shall be struck, &c.

{74}

Present. Preterite. 2. Comp. 2. Comp. Sing. Sing. 1 Ta mi iar mo bhualadh, Bha mi iar mo bhualadh, I have been struck, I had been struck, 2 Ta thu iar do bhualadh, Bha thu iar do bhualadh, 3 Ta se iar a bhualadh; Bha se iar a bhualadh;

Plur. Plur. 1 Ta sinn iar ar bualadh, Bha sinn iar ar bualadh, 2 Ta sibh iar 'ur bualadh, Bha sibh iar 'ur bualadh, 3 Ta siad iar am bualadh. Bha siad iar am bualadh.

Future. 2. Comp. Sing. 1 Bithidh mi iar mo bhualadh, I shall have been struck. 2 Bithidh tu iar do bhualadh, 3 Bithidh se iar a bhualadh;

Plur. 1 Bithidh sinn iar ar bualadh, 2 Bithidh sibh iar 'ur bualadh, 3 Bithidh siad iar am bualadh.

Negative Mood.

Present. Preterite. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Ni bheil mi buailte, Ni'n robh mi buailte, I am not struck, &c. I was not struck, &c.

Future. 1. Comp. Ni'm bi mi buailte, I shall not be struck, &c.

Present. Preterite. 2. Comp. 2. Comp. Ni 'm bheil mi iar mo bhualadh, Ni'n robh mi iar mo bhualadh, I have not been struck, &c. I had not been struck, &c. {75}

Future. 2. Comp. Ni'm bi mi iar mo bhualadh, I shall not have been struck, &c.

Subjunctive Mood.

Preterite. Future. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Bhithinn buailte, Ma bhitheas mi buailte, I would be struck, &c. If I shall be struck, &c.

2. Comp. 2. Comp. Bhithinn iar mo bhualadh, Ma bhitheas mi iar mo bhualadh, I would have been struck, &c. If I shall have been struck, &c.

Imperative Mood. Infinitive Mood. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Bitheam buailte, Do bhith buailte, Let me be struck, &c. To be struck, &c.

2. Comp. 2. Comp. Bitheam iar mo bhualadh, Do bhith iar mo bhualadh, Let me have been struck, &c. To have been struck, &c.



Examples of Verbs of the Second Conjugation.

Orduich, to appoint.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Simple Tenses

Preterite. Future. Affirmat. Dh'orduich, Orduichidh, Negat. D'orduich, Orduich, Subjunct. Dh'orduichinn. Dh'orduicheas. Imperat. Orduicheam. Infinit. Orduchadh.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirmat. Dh'orduicheadh, Orduichear, Negat. D'orduicheadh, Orduichear, Subjunct. Dh'orduichteadh. Dh'orduicheas. Imperat. Orduichear. Particip. Orduichte.

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Folaich, to hide.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirmat. Dh'fholaich, Folaichidh, Negat. D'fholaich, Folaich, Subjunct. Dh'fholaichinn. Dh'fholaicheas. Imperat. Folaicheam. Infinit. Folachadh.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirmat. Dh'fholaicheadh, Folaichear, Negat. D'fholaicheadh, Folaichear, Subjunct. Dh'fholaichteadh. Dh'fholaichear. Imperat. Folaichtear. Particip. Folaichte.

The Compound tenses may be easily learned from those of the Verb Buail in the first Conjugation, being formed exactly in the same manner.



FORMATION OF THE TENSES.

Of the Initial Form.

An Initial Consonant is aspirated in the Preterite Tense, through all the Moods and Voices, except in the Preterite Subjunctive after the Particles ni, mur, nach, gu, an, am. An initial Consonant is occasionally aspirated in the Future Tense, and in the Infinitive and Participle, indicating their connection with the preceding word.

In the first Conjugation, do is prefixed to the Pret. Aff. and Neg. Active and Passive. However, it often is, and always may be, omitted before the Pret. Aff. It is sometimes omitted in the Pret. Neg. in verse, and in common conversation. In the second Conjugation, the same Particle do is prefixed to the Preterite through all the Moods and Voices, and to the Fut. Subj. excepting only the Subjunctive Tenses after ni, mur, nach, gu, an, am. In this {77} Conjugation, do always loses the o to avoid a hiatus, and the d is aspirated in the Affirm. and Subjunct. Moods[49].

Of the Termination.

In all regular Verbs, the Terminations adjected to the Root are, strictly speaking, the same in Verbs characterised by a small vowel. But where the first vowel of the Termination does not correspond in quality to the last vowel of the Root, it has become the constant practice to insert in the Termination a vowel of the requisite quality, in order to produce this correspondence. Thus a variety has been introduced into the Terminations even of regular Verbs, prejudicial to the uniformity of inflection, and of no use to ascertain either the sense or the pronunciation[50]. In the foregoing examples of regular Verbs, the common mode of Orthography has been followed, but in the following rules the simple Terminations only are specified.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Simple Tenses.

The Theme or Root of the Verb is always found in the second Per. sing. of the imperative.

The Preterite Affirm. and Negat. is like the Root, and has no distinction of Number or Person. In most of the editions of the Gaelic Psalms, some inflections of the {78} Preterite have been admitted, with good effect, from the Irish Verb; such as, bhuaileas I struck, bhuailis thou didst strike, bhuaileamar we struck, bhuaileadar they struck. The Pret. Subj. is formed by adding to the Root inn for the first pers. sing., and adh for the other persons. The first pers. plur. also terminates in amaid.

The Future Affirm. adds idh to the Root; in the Negat. it is like the Root; and in the Subjunct. it adds as. A poetic Future Tense terminating in ann or onn, is frequent in the Gaelic Psalms; as, gairionn will call, seasfann will stand, do bheirionn, will give, &c. The Future has no distinction of Number or Person. The Termination of the Future Affirm. and Negat. in many Verbs was formerly fidh, like the Irish; of which many examples occur in the earlier editions of the Gaelic Psalms. In later Gaelic publications, the f has been uniformly set aside[51]. The Termination of the first pers. and third pers. plur. is often incorporated with the corresponding Pronoun; as, seinnam cliu I will sing praise, Psal. lxi. 8., Ni fuigham bàs, ach mairfam beo, I shall not die, but shall remain alive, Ps. cxviii. 17., Ithfid, geillfid, innsid, they will eat, they will submit, they will tell, Ps. xxii, 26, 29, 31. [52].

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In the Imperative Mood, the second pers. sing. is the Root of the Verb. The other persons are distinguished by these Terminations; 1st pers. sing. am, 3d pers. sing. adh, 1st pers. plur. amaid, 2d pers. plur. ibh, 3d pers. plur. adh.

The Terminations peculiar to the 1st pers. sing. and plur. of the Pret. Subj. and of the Imperat. supply the place of the Personal Pronouns; as does also the Termination of the 2d pers. plur. of the Imperative.

The Infinitive is variously formed.

General Rule. The Infinitive is formed by adding adh to the Root; as, aom bow, incline, Infin. aomadh; ith eat, Infin. itheadh.

1. Some Verbs suffer a syncope in the penult syllable, and are commonly used in their contracted form; as,

Imper. Infin. Caomhain, spare, Caomhnadh. Coisin, win, Coisneadh, Cosnadh. Diobair, deprive, Diobradh. Fògair, remove, Fògradh. Foghain, suffice, Foghnadh. Fosgail, open, Fosgladh. Innis, tell, Innseadh. Iobair, sacrifice, Iobradh. Mosgail, awake, Mosgladh. Seachain, avoid, Seachnadh. Tionsgain, begin, Tionsgnadh. Togair, desire, Togradh.

Observe that Verbs which thus suffer a syncope in forming {80} the Infinitive, suffer a like syncope in the Preterite Subjunctive, and in the Imperative Mood; as, innis tell, Infin. innseadh, Pret. Subj. innsinn, innseadh, innseamaid, Imperat. innseam, innseamaid, innsibh.

2. A considerable number of Verbs have their Infinitive like the Root; as,

Caoidh, lament. Ol, drink. Dearmad, neglect. Ruith, run. Fàs, grow. Snamh, swim. Gairm, call. Sniomh, twine. Meas, estimate.

3. Polysyllables in ch, whose characteristic Vowel is small, either throw it away, or convert it into a broad Vowel and add adh; as,

Ceannaich, buy, Ceannachadh. Smuainich, think, Smuaineachadh.

Most Monosyllables in sg, and a few others, follow the same Rule; as,

Imper. Infin. Imper. Infin. Coisg, check, Cosgadh. Naisg, bind, Nasgadh. Fàisg, wring, Fàsgadh. Paisg, wrap, Pasgadh. Loisg, burn, Losgadh. Blais, taste, Blasadh. Luaisg, rock, Luasgadh. Buail, strike, Bualadh.

4. Many Verbs, whose characteristic Vowel is small, either throw it away, or convert it into a broad Vowel, without adding adh; as,

Imper. Infin. Imper. Infin. Amhairc, look, Amharc. Iomain, drive, Ioman. Amais, reach, Amas. Leighis, cure, Leigheas. Caill, lose, Call. Sguir, cease, Sgur. Ceangail, bind, Ceangal. Siubhail, travel, Siubhal. Cuir, put, Cur. Tachrais, wind, Tachras. Coimhid, keep, Coimhead. Tiondaidh, turn, Tiondadh. Fulaing, suffer, Fulang. Toirmisg, forbid, Toirmeasg. Fuirich, stay, Fuireach. Toinail, gather, Toinal. Guil, weep, Gul. Tionsgail, contrive, Tionsgal.

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5. The following Verbs in air add t to the Root:—

Imper. Infin. Agair, claim, Agairt. Bagair, threaten, Bagairt. Casgair, slaughter, Casgairt. Freagair, answer, Freagairt. Iomair, use, Iomairt. Labhair, speak, Labhairt. Lomair, shear, Lomairt. Saltair, trample, Saltairt. Tabhair, give, Tabhairt. Tachair, meet, Tachairt.

6. These Monosyllables add sinn to the Root:—

Beir, bear, Beirsinn. Creid, believe, Creidsinn. Faic, see, Faicsinn. Goir, crow, Goirsinn. Mair, continue, Mairsinn. Saoil, think, Saoilsinn. Tréig, forsake, Tréigsinn. Tuig, understand, Tuigsinn, or Tuigeil. Ruig, reach, Ruigsinn, or Ruigheachd.

7. These Monosyllables add tuinn or tinn to the Root:—

Bean, touch, Beantuinn. Buin, take away, Buntuinn. Can, say, sing, Cantuinn. Cinn, grow, Cinntinn. Cluinn, hear, Cluinntinn. Fan, stay, Fantuinn. Gin, produce, Giontuinn, or Gionmhuin. Lean, follow, Leantuinn, or Leanmhuin. Meal, enjoy, Mealtuinn. Pill, return, Pilltinn. Seall, look, Sealltuinn.

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8. The following Monosyllables add ail to the Root:—

Imper. Infin. Imper. Infin. Cum, hold, Cumail. Leag, cast down, Leagail. Gabh, take, Gabhail. Tog, raise, Togail. Fàg, leave, Fàgail. Tuig, understand, Tuigeil.

9. These Monosyllables add amh to the Root:—

Imper. Infin. Caith, spend, Caitheamh. Dean, do, make, Deanamh. Feith, wait, Feitheamh. Seas, stand, Seasamh.

10. The following Verbs form the Infinitive irregularly:—

Beuc, roar, Beucaich. Bùir, bellow, Bùirich. Geum, low, Geumnaich. Glaodh, cry, Glaodhaich. Caisd, listen, Caisdeachd. Eisd, hearken, Eisdeachd. Marcaich, ride, Marcachd. Thig, come, Teachd, tighinn. Faigh, find, Faghail, faotainn. Eirich, rise, Eirigh. Iarr, request, Iarraidh. Taisg, lay up, Tasgaidh. Coidil, sleep, Codal. Fuaigh, sew, Fuaghal. Gluais, move, Gluasad, gluasachd. Tuit, fall, Tuiteam. Teirig, wear out, Teireachduinn. Teasairg, deliver, Teasairgin.

Compound Tenses.

The compound Tenses of the first order are made up of the several simple Tenses of the auxiliary verb Bi be, and the Infinitive preceded by the Preposition ag at. Between two Consonants, ag commonly loses the g, and is written a'; as, {83} ta iad a' deanamh they are doing. Between two Vowels, the a is dropped, and the g is retained; as, ta mi 'g iarruidh I am asking. When preceded by a Consonant, and followed by a Vowel, the Preposition is written entire, as, ta iad ag iarruidh they are asking. When preceded by a Vowel, and followed by a Consonant, it is often suppressed altogether; as, ta mi deanamh I am doing[53].

The compound Tenses of the second order are made up of the simple Tenses of Bi and the Infinitive preceded by the Preposition iar after[54].

PASSIVE VOICE.

Simple Tenses.

The Preterite Affirm. and Negat. is formed from the same Tense in the Active, by adding adh. The Preter. Subj. adds teadh.

The Future is formed from the Fut. Act. by changing the Terminations in the Affirm. and Subj. into ar, (more properly far, as of old) and adding the same syllable in the Negative.

The Imperative is formed from the Imperat. Act. by adding to the second pers. sing. tar, thar, or ar.[55]

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The Participle is formed by adding te to the Root[56].

There is no distinction of Number or Person in the Tenses of the Passive Voice.

Verbs which suffer a syncope in the Infinitive, suffer a like syncope in the Pret. Aff. and Neg. throughout the Future Tense, and in the Imperative.

Compound Tense.

The compound Tenses of the first order are made up of the simple Tenses of the auxiliary Bi and the Passive Participle.

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The compound Tenses of the second order are made up of the simple Tenses of Bi and the Infinitive preceded by the Preposition iar and the Possessive Pronoun corresponding in Person to the Pronoun, or to the Noun, which is the Nominative to the verb.

Use and Import of the Moods and Tenses.

The Affirmative or Indicative Mood expresses affirmation, and is used in affirmative propositions only, as, Do bhuail mi I struck, bha mi ag bualadh I was striking.

The Negative or Interrogative Mood is used in negative propositions and interrogative clauses, after the Particles ni not, cha not, nach which not, that not, not? mur if not; also, gu, gur, that, an, am, whether used relatively or interrogatively; as, cha d'fholaich mi I did not hide, mur buail sinn if we shall not strike, nach robh iad that they were not, gu robh iad that they were; am buail mi? shall I strike? It is used in the Future Tense after ged although; as, ged bhuail e mi, though he strike me[57].

The Subjunctive Mood is used in the Preterite, either with or without conjunctions; as, bhuailinn I would strike, na'm, mur, nach, &c., buailinn if, unless, &c., I should strike. In the Future it is used only after the conjunctions ma if, o, o'n since, and the Relative a expressed or understood; as, ma bhuaileas mi if I shall strike, am fear a bhuaileas mi the man {86} who will strike me, or the man whom I shall strike; an uair a bhuaileas mi, tra bhuaileas mi the time [in] which I shall strike, i. e., when I shall strike; c'uin [cia ùine] a bhuaileas mi? what [is] the time [in] which I shall strike? i. e., when shall I strike?

The Imperative Mood expresses desire, whether purpose, command, or request; as, buaileam let me strike, buailibh strike ye.

The Infinitive[58] is, in all respects, a noun, denoting the action or energy of the verb, and commonly preceded by a Preposition which marks the time of the action; as, ag bualadh at striking, am bualadh the striking, the threshing. It assumes a regular genitive case, bualadh g. s. bualaidh; as, urlar-bualaidh a threshing floor. The Infinitive sometimes loses the termination, and is regularly declined in its abridged form; thus, cruinnich assemble, inf. cruinneach-adh per. apocop. cruinneach g. s. cruinnich; hence, àite-cruinnich a place of meeting, Acts xix. 29, 31, so, fear-criochnaich, Heb. xii. 2, fear-cuidich, Psalm xxx. 10, liv. 4, ionad-foluich, Psalm xxxii. 7, cxix. 114, litir-dhealaich, Matt. v. 31[59].

There is no part of the Active Voice that can, strictly speaking, be denominated a Participle. The Infinitive preceded by the Preposition ag at, corresponds in meaning to the present Participle; and preceded by iar after, it corresponds to the participle of the past time; as, ag bualadh at striking, or striking; iar bualadh after striking, or struck[60].

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Many words, expressing state or action, take the Preposition ag before them, and may be considered as Infinitives of Verbs, whereof the other parts are not in use; as, ag atharrais mimicking, ag gàireachdaich laughing, a' fanoid, a' magadh mocking, jeering.

{88}

The Participle passive is an adjective, denoting the completion of the action or energy expressed by the verb; as, arbhar buailte threshed corn.

The Simple Tenses which belong to all verbs are the Preterite or Future, besides which the verb Bi to be, and the defective verb Is I am, have a Present Tense[61].

The Present expresses present existence, state, or energy.

The Preterite Affirmative and Negative expresses past time indefinitely. The Preterite Subjunctive corresponds to the English Tenses formed by the auxiliaries would, could, &c. In general it denotes that the action or energy of the verb takes place eventually or conditionally. The Pret. Aff. or {89} Neg. is used sometimes in this sense, like the English, when the Pret. Subj. occurred in the preceding clause of a sentence, as, na'm biodh tus' an so, cha d' fhuair mo bhrathair bàs, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not [would not have] died; mur bitheamaid air deanamh moille bha sinn a nis air pilltinn air ar n-ais, if we had not lingered, we had [should have] now returned, Gen. xliii. 10.

The Future marks future time indefinitely. This Tense is used in a peculiar sense in Gaelic, to signify that an action or event takes place uniformly, habitually, according to ordinary practice, or the course of nature. Thus; Blessed is he that considereth the poor, expressed according to the Gaelic idiom, would be, Blessed is he that will consider, &c. A wise son maketh a glad father, in Gaelic would run, A wise son will make, &c. Your patient, I am told, is in a bad way; he neither enjoys rest, nor takes medicine. Nay, his situation is worse than you know of; yesterday, he became delirious, and is now almost unmanageable; he tosses his arms, and endeavours to beat every one within his reach. In Gaelic, will enjoy—will take—will toss—will endeavour. In like manner, a great many Gaelic Proverbs express a general truth by means of the Future tense; e.g., bithidh dùil ri fear feachd, ach cha bhi dùil ri fear lic, There is hope that a man may return from war, but there is no hope that a man may return from the grave; literally, there will be hope—there will be no hope. Teirgidh gach ni r' a chaitheamh, every thing wears out in the using; literally,—will wear out[62].

The Compound Tenses mark different modifications of time, {90} which will be easily understood by analysing their component parts.

In the Active Voice, the compound tenses of the first order denote that the action is going on, but not completed at the time specified by the auxiliary verb, or its adjuncts; as, ta mi ag bualadh, I am at striking, i.e., I am striking; bha mi ag bualadh an dé, I was striking yesterday.

Those of the second order denote that the action is newly completed and past, at the time marked by the auxiliary verb; ta mi iar bualadh, I am after striking, i.e., I have struck, Je viens de frapper; Bha mi iar bualadh, I was striking, i.e., I had struck.

In the Passive Voice, the compound tenses of the first order denote that the action is finished at the time marked by the auxiliary verb; ta mi buailte, I am struck.

Those of the second order denote that the action is newly finished at the time marked by the auxiliary[63]; ta mi iar mo bhualadh, I am after my striking, or, I am after the striking of me, which has always a passive signification; that is, it is always understood, from this form of expression, that striking is the action of some agent different from the person struck. It is equivalent to I have been struck, Je viens d'etre frappé.

A set of Compound Tenses, of a structure similar to these last, having the preposition ag, in place of iar, is sometimes used, and in a passive sense, denoting that the action is going on at the time marked by the auxiliary; as, tha 'n tigh 'g a thogail, the house is at its building, i.e., a-building; sea bliadhna agus da fhichead bha 'n teampull 'g a thogail, forty and six years was this temple in building. John ii. 20, 1 Kings vi. 7. Bha an crodh 'g an leigeadh, the cows were a-milking; bidh deudaichean 'g an rusgadh. "Gillies' Collect." p. 82. So {91} in English, the book is a-printing; the deed's a-doing now, "Douglas," Act 1.

The following scheme shows the different modifications of time, as expressed by the several Tenses of the Gaelic Verb, brought together into one view, and compared with the corresponding Tenses of the Greek Verb in Moor's Greek Grammar.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Indicative or Affirmative Mood.

Present Tense. Ta mi ag bualadh, [Greek: tupto], I strike, or am striking.

Imperfect. Bha mi ag bualadh, [Greek: etupton], I was striking.

Future.

Buailidh mi } [Greek: tupso], I will strike, Bithidh mi ag bualadh } or be striking.

Aorist or Preterite. Bhuail mi, [Greek: etupsa], I struck.

Perfect. Ta mi iar bualadh, [Greek: tetupha], I have struck.

Pluperfect. Bha mi iar bualadh, [Greek: etetuphein], I had struck.

Interrogative or Negative Mood.

Present. Am bheil mi ag bualadh? Am I striking?

Imperfect. An robh mi ag bualadh? Was I striking?

Future. Am buail mi? Shall I strike?

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Aorist or Preterite. An do bhuail mi? Did I strike?

Perfect. Am bheil mi iar bualadh? Have I struck?

Pluperfect. An robh mi iar bualadh? Had I struck?

Subjunctive Mood.

Imperfect. Bhuailinn, } [Greek: etupton an], I would strike. Bhithinn ag bualadh, }

Future. Ma bhuaileas mi, If I shall strike.

Pluperfect. Bhithinn iar bualadh, [Greek: etupsa an], I would have struck.

Imperative Mood. Buaileam, Let me strike. Buail, [Greek: tupte], Strike.

Infinitive Mood. Am bualadh, [Greek: to tuptein], The striking. A' bhualaidh, [Greek: tou tuptein], Of the striking. Ag bualadh, [Greek: en toi tuptein], A-striking.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Indicative or Affirmative Mood.

Present. Ta mi 'g am bhualadh, [Greek: tuptomai], I am in striking[64].

Imperfect. Bha mi 'g am bhualadh, [Greek: etuptomen], I was in striking.

{93} Future. Buailear mi, } [Greek: tuphthesomai], I shall be struck. Bithidh mi buailte, }

Aorist or Preterite. Bhuaileadh mi, [Greek: etuphthen], I was struck.

Perfect. Ta mi buailte, } [Greek: tetummenos eimi], I have been struck. Ta mi iar mo bhualadh } Pluperfect. Bha mi buailte, } [Greek: tetummenos en], I had been struck. Bha mi iar mo bhualadh}

Interrogative or Negative Mood.

Future. Am buailear mi? Shall I be struck?

Aorist or Preterite. An do bhuaileadh mi? Was I struck?

Perfect. Am bheil mi buailte? } Have I been struck? Am bheil mi iar mo bhualadh? }

Pluperfect. An robh mi buailte? } Had I been struck? An robh mi iar mo bhualadh? }

Subjunctive Mood.

Imperfect. Bhuailteadh mi, [Greek: etuptomen an], I should be struck.

Future. Ma bhuailtear mi, If I shall be struck. {94}

Pluperfect. Bhithinn buailte, } Bhithinn iar mo } [Greek: etuphthen an], I should have been bhualadh, } struck.

Imperative Mood. Buailtear mi, Let me be struck. Buailtear thu, [Greek: tuptou], Be thou struck. &c.

Participle. Buailte, [Greek: tetummenos] Struck.

It will afford satisfaction to the grammatical reader, to see how correctly the various modifications of time, as distinguished and arranged by Mr Harris, are expressed in the Gaelic verb, by the auxiliaries, bi be, and dol going. See Hermes B. I. c. 7.

Aorist of the Present. [Greek: Tupto], I strike, ——

Aorist of the Past. [Greek: Etupsa], I struck, Bhuail mi.

Aorist of the Future. [Greek: Tupso], I shall strike, Buailidh mi.

Inceptive Present. [Greek: Mello tuptein], I am going to strike, Ta mi dol a bhualadh.

Middle or extended Present. [Greek: Tunchano tupton], I am striking, Ta mi ag bualadh.

Completive Present. [Greek: Tetupha], I have struck, Ta mi iar bualadh.

———

Inceptive Past. [Greek: Emellon tuptein], I was going to strike, Bha mi dol a bhualadh. {95}

Middle or extended Past. [Greek: Etupton], I was striking, Bha mi ag bualadh.

Completive Past. [Greek: Etetuphein], I had struck, Bha mi iar bualadh.

———

Inceptive future. [Greek: Melleso tuptein], I shall be going to Bithidh mi dol a strike, bhualadh.

Middle or extended Future. [Greek: Esomai tupton], I shall be striking, Bithidh mi ag bualadh.

Completive Future. [Greek: Esomai tetuphos], I shall have struck, Bithidh mi iar bualadh.



IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE FIRST CONJUGATION.

Beir, bear.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Do rug, Beiridh. Negat. D' rug, Beir. Subjunct. Bheirinn, Bheireas. Imperat. Beiream. Infin. Beirsinn, breith.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirm. Do rugadh, Beirear. Negat. D' rugadh, Beirear. Subjunct. Bheirteadh, Bheirear. Imperat. Beirthear.

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Cluinn, hear.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Do chuala, Cluinnidh. Negat. Cuala, Cluinn. Subjunct. Chluinnin, Chluinneas. Imperat. Cluinneam. Infin. Cluinntinn.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirm. Do Chualadh, Cluinnear. Negat. Cualadh, Cluinnear. Subjunct. Chluinnteadh, Chluinnear. Imperat. Cluinntear.

Dean, do or make.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Do rinn, Ni. Negat. D' rinn, Dean. Subjunct. Dheanainn, Ni. Imperat. Deanam. Infin. Deanamh.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirm. Do rinneadh, Nithear. Negat. D' rinneadh, Deanar. Subjunct. Dheantadh, Nithear. Imperat. Deantar. Particip. Deanta.

Rach, go.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Do chaidh, Théid. Negat. Deachaidh, Téid[65]. Subjunct. Rachainn, Théid. Imperat. Racham. Infin. Dol.

{97} Ruig, reach.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Do rainig, Ruigidh. Negat. D' rainig, Ruig. Subjunct. Ruiginn, Ruigeas. Imperat. Ruigeam. Infin. Ruigsinn, ruigheachd.

Tabhair,[66] give.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Do thug, Bheir. Negat. D' thug, Tabhair. Subjunct. Bheirinn, tabhairinn, Bheir. Imperat. Tabhaiream, thugam. Infin. Tabhairt.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirm. Do thugadh, Bheirear. Negat. D' thugadh, Tabhairear. Subjunct. Bheirteadh, tugtadh. Bheirear. Imperat. Thugthar.

Thig, come.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Do thainig, Thig. Negat. D' thainig, Tig[67]. Subjunct. Thiginn, Thig. Imperat. Thigeam. Infin. Tighinn, teachd.

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IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE SECOND CONJUGATION.

Abair,[68] say.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Thubhairt, dubhairt, Their. Negat. Dubhairt, Abair. Subjunct. Theirinn, abairinn, Their. Imperat. Abaiream. Infin. Radh.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirm. Dubhradh, Theirear. Negat. Dubhradh, Abairear. Subjunct. Theirteadh, abairteadh, Theirear. Imperat. Abairear[69].

Faic, see.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Do chunnaic, Chi. Negat. Faca, Faic. Subjunct. Chithinn, faicinn, Chi. Imperat. Faiceam. Infin. Faicsinn.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirm. Do chunnacadh, Chithear. Negat. Facadh, Faicear. Subjunct. Chiteadh, faicteadh, Chithear. Imperat. Faicthear. Infin. Faicsinn.

{99} Faigh, get.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Preterite. Future. Affirm. Fhuair, Gheibh. Negat. D'fhuair, Faigh. Subjunct. Gheibhinn, faighinn, Gheibh. Imperat. Faigheam. Infin. Faghail, faotainn.

PASSIVE VOICE.

Affirm. Fhuaradh, Gheibhear. Negat. D' fhuaradh, Faighear. Subjunct. Gheibhteadh, faighteadh, Gheibhear. Imperat. Faightear.

The verbs Tabhair, Abair, Faic, Faigh, have a double Preterite Subjunctive. The latter form of it, which is derived regularly from the Root, is used after the same particles which are prefixed to the Negative Mood, viz. ni, cha, nach, mur, gu, an, am.

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OF DEFECTIVE VERBS.

The following defective verbs are in common use.

Arsa said, quoth, indeclinable; used only in the Pret. Aff. through all the persons; arsa Donull, quoth Donald.

Tiucainn come along, tiucainnibh come ye along, used only in the 2d pers. sing. and plur. of the Imperative.

Theab mi I was near to, I had almost; used through all the persons of the Pret. Aff. and Neg.; as, theab iad bhith caillte they had nearly perished.

Is mi I am, used in the Pres. and Pret. Tenses, which are declined as follows:— {100}

Affirmative Mood.

Present. Preterite.

Sing. Sing. 1 Is mi, I am, it is I. Bu mhi, I was, it was I. 2 Is tu. Bu tu. 3 Is e. B' e.

Plur. Plur. 1 Is sinn. Bu sinn. 2 Is sibh. Bu sibh. 3 Is iad. B' iad.

Negative Mood.

Sing. Sing. { 1 mi, I am not, &c. Bu mhi, I was not, &c. { 2 tu. Bu tu. ni, { 3 e. B' e. cha, { nach,{ Plur. Plur. &c. { 1 sinn. Bu sinn. { 2 sibh. Bu sibh. { 3 iad. B' iad.

Subjunctive Mood.

Sing. Sing. 1 Ma 's mi, If I be, it be I. Nam bu mhi, If I were, it were I. 2 's tu. Bu tu. 3 's e. B' e.

Plur. Plur. 1 's sinn. Bu sinn. 2 's sibh. Bu sibh. 3 's iad. B' iad.

The only varieties of form which this Verb admits of, are the two syllables is and bu. Each of these syllables {101} commonly loses the vowel when it comes in apposition with another vowel.

It is remarkable, that in the Pres. Neg. the Verb disappears altogether, and the preceding Particle, ni, cha, nach, gur, &c., and the subsequent Pronoun, or Noun, are always understood to convey a proposition, or a question, as unequivocally as though a Verb had been expressed; as, cha tu thou art not, nach e? is he not? is it not he? am mise e? is it I? cha luchd-brathaidh sinn we are not spies, Gen. xlii. 31. Am mò thusa na Abraham? Art thou greater than Abraham? gur còir urnuigh a dheanamh that it is proper to pray, Luke xviii. 1[70].

{102}

OF THE RECIPROCATING STATE OF VERBS.

Any transitive Verb may be so combined with a Pronoun, either Personal or Possessive, that it shall denote the agent to be also the object of the action. This may be called the reciprocating state of the Verb. It is declined as follows:—

Buail thu fein, strike thyself.

ACTIVE VOICE.

Simple Tenses.

Affirmative Mood.

Preterite. Future. Sing. Sing. 1 Do bhuail mi mi fein, Buailidh mi mi fein, Bhuail mi mi fein, I will strike myself. I struck myself. 2 Do bhuail thu thu fein, Buailidh tu thu fein. 3 Do bhuail se e fein; Buailidh se e fein.

Plur. Plur. 1 Do bhuail sinn sinn fein, Buailidh sinn sinn fein. 2 Do bhuail sibh sibh fein, Buailidh sibh sibh fein. 3 Do bhuail siad iad fein. Buailidh siad iad fein.

Negative Mood.

Preterite. Future. Sing. Sing. cha,{ 1 Do bhuail mi mi fein, Bhuail mi mi fein, &c. { I struck not myself. I shall not strike myself.

Subjunctive Mood.

Sing. Sing. 1 Bhuailinn mi fein, 1 Bhuaileas mi mi fein, I would strike myself. I shall strike myself.

{103} Imperative Mood.

Sing. Plur. 1 Buaileam mi fein, Buaileamaid sinn fein. Let me strike myself. 2 Buail thu fein. Buailibh sibh fein. 3 Buaileadh e e fein. Buaileadh iad iad fein.

Infinitive Mood.

'g am bhualadh fein, striking myself. 'g ad bhualadh fein, striking thyself. 'g a bhualadh fein, striking himself. 'g ar bualadh fein, striking ourselves. 'g 'ur bualadh fein, striking yourselves. 'g am bualadh fein, striking themselves. iar mo bhualadh fein, after striking myself, &c. gu mo bhualadh fein, to strike myself, &c.

Compound Tenses.

Affirmative Mood.

Present. Preterite. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Ta mi 'g am bhualadh fein, Bha mi 'g am bhualadh fein, I am striking myself. I was striking myself.

Future. 1. Comp. Bidh mi 'g am bhualadh fein, I will be striking myself.

Present. Preterite. 2. Comp. 2. Comp. Ta mi iar mo, &c. Bha mi iar mo, &c. I have struck myself. I had struck myself.

{104} Future. 2. Comp. Bidh mi iar mo, &c. I shall have struck, &c.

Negative Mood.

Present. Preterite. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Ni bheil mi 'g am, &c. Ni robh mi 'g am, &c. I am not striking myself. I was not striking myself.

Future. 1. Comp. Ni'm bi mi 'g am bhualadh fein. I shall not be striking myself.

Present. Preterite. 2. Comp. 2. Comp. Ni bheil mi iar mo, &c. Ni robh mi iar mo, &c. I have not struck myself. I had not struck myself.

Future. 2. Comp. Ni'm bi mi iar mo, &c. I shall not have struck myself.

Subjunctive Mood.

Preterite. Future. 1. Comp. 1. Comp. Bhithinn 'g am, &c. Ma bhitheas mi 'g am, I would be striking, &c. If I shall be striking, &c.

2. Comp. 2. Comp. Bhithinn iar mo, &c. Ma bhitheas mi iar mo, &c. I would have struck, &c. If I shall have struck, &c.

{105} Imperative Mood. Infinitive Mood.

1. Comp. Do bhith 'g am bhualadh fein, To be striking myself.

Bitheam 'g am bhualadh fein, Iar bith 'g am bhualadh fein. Let me be striking myself. To have been striking myself.

From the foregoing example it appears that the Verb, in its reciprocating state, retains its original form throughout its several Moods, Tenses, and Persons. In the simple Tenses, the Personal Pronoun immediately following the Verb is the Nominative to the Verb. The same pronoun repeated is to be understood as in the objective state. The word fein, corresponding to the English self, accompanies the last Pronoun.

In the compound Tenses, the auxiliary Verb, as usual, is placed first; then follows the Personal Pronoun as its Nominative, then the Prep. ag abridged to 'g in the compound Tenses of the first order, iar in those of the second order; after which follows the Possessive Pronoun, corresponding in Person to that which is the Nominative to the Verb; and lastly the Infinitive, which is the noun to the Possessive Pronoun. Mo and do are here changed, by Metathesis and the substitution of one broad vowel for another, into am and ad. Ta mi 'g am bhualadh fein, rendered literally, is, I am at my own striking, i.e., I am at the striking of myself, equivalent to, I am striking myself. The reciprocal fein is sometimes omitted in the compound Tenses, but is generally retained in the 3d Persons, to prevent their being mistaken for the same persons when used without reciprocation: ta e 'g a bhualadh, he is striking him, ta e 'g a bhualadh fein, he is striking himself.

OF THE IMPERSONAL USE OF VERBS.

Intransitive Verbs, though they do not regularly admit of a Passive Voice, yet are used impersonally in the 3d Pers. Sing. of the Passive Tenses. This impersonal use of the Passive of intransitive Verbs is founded on the same principle with the Latin Impersonals concurritur, pugnatum est, {106} &c., which are equivalent to concursus fit, pugna facta est. So in Gaelic, gluaisfear leam, I will move, Psal. cxvi. 9; gluaisfear leo, they will move, Psal. cxix. 3; ghuileadh leinn, we did weep, flebatur a nobis, Psal. cxxxvii. 1, Edit. Edinb. 1787; cha bhithear saor o pheacadh, there wanteth not sin, Prov. x. 19.

To the class of Impersonals ought to be referred a certain part of the Verb which has not yet been mentioned. It resembles in form the Fut. Negat. Passive; buailear, faicear, faighear, &c. In signification, it is Active, Present, and Affirmative. In the course of a narrative, when the speaker wishes to enliven his style by representing the occurrences narrated as present, and passing actually in view, instead of the Preterite Tenses, he adopts the Part of the Verb now described, employing it in an impersonal acceptation, without a Nominative to it expressed. One or two examples will serve to exhibit the use and effect of this anomalous Tense:—Shuidh an òg bhean air sgeir, is a sùil air an lear. Chunnaic i long a' teachd air barraibh nan tonn. Dh' aithnich i aogas a leannain, is chlisg a cridhe 'n a com. Gun mhoille gun tamh, buailear dh' fhios na traighe; agus faighear an laoch, 's a dhaoine m' a thimchioll. In English thus: The young woman sat on a rock, and her eye on the sea. She spied a ship coming on the tops of the waves. She perceived the likeness of her lover, and her heart bounded in her breast. Without delay or stop, she hastens to the shore; and finds the hero, with his men around him. Again: Mar sin chuir sinn an oidhche tharuinn. 'S a' mhadainn dh' imich sinn air ar turus. O bha sinn 'n ar coigrich anns an tir, gabhar suas gu mullach an t-sleibh, direar an tulach gu grad, agus seallar mu 'n cuairt air gach taobh. Faicear thall fa 'r comhair sruth cas ag ruith le gleann cumhann, &c. Thus we passed the night. In the morning we pursued our journey. As we were strangers in the land, we strike up to the top of the moor, ascend the hill with speed, and look around us on every side. We see over against us a rapid stream, rushing down a narrow valley, &c. {107}