Language/Scottish-gaelic/Grammar/Using-Prepositions
Using Prepositions in Scottish Gaelic
Prepositions are essential to express spatial, temporal, and other relationships between words in Scottish Gaelic. In this lesson, we will explore the most common prepositions, their usage, and several examples that will help you to understand how to use them.
What are Prepositions?
A preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun, pronoun, or verb to the rest of the sentence. Prepositions usually indicate location, direction, or time.
Scottish Gaelic prepositions can be categorized according to different types of relationships:
Using Spatial Prepositions in Scottish Gaelic
Spatial prepositions describe the movement and position of an object in space. In Scottish Gaelic, prepositions can indicate different types of spatial relationships:
Location
The following table displays Scottish Gaelic prepositions that are commonly used to indicate "location":
Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
ann an | [anˠ.n̪ˠə.ŋ] | in, at, inside, within |
air | [aɾʲ] | on, above, over, on top of |
fo | [fɔ] | under, below, beneath |
thairis | ['harɪʃ] | across, beyond |
faisg air | ['faʃk ɛr] | close to, near to, beside |
taobh a-staigh | ['t̪ap ə.st̪aj] | inside, within |
taobh an iar | ['t̪ap ɛ.nɪɾʲ] | on the west side |
taobh an ear | ['t̪ap ɛ.ɾʲ] | on the east side |
Examples:
- Tha mi ann an Lunnainn. (I am in London.)
- Tha an cat air an tùr. (The cat is on the roof.)
- Tha e fo dheisg. (It is hard-to-reach.)
Direction
The following table displays Scottish Gaelic prepositions that are commonly used to indicate "direction":
Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
gu | [ɡ̊u] | to, towards, until |
o | [ɔ] | from |
aig | [ɛk] | at, near, beside |
tro | [t̪ɾɔ~t̪rɔx] | through, across |
thar | [haɾ] | over, across, beyond |
Examples:
- Tadhg coiseachd gu Cill Chuimein. (Tadhg is walking to Kilmallie.)
- Tha mi a' tighinn o Dhùn Èideann. (I am coming from Edinburgh.)
- Bha an cù aig na seòid. (The dog was at the shed.)
Position
The following table displays Scottish Gaelic prepositions that are commonly used to indicate "position":
Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
os cionn | [ɔs̪ kʲɪnʲ] | above, over, beyond |
faisg air / ri taobh | ['faʃk ɛr / rʲi t̪ɑv] | near to beside, close to, next to |
thall air / an cùl | ['halər / ɛŋ kœl] | behind |
mu dheireadh | ['mu θerəɣ] | in the end, at last |
thairis air / fo / troimhe | ['harɪʃ ɛr / fɔ / t̪ɾɤ~t̪ɾɤ.. am] | past, over |
Examples:
- Bha e os cionn na dachaigh. (It was above the house.)
- Bha mia faisg air an uidheam. (The cat was close to the door.)
- Bha an seanmhair thall air fhèin. (The granny was behind her.)
Using Temporal Prepositions in Scottish Gaelic
Temporal prepositions describe a relationship between two points in time. In Scottish Gaelic, prepositions can express the following temporal connections:
Duration
The following table displays Scottish Gaelic prepositions that are commonly used to indicate "duration":
Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
thairis air | ['harɪʃ ɛr] | past, over |
nas fhaide na / nas lugha na | [nas̪ a'dʲɛ nə / nas̪ lumə nə] | More than / less than |
air feadh | [ɛɾ fʲɛ] | throughout |
airson | ['ɛɾsən] | for |
gu h-earr | [ɡ̊u hæɾ] | especially, particularly |
Examples:
- Bha an turas thairis. (The journey is over.)
- Bha mi nas fhaide na Sean. (I am older than Sean.)
- Tha an cuideachd air feadh na dùthcha. (The group is throughout the country.)
Position
The following table displays Scottish Gaelic prepositions that are commonly used to indicate "position":
Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
roimh | [rɔɪv] | before, in front of |
às | [as̪] | ouf of |
an sin | [ən ʃɪn] | then |
os cionn | [ɔs̪ kʲɪnʲ] | above, beyond, over |
thair syrth | ['haɾ ʃɪrɪh] | after, following, according to |
Examples:
- Bha sinn roimh an àrdachadh. (We were ahead of the increase.)
- Bha mi às an latha leithid. (I was out of that kind of day.)
- Tha an t-uisge air tighinn. An sin, bha sinn am broinn. (The water has arrived. Then we were inside.)
Other Prepositions in Scottish Gaelic
Besides spatial and temporal prepositions, Scottish Gaelic also has prepositions that express a variety of abstract relationships:
Manner and Purpose
The following table displays Scottish Gaelic prepositions that are commonly used to indicate "manner and purpose":
Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
airson | ['ɛɾsən] | for, on behalf of, reason of |
le | [lɛ] | with, by means of, in order |
mar | [maɾ] | like, as, similar to |
tro | [t̪ɾɔ~t̪rɔx] | through, by, by means of |
às deidh | [as̪ ʥe] | after, following, pursuing |
Examples:
- Bha mi airson cèic a dhèanamh. (I baked a cake for.)
- Bha iad a' snàmh le linne. (They swim using the pond.)
- Bha e ansin mar a' bhràthair. (He was there like a brother.)
Comparison
The following table displays Scottish Gaelic prepositions that are commonly used to indicate "comparison":
Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
na | [na] | than |
gu / èist ris | [ɡ̊u / eʃkʲɪs̪t̪ ɾʲɪʃ] | like, as |
Examples:
- Bha e nas pailt. (He was stronger-thicker.)
- Bha e gu math coltach ri nàire. (He was somewhat like shame.)
Negation
In Scottish Gaelic, the negation is formed by using the following prepositions:
Other Lessons
- Adjectives
- Pronouns
- Noun Gender and Plurals
- How to Use Have
- 0 to A1 Course
- Personal pronouns
- How to Use Be
- Conditional Mood
- Definite and Indefinite Articles
- Forming Questions
Scottish Gaelic | Pronunciation | English |
---|---|---|
gun | [kʲun~kə] | without, not having |