11.1 General
11.1.1 A conjunction called the ‘relative particle’ (affirmative: a, ar; negative: nach, nár) is used to connect a main clause and a relative subordinate clause to each other.
11.1.2 The relative particle is placed before the verb in the subordinate clause. If it is the copula used in the subordinate clause, the relative particle is not used to connect the main clause to the subordinate clause but rather a particular form of the copula itself (see 11.8).
11.1.3 A distinction is made between a ‘direct relative clause’ and an ‘indirect relative clause’ (see 11.2 and 11.3).
11.1.4 The word or phrase directly preceding the relative particle in the main clause is called the ‘antecedent’.
| Cá bhfuil an madra a fuair sí? |
| Eagraíodh cóisir dóibh siúd a chríochnaigh inniu. |
11.1.5 A pronoun (which includes a possessive adjective) that refers back to an antecedent in an indirect relative clause is called a ‘postcedent’.
| Tabhair sin don bhuachaill a bhfuil slaghdán air. |
| Nach ise an bhean a mbíodh teach ósta aici? |
11.2 Direct Relative Clauses
11.2.1 A direct relative clause is in use in the following cases. There is no postcedent in a direct relative clause:
(a) if the antecedent is the subject of the verb in the relative clause:
| Phóg an bhean sin Gearóid. –> Sin í an bhean a phóg Gearóid. |
| Bhuail carr úrnua an leoraí. –> Ba charr úrnua an charr a bhuail an leoraí. |
| Socróidh an fear sin an cluiche. –> Sin é an fear a shocróidh an cluiche. |
| Bíonn an bhean sin ar an teilifís. –> Sin í an bhean a bhíonn ar an teilifís. |
(b) if the antecedent is the direct object of the verb in the relative clause:
| Phóg Gearóid an bhean sin. –> Sin í an bhean a phóg Gearóid. |
| Bhuail an leoraí carr úrnua. –> Ba charr úrnua an carr a bhuail an leoraí. |
| Chum an fear an dán sin. –> Sin é an dán a chum an fear. |
| Ceannóidh an teaghlach an teach sin. –> Sin é an teach a cheannóidh an teaghlach. |
Note: As is clear from (a) and (b) above, these sentences are ambiguous: Sin í an bhean a phóg Gearóid; Ba charr úrnua an carr a bhuail an leoraí. The antecedent in each case could be the subject or direct object of the verb in the relative clause. It is better to use an indirect relative clause in these cases to avoid ambiguity (see 11.3.1(a) below). The sentence sin é an dán a chum an fear is not ambiguous because the antecedent (an dán) cannot be the subject of the verb.
(c) if the antecedent is the object of a verbal noun in the relative clause (direct object or a (possessive adjective)):
| Sin (é) an leabhar. Tá sé á léamh aige. –> Sin (é) an leabhar atá á léamh aige. |
| Cheannaigh sí an gúna. Bhí mé á iarraidh. –> Cheannaigh sí an gúna a bhí mé a iarraidh. |
Note: It is possible to use a relative clause of the type in the second example above in case of the first example too, e.g. Sin (é) an leabhar a bhí sé a léamh. Similarly: Sin an cineál cairr atá á thiomáint aige; Sin an cineál cairr atá sé a thiomáint.
(d) if the antecedent is the temporal adverb uair or the conjunction nuair:
| Inseoidh mé an scéal duit nuair a bheidh deis agam. |
| An cuimhin leat an uair a chuamar go dtí an Spáinn? |
(e) if the antecedent is a temporal adverb such as an tráth, an mhaidin, an dáta, an oíche, an t-am, etc.:
| An bhfuil a fhios agat cén tráth a fhoilseofar é? |
| An cuimhin leat an lá a thit an crann? |
Note: It is possible to use an indirect relative clause in place of a direct clause for these temporal adverbs, e.g. An bhfuil a fhios agat cén tráth a bhfoilseofar é?; An cuimhin leat an lá ar thit an crann? (see 11.3.1(g)).
(f) if the antecedent is a simple preposition, a compound preposition, a prepositional pronoun or an adverbial phrase with the copula preceding it for emphasis (see 11.8.4):
| Déanfar an obair de réir a chéile. –> Is de réir a chéile a dhéanfar an obair. |
| Shábháil mé an t-airgead sa chomhar creidmheasa. –> Is sa chomhar creidmheasa a shábháil mé an t-airgead. |
| Bíonn sé ag labhairt thar ceann an pholaiteora. –> Is thar ceann an pholaiteora a bhíonn sé ag labhairt. |
| Fuair mé an bronntanas uaidh. –> Is uaidh a fuair mé an bronntanas. |
11.3 Indirect Relative Clauses
11.3.1 An indirect relative clause is in use in the following cases. Reference is made to the antecedent with a postcedent in the indirect relative clause. An indirect relative clause is used:
(a) to avoid ambiguity when the antecedent is the direct object of the verb in the relative clause (see 11.2.1(b) above):
| Phóg Gearóid an bhean sin. –> Sin í an bhean ar phóg Gearóid í. |
| Buailfidh an sliotar an fear sin. –> Sin é an fear a mbuailfidh an sliotar é. |
| Chaill an cailín a cóta nua. –> Ba chóta nua an cóta ar chaill an cailín é. |
(b) if the antecedent is the object of a verbal noun in the relative clause:
| Cheannaigh sí an gúna. Bhí mé ag iarraidh é a fháil. –> Cheannaigh sí an gúna a raibh mé ag iarraidh é a fháil. |
| Dhíol siad an chathaoir. Bhí mé ag moladh í a choimeád. –> Dhíol siad an chathaoir a raibh mé ag moladh í a choimeád. |
Note: It is possible to use the following relative clause types in situation (b) too, e.g. Cheannaigh sí an gúna a bhí mé ag iarraidh a fháil; Dhíol siad an chathaoir a bhí mé ag moladh a choimeád (see 11.2.1(c)).
(c) when the antecedent is the indirect object of the verb in the relative clause:
| Cuireadh an t-agallamh ar an mbean sin. –> Sin i2 an bhean ar cuireadh an t-agallamh uirthi. |
| Ceannaím éadaí ón bhfear sin. –> Sin é an fear a gceannaím éadaí uaidh. |
| Déantar tagairt don leabhar sa chlár. –> Sin é an leabhar a ndéantar tagairt dó sa chlár. |
| Rinneadh ráiteas thar ceann an chomhlachta sin. –> Sin é an comhlacht a ndearnadh ráiteas thar a cheann. |
| Cuireadh iarratas ar chead pleanála isteach i leith an fhoirgnimh. –> Sin é an foirgneamh ar cuireadh iarratas ar chead pleanála isteach ina leith. |
Note:
(i) when it is a simple preposition (as, de, do, etc.) that links the verb to the indirect object, it is possible to put forward the preposition before the relative particle. A combination is made, then, of the prepositions de, do, faoi, i le, ó and trí and the relative particles a and ar, respectively (see 11.6.1(c)).
| Cuireadh an t-agallamh ar an mbean sin. –> Sin í an bhean ar ar cuireadh an t-agallamh. |
| Ceannaím éadaí ón bhfear sin. –> Sin é an fear óna gceannaím éadaí. |
| Déantar tagairt don leabhar sa chlár. –> Sin é an leabhar dá ndéantar tagairt sa chlár. |
(ii) when it is a compound preposition (ar son, i leith, etc.) that links the verb to the indirect object, it is possible to move the compound preposition forward. (Unlike (i) above, when a compound preposition is moved forward, the verbal clause following it is a direct relative clause.)
| Rinneadh an ráiteas thar ceann an chomhlachta sin. –> Sin é an comhlacht ar thar a cheann a rinneadh an ráiteas. |
| Cuireadh iarratas ar chead pleanála isteach i leith an fhoirgnimh. –> Sin é an foirgneamh ar ina leith a cuireadh iarratas ar chead pleanála isteach. |
(d) when there is a genitive link between the antecedent and the subject or object (direct or indirect) of the verb in the relative clause. In that case, the postcedent is a possessive adjective:
| Bhí iníon na mná sin ar an teilifís aréir. –> Sin í an bhean a raibh a hiníon ar an teilifís aréir. |
| Ghoid an gadaí carr na mná óige. –> Ba bhean óg an bhean ar ghoid an gadaí a carr. |
| Cuireadh agallamh ar mhac an fhir sin. –> Sin é an fear ar cuireadh agallamh ar a mhac. |
(e) if reference is made to the antecedent in a verbal clause that is subject to the verb in the relative clause:
| Cheap mé nach n-inseodh an duine sin an fhírinne choíche. –> Ba dhuine é ar cheap mé nach n-inseodh sé an fhírinne choíche. |
| Sílim go bhfaca mé iníon na mná sin ar an teilifís aréir. –> Sin í an bhean a sílim go bhfaca mé a hiníon ar an teilifís aréir. |
| Creideann an t-oifigeach gur cuireadh iarratas ar chead pleanála isteach i leith an fhoirgnimh sin. –> Sin é an foirgneamh a gcreideann an t-oifigeach gur cuireadh iarratas ar chead pleanála isteach ina leith. |
| Teastaíonn uainn fál a thógáil idir an pháirc sin agus an bóthar. –> Sin í an pháirc a dteastaíonn uainn fál a thógáil idir í agus an bóthar. |
Note: See also the explanation of parenthetical clauses in 11.4, e.g. Ba dhuine í a cheap mé a chonaic mé cheana.
(f) in the case of interrogative pronouns such as cé, cad (é), etc. when a simple preposition, compound preposition or prepositional pronoun is fronted in the sentence so that it directly follows the interrogative pronoun:
| Cé hé + is ina aghaidh a bheidh sibh ag imirt. –> Cé ina aghaidh a mbeidh sibh ag imirt? |
| Cad (é) + is ina thaobh a rinne tú sin. –> Cad (é) ina thaobh a ndearna tú sin? |
| Cé hé + is leis a bhí tú ag caint. –> Cé leis a raibh tú ag caint? |
(g) when the antecedent is a temporal adverb such as an tráth, an t-am, etc., it is possible to use an indirect relative clause in place of a direct relative clause (a direct relative clause is always used following nuair and uair, see 11.2.1(d)):
| An bhfuil a fhios agat cén tráth a bhfoilseofar é? |
| An cuimhin leat an lá ar thit an crann? |
Note: It is possible to use a direct relative clause in place of an indirect relative clause for temporal adverbs too, e.g. An bhfuil a fhios agat cén tráth a fhoilseofar é?; An cuimhin leat an lá a thit an crann? (see 11.2.1(e)).
(h) if the antecedent is one of the words áit, bealach, caoi, cúis, dóigh, fáth, réasún, slí or treo (or a word with the same meaning) and if it is acting as an adverb qualifying the verb in the relative clause:
| Sin é an tslí a ndearnadh é. |
| Cén chaoi a bhfuil tú? |
| Cad é an dóigh ar briseadh é? |
| Sin é an chúis ar tháinig mé. |
| Cén fáth ar imigh siad? |
| Cé na háiteanna a ndeachaigh sibh? |
Note: A direct clause must be used in sentences that have a word of this type as the direct object of the verb, as follows: Seo an áit is deise; Cad é an áit a cheannaigh sé?; Ar chuala tú an fáth a thug sí?; An maith leat an chaoi atáim a chur ar an seomra?
(i) when mar is acting as an adverb with the meaning ‘place’:
| Sin an leabharlann dhigiteach nua, mar a gcuirtear áiseanna taighde ar fáil do mhic léinn. |
| Gheobhaidh tú san oifig í, mar a mbíonn sí gach oíche. |
| Ceadófar achomhairc a dhéanamh, ach amháin mar a bhforáiltear a mhalairt. |
But if mar is being used as a conjunction, it is followed by a direct relative clause, e.g. Sin mar atá cúrsaí.
11.4 Parenthetical Clauses
11.4.1 A ‘parenthetical clause’ is one that gives information on the clause that follows it without affecting the form of the sentence. If the parenthetical clause is removed from the sentence, it should remain semantically and grammatically sound.
11.4.2 It is mainly verbs used to express opinion or speech, e.g. abair, ceap, maígh, síl, etc. that are used in parenthetical clauses.
Note: See also 11.3.1(e) for explanation of the cases in which reference is made to the antecedent in a verbal clause that is subject to the verb in the relative clause, e.g. Ba dhuine é ar cheap mé nach n-inseodh sé an fhírinne choíche.
11.4.3 The parenthetical clause is a direct clause, but the clause following it can be direct or indirect depending on the structure of the sentence.
| PARENTHETICAL CLAUSES | |
| Second clause is direct relative | Second clause is indirect relative |
| Ba dhuine í a cheap mé a chonaic mé cheana. | Cén fáth a cheapann tú a ndeachaigh siad ann? |
| Cad a shíleann tú a tharlóidh di? | Cén chaoi is dóigh leat ar tharla a leithéid? |
| Chaith sé éadaí nár mheas mé a chaithfeadh sé go deo. | Cén dóigh a mheasann tú a ndéanfar an obair sin? |
Note: In some cases either a direct or indirect clause can be used, e.g. Fuair mé in áit ar mheas mé a gheobhainn é instead of Fuair mé é in áit a mheas mé a bhfaighinn é.
11.5 Comparative Clauses
11.5.1 A ‘comparative clause’ is made from the copula and the comparative form of an adjective. If the comparative clause is removed from the sentence, it should remain semantically and grammatically sound.
11.5.2 Comparative clauses are direct clauses, but it the clause following it can be direct or indirect depending on the structure of the sentence.
| COMPARATIVE CLAUSE | |
| Second clause is direct relative | Second clause is indirect relative |
| Sin (iad) na ceisteanna is minice a chuirtear. | Is í an tUachtarán an duine is cáiliúla ar bhuail mé léi. |
| Ba é an rud ba mhó é a theastaigh uaithi. | Cá háit is fusa a n-eagrófar an ceolchoirm? |
| Sin (é) an t-amhrán is fearr a thaitin liom. | Is é sin an chaoi is gasta a ndéanfar é. |
Note: A parenthetical and comparative clause can be present in a single sentence, e.g. Ba é an banna ceoil ba cháiliúla a shíleann sé a bhainistigh an gnólacht sin riamh.
11.6 Relative Particle – Forms
11.6.1 Affirmative Relative Particle
(a) Direct Relative Clauses
(i) For a direct relative clause, a is the form of the relative particle used before regular and irregular verbs in all tenses (except for the present tense of the verb bí – see (ii) below). The verb is lenited after the direct relative particle a except for autonomous verbs in the past tense (but see 11.7.1(b)).
| Sin é an stáisiún raidió a chraolann cláir do leanaí. |
| Cén uair a chraolfar an clár? |
| D’éirigh leo stáisiún raidió a chraolfadh popcheol a bhunú. |
| Nach í sin an tsraith a chraoltaí gach maidin? |
| Is é sin an clár a chraol siad inné. |
| An í sin an bhean a théann go dtí na cluichí go léir? |
| Sin é an bus a rachaidh go dtí an staid pheile. |
| Sin í an bhean a rachadh go dtí an cluiche dá bhféadfadh sí. |
| Nach é sin an fear a théadh go dtí na cluichí go léir? |
| Sin í an bhean a chuaigh go dtí an staid pheile. |
(ii) The relative particle a is combined with the present independent form of the verb bí to create the forms atá, atáim, atáimid.
| Sin iad na leabhair atá á n-iarraidh agam. |
| Seo iad na héadaí atáim a cheannach. |
| Sin é an ní atáimid chun a dhíol. |
(b) Indirect Relative Clauses
(i) For an indirect relative clause, a is used before regular and irregular verbs in all tenses but the past tense (but see (iii) below). The verb is eclipsed following the indirect relative particle a.
| Sin é an clár a gcraolann an stáisiún raidió é. |
| Cá háit a gcraolfar an clár? |
| Cad chuige a gcraolfadh an stáisiún raidió popcheol? |
| Is sraith í a gcraoltaí clár dá cuid gach maidin. |
| An í sin an bhean a dtéann a hiníon go dtí na cluichí go léir? |
| Sin é an fear a rachaidh a mhac go dtí an staid pheile. |
| Sin í an bhean a rachadh a hiníon go dtí an cluiche dá bhféadfadh sí. |
| Nach é sin an fear a dtéadh a pháistí go dtí na cluichí go léir? |
| Sin é an ní a bhfuilimid chun é a dhíol. |
(ii) In the past tense, ar is the form of the relative particle used before regular verbs and the irregular verbs beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair and tar.
| Sin é an clár ar chraol an stáisiún raidió é. |
| Cheannaigh mé leabhar nua ar mhol an léirmheastóir é. |
| Bhuail mé le fear ar chum a mhac amhráin Ghaeilge. |
| Sin í an bhean ar cheannaigh mé na héadaí uaithi. |
| Céard a tharla don duine ar rug tú greim air? |
| Tá an scannán ar chuala mé faoi ar taispeáint sa phictiúrlann. |
| Cá bhfuil an bhean ar bronnadh céim uirthi? |
| An raibh ionadh ar an mbean ar tháinig a mac abhaile ón Astráil. |
(iii) In the past tense, a is the form of the relative particle used before the irregular verbs abair, bí, déan, faigh, feic and téigh.
| Dar liom gurb é sin an fear a ndúradh linn é a leanúint. |
| Tá aithne agam ar an mbean a raibh a hiníon ar an teilifís. |
| Arbh é sin an leabhar a ndearnadh tagairt dó? |
| Sin é an múinteoir a bhfuair mé litir uaidh. |
| Nach í sin an bhean a bhfaca an fear í? |
| D’fhill mé ar an áit a ndeachaigh mé fadó. |
(c) Compound forms
A compound is made from the prepositions de, do, faoi, i, le, ó and trí and the relative particles a and ar, respectively, as shown below (see also 11.3.1(c)(i)). Note that it is not possible to combine prepositions with the negative relative particles.
| Preposition | + relative particle a | + relative particle ar |
| de | dá | dár |
| do | dá | dár |
| faoi | faoina | faoinar |
| i | ina | inar |
| le | lena | lenar |
| ó | óna | ónar |
| trí | trína | trínar |
11.6.2 Negative Relative Particle
(a) Direct and Indirect Relative Clauses
(i) In negative direct and indirect clauses, nach is the form of the relative particle corresponding to a before regular and irregular verbs, except in the past tense (but see (iii) below).
| Is duine é nach nglacann comhairle. |
| Sin é an stáisiún nach gcraoladh an clár. |
| Sin é an clár nach gcraolfadh an stáisiún raidió é. |
| Is í sin an bhean nach nglacfaidh a hiníon dea-chomhairle. |
| Sin é an fear nach gceannaínn aon earraí uaidh. |
| An í sin an cháis nach n-íosfaidh an fear? |
| Sin í an bhean nach dtagann a mac abhaile gach bliain. |
(ii) In the past tense, nár corresponds to a and ar in the case of regular verbs and the irregular verbs beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair and tar.
| Ba dhuine é nár ghlac comhairle. |
| Sin é an stáisiún nár chraol an clár. |
| Sin é an clár nár chraol an stáisiún é. |
| Is í sin an bhean nár ghlac a hiníon dea-chomhairle. |
| Sin é an fear nár cheannaigh mé aon earraí uaidh. |
| Céard a tharla don duine nár rug tú greim air? |
| Tá scannán nár chuala mé trácht air ar siúl sa phictiúrlann anocht. |
| Ar chaith tú amach an bia nár ith an madra? |
| Sin an bhean nár thug mé leabhar di. |
| An bhfuil aon duine nár tháinig abhaile ón gceolchoirm fós? |
(iii) In the past tense, nach corresponds to a for the irregular verbs abair, bí, déan, faigh, feic and téigh.
| Is rud é nach ndúirt mé riamh. |
| An í sin an bhean nach raibh a hiníon i láthair? |
| Cad a dhéanfar faoin obair nach ndearnadh? |
| Sin é an múinteoir nach bhfuair mé litir uaidh. |
| Sin í an bhean nach bhfaca an dochtúir í. |
| Cad a rinne sibh an uair sin nach ndeachaigh sibh ar saoire? |
11.7 Verbs in Relative Clauses
11.7.1 Verbs – Affirmative Direct Relative Clause
(a) The independent form of the verb is used after the relative particle a in affirmative direct relative clauses.
| An bhfaca cóta nua a fuair mé? |
| An é sin an fear a théadh go dtí na cluichí go léir? |
(b) The verb (except abair) is lenited in the present tense and the future tense (but see 11.6.1(a)(ii)).
| Sin é an sliotar a bhuaileann sí gach maidin. |
| Sin é an sliotar a bhuailfear le linn an chluiche. |
Note that autonomous verbs are lenited in the cases in which other forms are lenited, e.g. na héadaí a cheannaítear (a cheannófar, a cheannaítí) except for the past tense, e.g. na héadaí a ceannaíodh. The independent autonomous verb in the past tense is not lenited except for chonacthas, chualathas, chuathas and thángthas.
11.7.2 Verbs – Affirmative Indirect Relative Clause
The dependent form of the verb is used after the relative particles ar and a in affirmative indirect relative clauses.
(a) The dependent form of the verb is lenited after the relative particle ar (except for the autonomous verb in the past tense, e.g. ar goideadh; ar buaileadh).
| Sin é an sliotar ar bhuail an bhean é. |
| Sin í an bhean ar ghoid an gadaí a carr. |
(b) The dependent form of the verb is eclipsed after the relative particle a.
| Sin é an ríomhaire a n-úsáideann an bhean é le haghaidh na hoibre. |
| Sin í an bhean a gceannóidh an buachaill a carr. |
| An í sin an cailín a ndeachaigh a madra amú uirthi? |
| Cá ndeachaigh an fear a bhfaca mé a mhac ag dul isteach san fhoirgneamh? |
11.7.3 Verbs – Negative Direct and Indirect Relative Clauses
The dependent form of the verb is used after the relative particles nach and nár in negative direct and indirect relative clauses.
(a) The dependent form of the verb is eclipsed after nach.
| Sin é an sliotar nach mbuaileann an bhean. |
| Sin é an gaothscáth nach mbrisfidh an buachaill. |
| Sin é an sliotar nach mbuaileann an bhean é. |
| Sin í an bhean nach gceannóidh an buachaill a carr. |
(b) The dependent form of the verb is lenited after nár except for the autonomous verb in the past tense, e.g. nár ceannaíodh; nár blaiseadh.
| Sin é an sliotar nár bhuail an bhean. |
| Sin é an gaothscáth nár bhris an buachaill. |
| Sin é an sliotar nár bhuail an bhean é. |
| Sin í an bhean nár cheannaigh an buachaill a carr. |
11.7.4 Verbs – Relative Form
(a) There is a special independent relative form for verbs in the present tense, the habitual present tense and the future tense. It is possible to use this form in relative clauses in place of the analytic form of the verb, e.g. Sin é an chéad leabhar eile a bheas á léamh agam; Céard a dhéanfas tú anois?
(b) The distinct relative independent form of the verb lean is used always in phrases such as na focail seo a leanas.
11.8 The Copula and Relative Clauses
11.8.1 Given below are the forms of the copula used in relative clauses (see also 7.2.3 and 7.2.4 for more information).
| PRESENT AND FUTURE TENSE | PAST TENSE, IMPERFECT TENSE AND CONDITIONAL MOOD | |||
| before a consonant | before a vowel | before a consonant or fh + consonant | before a vowel or fh + vowel | |
| Direct Affirmative | is | ba | ab | |
| Indirect Affirmative | ar | arb | ar | arbh |
| Direct and Indirect Negative | nach | nár | nárbh | |
11.8.2 The forms ending in -b or -bh are used before words starting with a vowel or fh- before a vowel.
| Ba í an bhean ab éirimiúla í. |
| Is é sin an buachaill arb eol dó an freagra. |
| Is í sin an cailín arbh aoibhinn léi an eolaíocht. |
| Níor éist sé leis an ráiteas nárbh fhíor é. |
11.8.3 Lenition follows the forms of the copula in the past tense and the conditional mood.
| Ba í ba bhainisteoir orthu. |
| Ba é an rud ab fhusa a dhéanamh é. |
| Is í sin an bhean ar mhór aici do chabhair. |
| Níor tharla aon ní arbh fhiú trácht air. |
| Ní dhearna mé aon ní nár chuí liom. |
11.8.4 If the copula is being used to place emphasis on a simple preposition, compound preposition, prepositional pronoun or fronted adverbial phrase, the second clause is a direct relative clause.
| Is arú inné a tháinig siad abhaile. |
| Is ón gcómhar creidmheasa a fuair mé an t-airgead. |
| Ba leis-sean a bhí mé ag caint. |
| An ar an traein a chuaigh tú go Sligeach? |
| Is chun na Fraince a théann sé ar saoire. |
| Is de réir a chéile a déantar dul chun cinn. |
11.8.5 A compound is formed of the copular forms ar, arb and arbh and the prepositions de, do, faoi, i, le, ó and trí as laid out below (see also 7.3.2).
| Preposition | + copular ar | + copular arb | + copular arbh |
| de/do | dar | darb | darbh |
| faoi | faoinar | faoinarb | faoinarbh |
| i | inar | inarb | inarbh |
| le | lenar | lenarb | lenarbh |
| ó | ónar | ónarb | ónarbh |
| trí | trínar | trínarb | trínarbh |
11.9 Relative Clauses – Further Examples
| Direct Relative | Example |
| cad | Cad a tharla? Cad is brí leis sin? |
| cathain | Cathain a fuair tú an carr nua? |
| cá fhad, cén fhad* | Cá fhad a bhí sibh ann? Cén fhad a mhair an cheolchoirm? |
| cá mhéad, cé mhéad, cén méid | Cá mhéad leabhar atá agat? Cé mhéad a fuair tú mar íocaíocht? Cén méid a chosnaíonn sé? |
| cé | Cé a bhí leat? |
| cé acu, cibé acu | Cé acu mise nó tusa atá i gceist? Is cuma liom cé acu a rinne sé é nó nach ndearna. Beidh feidhm ag an socrú cibé acu atá sé sásta nó nach bhfuil. |
| céard | Céard atá ar siúl agat? |
| cá huair, cén uair | Cá huair a tháinig sí? Cén uair a chríochnóidh an scannán? |
| chomh + temporal adverb + is | Coimeádfar na sonraí sin chomh fada is a bheidh siad riachtanach. Cé chomh minic (is) a bhíonn cóisir agaibh sa teach? |
| conas | Conas a dhéanann tú é? |
| cad é mar, mar (conjunction) | Cad é mar a chuir tú aithne air? Déan mar is ceart é. |
| nuair | Cuirfidh mé scairt ort nuair a bheidh deis agam. |
*The form cén fhad is an old-established form. The word fad is always masculine.
| Indirect Relative | Example |
| an áit, cá háit, cén áit | Sin an áit a raibh sé. Cá háit a mbíonn na ranganna sin ar siúl? Cén áit a ndeachaigh sibh ansin? |
| an chaoi, cén chaoi | Ba é sin an chaoi ar chuala mé faoi. Cén chaoi ar tharla a leithéid? |
| an dóigh, cén dóigh | Sin an dóigh a bhfuil sé anois. Cén dóigh a ndéantar an obair? |
| an fáth, cén fáth | Is é sin an fáth a raibh áthas orm. Cén fáth a gcuireann tú do chuid ama amú mar sin? |
| cad chuige | Cad chuige a ndearna tú sin? |
| cad ina thaobh | Cad ina thaobh ar inis tú bréag? |
| an tslí, cén tslí | Ní maith liom an tslí a bhfuil sé á chur i bhfeidhm. Cén tslí a dtoghtar comhaltaí an tSeanaid? |
| a, ar (with the meaning an méid a, an méid ar); gach a, gach ar (with the meaning gach rud a, gach rud ar) | Ólann sé a dtuilleann sé. D’ól sé ar thuill sé. Faigheann sí gach a bhfuil ag teastáil. Fuair sí gach ar theastaigh uirthi. |
| mar (with the meaning áit) | Chuaigh mé go dtí an siopa éadaí mar a ndíoltar geansaithe áille olla. Sin é teach m’aintín mar ar mhinic mo chuairt. |