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Their and Eclipsis

Level 1

Possessive a meaning their causes eclipsis: a mbád. Compare a bhád for his boat and a bád for her boat.

How It Works

Possessive a meaning their causes eclipsis: a mbád. Compare a bhád for his boat and a bád for her boat.

A meaning their normally eclipses the following noun. Bád becomes mbád, and a vowel-initial noun takes n-. Compare a bhád, a bád and a mbád: the same boat noun can belong to him, her or them according to the construction.

Examples (3)

  1. Seo a mbád.

    This is their boat.

  2. Tá a dteach mór.

    Their house is large.

  3. Tá a n-athair anseo.

    Their father is here.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

aLevel 1Their and Eclipsis

Learn This First

Apply the known eclipsing possessive pattern to a third-person plural possessor.

Words in This Pattern