A

=0. Contents=


 * 1) Syntax
 * 2) Semantics

This page is about the non-leniting, dative-governing preposition //à//. Many of its properties are already described on the page about prepositions.

=1. Syntax=

a. The definite variant of //à// is //às//. The former cannot be immediately followed by a form of the definite article, but the latter can.

For example:
 * //à bòrd// (out of a table), //à bùird// (out of tables).
 * //às a' bhòrd// (out of the table), //às na bùird// (out of the tables).
 * * //à a' bhòrd// (out of the table), * //à na bùird// . (out of the tables).
 * * //às bòrd// (out of a table), * //às bùird// (out of tables).

b. [But //às// also appears before //gach// and the possessive articles. Also before any word starting with a vowel? Need to be more precise here.]

c. The set of conjugated prepositions for //à// is as follows:
 * ~  ||||~ singular ||~   ||
 * ~  ||~ masc ||~ fem ||~ plural ||
 * ~ first ||||= //asam// ||= //asainn// ||
 * ~ second ||||= //asad// ||= //asaibh// ||
 * ~ third ||= //às// ||= //aiste// ||= //asta// ||

For example:
 * //aiste// is used instead of * //à i// or * //às i// (out of her).
 * //asta// is used instead of * //à iad// or * //às iad// (out of them).

d. There is also a set of emphatic conjugated prepositions:
 * ~  ||||~ singular ||~   ||
 * ~  ||~ masc ||~ fem ||~ plural ||
 * ~ first ||||= //asamsa// ||= //asainne// ||
 * ~ second ||||= //asadsa// ||= //asaibhse// ||
 * ~ third ||= //às-san// ||= //aistese// ||= //astasan// ||

e. Unusually for a dative-governing preposition, there are **no** optional possessive prepositions for //à// :

For example, there is no variant for the following phrases:
 * //à mo chaileig // (out of my girl).
 * //à ur n-eaglais// (out of your church).

[Again, should we use the definite variant //às// here?]

f. [Note on the spelling controversy - //à/às// versus //á/ás// ?]

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=2. Semantics=

2.1. Space
fear às an sgìre sin (a man from that area)

2.3. Others
a. The object of the preposition //à// must be in the dative case.

b. The preposition //à// does not lenite the immediately following word/noun.

Spatially, denotes a path which begins inside, and ends outside, the container denoted by the object (i.e. from inside/within, out of).

Usually is a verbal dependant rather than a nominal one.


 * Bha e a' tighinn a-mach às an taigh (he was coming out of the house - CM)
 * às an àite sin (thence - CM)
 * às an t-sreath (exceptional)
 * às an fhasan (out of fashion/date)
 * às an chumantas (out of the usual, abnormal)
 * às an rathad (esoteric)
 * thoir an càr às (to cheat/outwit/trick someone)
 * Thug e an càr asam. (He cheated/tricked me - CM)

Definite variant: //às//

a. Place of origin:
 * //Có as a tha thu?// (Where are you from?)
 * //Tha mi à Glaschu//. (I'm from Glasgow)
 * //Tha Anna à Sasainn//. (Ann is from England)
 * //Is ann à Ùig a tha mo mhàthair//. (My mother is from Uig)
 * Bruidhinn mi ri caraid à Arainn. (I spoke to a friend from Arran)

Bidh Buill ag ainmeachadh gaisgich às an sgìre no an roinn aca fhèin. (Members will be nominating heroes from their own parishes or regions)

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