493. In Irish almost every common adjective can be used both predicatively and attributively. There are, however, one or two exceptions: droċ, bad, and deaġ, good, can never be used predicatively. If “bad” or “good” be used predicatively in the English sentence, we must use olc, bad, or maiṫ, good, in Irish. Never say or write is deaġ é for “he is good,” but is maiṫ é, &c.
The adjective iomḋa is always used predicatively with is. In Munster ’mó is used instead of iomḋa.
- Is iomḋa marcaċ do ġaḃ an tsliġe seo.
- (’Tis) many a rider (that) has gone this way.
ADJECTIVE USED ATTRIBUTIVELY.
(a) The Position of the Adjective.
494. As a general rule the adjective follows its noun in Irish: as, leaḃar mór, a big book; fear maiṫ, a good man.
Exceptions. (1) A numeral adjective, whether ordinal or cardinal, when it consists of one word, always precedes its noun: as trí ba, three cows; ḋá ċirc, two hens. The interrogative, possessive, and most of the indefinite adjectives also precede their noun.
(2) Monosyllabic adjectives are frequently placed before the noun, but then the noun and adjective form a compound noun, and consequently the initial of the noun is aspirated, when possible. This is
