The complicated business of saying 'the'

In Gaelic, there is no indefinite article like 'a' or 'an'. The definite article 'the' in Gaelic varies based on gender, initial letter, and sentence context. Let's look at some examples:

What even are these 'cases'?

ainm. an tuiseal ainmeach/’bunasach’ - 

the nominative/’basic’ case

This is used when when a noun (naming-word) stands alone, with no preposition before it and when it is not being connected to another noun or verbal noun. 

For example: ‘tha am bòrd glan’ the table is clean

tabh.  an tuiseal tabhartach - 

the dative case

This is used when the noun follows a simple preposition, such as ‘air’ on, ‘aig’ at, ‘ron’ before, ‘fon’ under, ‘leis’ with etc. 

For example: 

‘suidh aig a’ bhòrd’ sit at the table 

‘cuir air a’ bhòrd e’ put it on the table

gin.  an tuiseal ginideach - the genitive case.

This is used when the noun is being married with another noun, such as ‘casan a’ bhùird’ the legs of the table; the noun comes after a verbal noun, such as ‘tha mi a’ glanadh a’ bhùird’ I am cleaning the table (lit. I am at cleaning of the table);  the noun comes after a compound preposition, such as ‘ri taobh a’ bhùird’ beside the table (lit. to/at the side of the table)

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