Initial Mutation: Epithets
The three charts in this section of the Grammar describe the initial mutation of an epithet when it follows a noun. An epithet is either an adjective or a noun in the genitive that follows a noun. The initial mutation of an epithet depends on both the case and number (singular or plural) of the noun that precedes it.
Initial Mutation of Epithet After Masculine Singular Noun
nominative | no change | A-tá fear caol / fear Cruachan / an fear caol / an fear ceóil san tigh. |
vocative: with inflected masucline noun |
lenition of following adjective or noun |
A fhir chaoil / A fhir cheóil |
vocative: with uninflected masculine noun (not metaphorical) |
either no change;
or, lenition of following adjective or noun |
A dhuine caol / ceóil;
or, A dhuine chaoil / cheóil |
vocative: metaphorical usage |
no change | A dhuine caol / ceóil |
accusative (where marked as accusative*) |
eclipsis of following adjective or noun |
mol fhear gcaol / mol fhear gceóil / mol an bhfear gcaol / mol an bhfear gceóil / leis an bhfear gcaol / leis an bhfear gceoil / mol fhilidh gcaol / mol fhilidh gceóil / mol an bhfilidh gcaol / mol an bhfilidh gceóil |
accusative (where unmarked*) |
no change (treated as nominative);
or, eclipsis of following adjective or noun |
mol fear caol / ceóil , mol an fear caol;
or, mol fear gcaol / gceóil, mol an bhfear gcaol |
genitive (certain types of inflected masculine genitive nouns) |
lenition of following adjective or noun |
mac Maghnais chaoil / mac Maghnais fhinn / Teach an fhir chaoil / Teach an fhir cheóil / mac Dé bhí |
genitive (other types of masculine genitive nouns) |
no change | mac Maghnasa caoil / mac Maghnasa finn / mac an fhileadh caoil |
dative | lenition of following adjective or noun |
don fhior chaol / don fhior cheóil / don fhilidh chaol / don asbal chaol / don tsluagh mhór |
*Note: the accusative can be marked by accusative inflexion and/or by eclipsis after the article or (in the absence of the article) by lenition of the direct object of a verb: e.g. mol mhnaoi, mol an bhfear, mol fhear.
Initial Mutation of Epithet After Feminine Singular Noun
nominative | lenition of following adjective or noun |
A-tá an bhean chaol / an bhean cheóil san tigh. A-tá bó chaol / an bhó chaol agam. |
vocative | lenition of following adjective or noun |
A bhean chaol / A bhean cheóil |
accusative (where marked as accusative*) |
eclipsis of following adjective or noun |
mol mhnaoi gcaoil / mol mhnaoi gceóil / mol an mboin gcaoil. |
accusative (where unmarked*) |
no change – treated as nominative | mol súil gheal
(with marked accusative would |
genitive | no change
(sometimes h is prefixed to a vowel) |
mac mná caoile / mac mná ceóil / mac na mná finne / mac mná Cruachan. Laogh na bó caoile.(h prefixed to vowel: mac mná huaisle / rí fréimhe hUidhir) |
dative | lenition of following adjective or noun |
do mhnaoi chaoil / do mhnaoi cheóil / don mhnaoi chaoil / don mhnaoi cheóil / do mhnaoi Chruachan; don bhoin chaoil |
*Note: the accusative can be marked by accusative inflexion and/or by eclipsis after the article or (in the absence of the article) by lenition of the direct object of a verb: e.g. mol mhnaoi, mol an bhfear, mol fhear.
Initial Mutation After Plural Nouns (Masculine and Feminine)
certain nominative plural forms |
lenition of following adjective or noun |
na fir chaola / na hasbail chaola / na sluaigh mhóra / na bile mhóra |
other nominative plural forms |
no change | na mná caola / na mná ceóil / na daoine caola / na ba caola / na bileadha móra / na sleagha caola |
vocative plural | no change | a fhiora ceóil / a fhileadha caola / a mhná caola |
accusative plural | no change | Mol na fiora caola / na mná ceóil / na hasbala móra |
genitive plural | eclipsis of following adjective or noun |
méad na bhfear gceóil / na bhfileadh gcaol / na n-asbal gceart / na sluagh mbeag / na mbó mbreac / na n-adharc gcaol / na sleagh gcaol |
dative plural | no change | do na fearaibh caola / do na fileadhaibh móra / do na hasbalaibh |
*Note: the accusative can be marked by accusative inflexion and/or by eclipsis after the article or (in the absence of the article) by lenition of the direct object of a verb: e.g. mol mhnaoi, mol an bhfear, mol fhear.