Caibidil a Cúig: Prepositions (Réamhfhocail)

Case

ó requires the dative.

Initial Mutations after ó

• without the article: lenition  e.g. ó Chiarraí = from Kerrry
• with the singular article: eclipsis  e.g. ón nGearmáin = from Germany
  • only in Munster, d, t is also eclipsed
  • in Connacht t-prefix preceding a femin. noun with s-: ón tsúil = from an eye
  • in Ulster, lenition: ón Ghearmáin = from Germany

Interrogative

• Cé / cad uaidh = from whom, from what?

Combined with the article

• ó + an (preceding a consonant): ón
• ó + na: ó na

Combined with personal pronounes and possessive pronouns

Combined with the indir. relative pronoun and with the indir. relative form of the copula

Combined with the numeral particle a

e.g. óna trí go dtí a hocht a chlóg = from 3-8 O'clock

Use

1. spatial point of origin: from: tar ón bposta = come from the mail
2. temporal starting point: from / since : ón Nollaig = since Christmas, ó mhaidin = since this morning, ó Lá Fhéile Eoin amach = from St. John's Eve on ,
   also as a conjunction since: ó bhí sí tinn = since she was sick
3. applied point of origin: from: litir uait = a letter from you, cabhair ó chairde = help from friends
4. origin of, from fear ó Thrá Lí = a man from Tralee
5. distance from: míle uaidh = a mile away (from)
6. distance / loss / absence : Is cuma liom agam nó uaim é = I don't care if I have it or not, is fearr d'fhear bean chéile uaidh =  a man without a wife is better off  ;-)
7. out of : bí ó bhaol = out of danger
8. limit: from ...on: ó 10 míle suas = from 10 miles upwards, ó cúig phunt go deich bpunt = from 5 to 10 pounds
9. reason: bodhar ó thorann = deaf from the noise, tuirseach ó shiúil = tired from walking
10. with adjectives: deas uait = nice of you, maith uainn = good of us
11. with adjective: is breá uait = do (sth.) well
12. needs need, want : tá + object + ó + subject, or   teastíonn + object + ó + subject, or tá + object + ag teastáil + ó + subject: tá spóirt uaim (also teastaíonn spóirt uaim) = I want to have fun, tá bainne uait (teastíonn bainne uait) = you need milk, teastíonn uaim labhairt leat = I want to speak to you
13. from ....to(ó...go): ó thús go deireadh = from beginning to end, ó lá go lá = from day to day, óna hocht go dtí a naoi = from 8-9, ó am go ham =from time to time
14. with numbers: less, minus (note the reverse order as in English or German!): a dó óna trí sin a haon = 3 - 2 = 1 (lit: "2 from the 3 that-is 1")