Caibidil a Cúig: Prepositions (Réamhfhocail)

go (dtí) = to

Initial Mutations :

• without article: (mostly only go): no lenition:   go hÉirinn = to Ireland
• with article (always go dtí): no lenition or eclipsis: go dtí an teach = to the house (in Dingle though it's eclipsis)

Pronominal forms:

• no definite pronominal forms, go dtí is used e.g.:  go dtí é = to him, go dtí mé = to me
  (etymol. the pronominal forms of chun/chuig belong to go)

Use:

1. The goal of a spatial movement (to): go dtí an teach = to the house , go only for plce names without an article: go Meiriceá = to America (for place names with article:  see do/chun)
2. temporal length ( until ): go dtí an lá sin = up until this day , go only in idiomatic expressions: go maidin = until morning
3. up to, except : Ní fheabhas go dtí é = There's nothing better than it

go  = with

Initial Mutations:

• without article : eclipsis

Pronominal forms:

• There are only special pronominal forms for possessive pronouns

Use:

1. with (rare): go n-onóir = with honour
2. Measurements: ...and a half: go leith (lit.: "with half "). e.g: trí chéad go leith punt = 350 pounds
3. in expressions.: go bhfios dom = as far as I know ( lit.: "with knowledge to me "), go gcuimhin liom = as far as I remember, go gclos dom = so I hear
4. without eclipsis: see go (dtí)

There is a good case for the fact that the conjunction go = that comes from this preposition.
Etymologisch related with Latin "cum".

gan = without

Initial Mutations :

• without article: lenition (mostly only preceding abstract/general terms) e.g: gan phósadh = unmarried
  but always no lenition
  • of d, s, t, f: e.g.: gan fear = without a man
  • in infinitive constructions
  • if the noun carries a further attribute
  • proper names : e.g.: gan Pól = without Paul
• with article: no lenition/eclipsis

Pronominal forms:

• no pronominal forms : gan mise = without me, gan é = without him

Use:

1. without: gan obair = without work
2. double (or with ná): neither nor : gan obair gan arán = gan obair ná arán = neither work nor bread
3. to negate the verbal noun: not : Tá mé sásta gan siúil = I'm fine to not walk.

mar = like, as

Initial Mutations :

• without article: lenition e.g.: mar fhear = like a man
• with article: eclipsis e.g.: mar an ngréin = like the sun

Pronominal forms:

• no pronominal forms : mar mise = like me

Use:

1. like, as: mar bhean = as a woman, like a woman
2. fitting, as (type of): gach éinne mar a dhúchas = everyone according to his nature
3. mar atá = as there is, especially, namely
4. mar gheall ar = because of: mar gheall ar an mbád = due to the boat
5. mar le = for: (seeing as, in light of): Is breá an aimsir í, mar le geimhreadh = for winter it is nice weather.

os  = over

os is an old preposition, which today only finds use in set combinations, no lenition/eclipsis, also ós, uas,
earlier also prepositional pronouns uasam, uasat, uaiste, uasainn, uasaibh, uasta,
related with thuas, anuas, suas, lastuas (see directional adverbs)

Use:

1. os cionn = over,above: os mo chionn = above me
2. os comhair, os coinne = across:
3. os ard = loud, open, public (adverbial)
4. os íseal = with a soft voice, in secret
5. os meán = off the scale

seachas  = except

seachas is a compound of seach and the copula is, this is why it is rarely seens as seach is or only seach (also rare with prepositional pronouns: seacham, seachat, etc.)

Use:

1. others except: seachas thú féin = besides yourself, daoine seachas ise = people other than her
2. other/rather than : an teach seachas an ceann seo = another house than this one
3. seachas mar a + direct relative clause: compared to , like
4. better than : seachas a chéile = rather than the other

is = until

only used with article an ( = is an) (actually: is an < i san = in the)

Use:

• temporal until: mí is an lá inniu = today one month ago(lit. "one month until the day today "), bliain is an t-am seo = this time last year (lit. "year until this time ")

a = to

a is (almost) only used preceding verbal nouns,
It is actually a short form of the preposition do = to.
Sometimes, in older literature, and in Munster, do still is used instead of a:
e.g.: "chun na Gaedhilge d'fhoghluim" = chun na Gaeilge a fhoghlaim = to learn Irish.

Initial Mutations:

• without article : lenition

Use:

1. in clauses like the "extended infinitive with to": e.g.: Bhí mé sásta míle a shiúl = I was happy to walk a mile.
2. not in the "simple infinitive with to" or only rarely used
3. instead of ag in the progressive in the relative clause: e.g.: an fear atá litir a scríobh = the man that is writing a letter. The object comes before the VN and is in the nominative/accusative (not the genitive)
4. Except preceding verbal nouns, a appears rarely: e.g. in a chlog = O'clock : a trí a chlog = 3 O'clock

dar = by

A rather rare preposition, used in interjections and similar expressions.
e.g.: dar Dia! = by God!, dar m'anam! = my soul!, dar m'fhocal! = my word!