Briathrachas Gràmair

Copyright R. MacLean
Latha 1
1. Gnè ainmearan (noun gender)
Mar as trice tha ainmearan de na seòrsaichean a leanas fireann (usually the nouns of the
following types are masculine):
a. rudan a tha fireann (masculine objects) – duine, tarbh
b. beathaichean òga (young of animals) – uan, cuilean, isean, laogh
c. rudan a th’ air an dèanamh nas lugha leis an iar-leasachan “-an” (diminutives with
the suffix “-an”) – bodachan, toman
d. ainmean chraobhan fa leth (names of trees as individuals) – giuthas, darach
e. ainmearan a tha a’ crìochnachadh ann an “-as” (nouns ending in “-as”) – càirdeas,
maitheas
f. ainmearan a tha a’ crìochnachadh le “-air”, “-iche” agus “-ear”, a’ ciallachadh gu
bheil iad an sàs ann an gnìomh (nouns ending in “-air”, “-iche” and “-ear”,
indicating that they are an agent or doer) - sealgair, sgeulaiche, tàillear
Mar as trice tha ainmearan de na seòrsaichean a leanas boireann (usually the nouns of the
following types are feminine):
a. rudan a tha boireann (feminine objects) – bean, cearc
b. ainmean dhùthchannan (names of countries) – Alba, an Spàinn, an Fhraing
c. ainmean chraobhan còmhla (names of trees as collectives) – coille, iùbhrach
d. ainmean ionnstramaidean-ciùil (musical instruments) – clàrsach, fidheall
e. ainmean ghalairean (names of diseases) – a’ bhreac, a’ ghriùthrach
f. ainmean rudan anns na speuran (names of heavenly bodies) – grian, gealach
g. rudan a th’ air an dèanamh nas lugha leis an iar-leasachan “-ag” (diminutives ending
in “-ag”) – bànag, luchag
h. ainmearan a tha a’ crìochnachadh le “-achd” (nouns ending in “-achd”) –
rìoghachd, mealltachd
i. ainmearan a tha a’ crìochnachadh le “e”, a’ comharrachadh comas/dìth-chomais
(nouns ending in “e” which denote an ability or lack thereof) – doille, buidhre
Ach thoiribh an aire:
a. tha boireannach fireann.
b. tha sgalag boireann.
c. atharraichidh cuid de dh’fhaclan an gnè bho thuiseal gu tuiseal me bidh cuid ag
ràdh an talamh [fireann anns an tuiseal ainmneach], ach na talmhainn [boireann
anns an tuiseal ghinideach] (some words can change their gender from case to case
eg talamh).
Eacarsaich: a bheil na h-ainmearan seo fireann no boireann? Sgrìobh “f” no “b”:
each làir eilean
planaid roinn riaghaltas
pàrlamaid prìomhaire buidheann
rìoghachd muc airgead