An Comunn Gàidhealach Publications > Elementary course of Gaelic

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33. THE ADJECTIVES.
The Inflections of the Adjectives.
It is not advisable in a First Course to go too deeply
into the discussion of the “Inflections of the Adjective”
because the many difficulties presented would probably
tend to discourage the beginner. We shall try, however,
to explain the general principles which it will be well to
know at this stage, and teachers will use their own discretion
as to whether this whole section should be taken consecu¬
tively, or part only—the rest to be done at a later stage.
The adjectives change their form according to the number,
gender and case of the nouns to which they belong. Further
changes are introduced by the nature of the nouns to which
they are attached, and by the presence of the “Article.”
For convenience the adjectives may be divided into
three groups.
I. Adjectives whose characteristic vowel is broad. Mor
big ; dubh, black ; Mn, fair.
II. Adjectives whose characteristic vowel is slender.
Glic, wise ; tinn, sick ; teth, hot.
III. A mixed group—mostly indeclinable—including
adjectives ending in a vowel, chd, rr, etc.
Beo, living ; bochd, poor ; cearr, wrong.
As the form of the adjective is affected by the presence
of the Article the following examples will be declined -with
and without the “Article.”