We saw many roimhearan fillte (compound prepositions) at B1 and we learned how we use different prepositions with buadhairean sealbhach (possessive adjectives) as well.
Let’s look again at two compound prepositions here: air cùlaibh (behind) and às aonais (without).
Do you remember how these prepositions work with possessive adjectives?
AIR CÙLAIBH | BEHIND | ||
+ mi | air mo chùlaibh | behind me |
+ thu | air do chùlaibh | behind you |
+ e | air a chùlaibh | behind him/it |
+ i | air a cùlaibh | behind her/it |
+ sinn | air ar cùlaibh | behind us |
+ sibh | air ur cùlaibh | behind you (pl) |
+ iad | air an cùlaibh | behind them |
ÀS AONAIS | WITHOUT | ||
+ mi | às m’ aonais | without me |
+ thu | às d’ aonais | without you |
+ e | às aonais | without him/it |
+ i | às a h–aonais | without her/it |
+ sinn | às ar n–aonais | without us |
+ sibh | às ur n–aonais | without you (pl) |
+ iad | às an aonais | without them |
How would you translate these phrases into Gaelic?
Would you go to a party without me? |
Who is sitting in the seat behind you? |
Agus seo dhut na freagairtean! | And here are the answers!
An rachadh / An deigheadh tu gu pàrtaidh às m’ aonais?
Would you go to a party without me?
Cò tha na shuidhe anns an t‑suidheachan air do chùlaibh?
Who is sitting in the seat behind you?
Also remember that the genitive/possessive case must be used with nouns that come after these compound prepositions.
A bheil gàrradh mòr air cùlaibh an taighe agaibh?
Is there a big garden behind your house?
Chaill mi na h-iuchraichean air cùlaibh nam preasan.
I lost the keys behind the bushes.
An rachadh tu dhan Chuimrigh às aonais a’ chàir agad?
Would you go to Wales without your car?