Caibidil a Cúig: Prepositions (Réamhfhocail)

Even though written as ar , the preposition is mostly spoken as [er'] (as if it were written as air)

Case

ar requires the dative.

Initial Mutations

• without article: lenition (with non-general terms) ar chíos mór = for a high rent
• without article: no lenition (with abstract, gen. terms and with descriptions of a state, if without a further attribute) ar cíos = rented, ar muir = at sea
• with the singular article: eclipsis (except d, t) ar an mbord = on the table
  • only in Munster also d,t are eclipsed
  • in Connacht t-prefix preceding femin. nouns with s-: ar an tsúil = on the eye
  • in Ulster always lenition: ar an bhord

Interrogative

• cé/cad air (+ indirect relative clause)? = for what... ?

combined with personal pronouns

The forms arna, arnár are only used in combination with the verbal noun ("afterwards") , otherwise ar a, ar ár is used
(arna appears also in the expression an lá arna mhárach = tomorrow )

use:

1. spatially on something (on top of: ar an mbord = on the table ), in something (cities: ar an mbaile)
2. wearing clothing etc.: Tá...ar... , to put on clothing: cuir....ar...,take off clothing : see de
3. have tá...ar
   • appearance (complexion, looks, features etc.)
   • also parts of things : tá doirse ar an teach = the house has doors
   • phys./psych. conditions and emotions (sicknesses, problems, joy, thirst, fear, pity, etc.) : : tá áthas orm = I am happy ("is happiness upon me ")
   • to have a name (be named): Máirtín atá air = his name is Martin
4. attainment of such conditions, symptoms: cuir...ar = to get: Chuir sé fearg orm = he made me angry
5. to affix , hold onto: ar teaghrán = on a noose, chain, ar srian = bridled
6. price: for (an amount of money): ar phunt = for a pound, tá punt ar an t-ull = the apple costs a pound
7. dimensions in: ar airde = in heighth, ar fad = in length
8. participation /membership in: ar scoil = (to go) to school
9. classificatory clause without the copula (part of a whole): tá sé ar na fir is mó = he is one of the biggest men
10. identificatory clause without the copula
    • (with the superlative): tá sé ar an bhfear is mó acu = he is the bigger/biggest man of them
    • (with ordinal numbers): to be the 1st, 2nd, 3rd ... :  bhí sé ar an dara fear a tháinig = he was the 2nd man that came
11. must: tá ar...  Tá orm bainne a ól = I have to drink milk
12. responsibility for: tá a báis ort = you're responsible for her death
13. disadvantage: e.g. spóirt ag Cáit ar Seán = Cáit's fun at Seán's cost or: bhí sé ag briseadh fuinneogaí ort = he's broken your window
14. indir. object after tá...ag (= "have") tá....ag... ar...: e.g.: Tá buiochas agam ar Cháit.: I'm thankful to Cait, tá airgead agam ort = you owe me money("I have money on you "), tá grá agam ort = I love you ("I have love on you ")
15. with verbs : iarr ar... = to ask someone, féach ar... = to look at something, tosaigh ar... = to begin, glaoigh ar... = to ring someone
16. with definite nouns: feabhas ar... = an improvement in...
17. similarity, to be like: ar dháth an róis = rose-coloured, ar dhéanamh báid = boat-shaped
18. equality: fear ar d'ainm = a man of your name / who has the same name as you
19. probability: tá baisteach air = it looks like rain, it will probably rain, tá cogadh air = there'll likely be a war
20. within (as far as) ar amharc = in sight, ar éisteacht = within earshot
21. ar meisce = drunk, ar buile = crazy, ar fheabhas = fabulous etc.
22. activity by ( with the verbal noun): ar an obair = at work, working ( comp. dt. Partizip I)
23. dependence on: ar arán =(to live) on bread , ar thoil (Dé) = depending on the will of (God)
24. because , for : ar ghrá Dé = for the love of God, ar a thuarastal = for his pay
25. result: on ar a iarratas = on his application
26. by numbers: and: duine ar fhichid = 21 people (lit.: "one on twenty ")
    by arithmetic: divided by : a sé ar a trí sin a dó = 6 : 3 = 2
27. up to/away from : thuas air = south of, ar aghaidh = forwards, amach ar an doras = out the door
28. temporal around/at: ar maidin = in the morning, ar a dó a chlog = at 2 O'clock
29. with verbal nouns: after: arna críochnú dom = after I had ended it (as a replacement of the old preposition iar)
30. about something: scéal ar = a story about, ainm ar = a name for, cúis dlí ar = charges against
31. authority over: rí ar Sasana = King of England
32. advantage over: tá bliain agam air = I am one year older than him ("I have one year in advantage over him ").bhí deich nóiméad aige orm = he had a 10 minute head start on me
33. with an adjective: santach ar = greedy for, maith ar = good for, etc.
34. strengthening of the imperative: scríobh ort! = write! ( write already!, well, write!)