An Sionnach Glic wrote:
This is another part of Irish that really confuses me since there seems loads of different ways to say it.
Whats the difference between 'isteach' and 'i/sa' for inside and 'amuigh' and 'lasmuigh' for outside?
When is it appropriate to use one over the other and how does it affect the grammar in the sentence?
Also whats the difference between 'lasmuigh' and 'lasmuigh de'?
Preposition:
i = in/into
sa = in the/into the
Adverb:
isteach = inside (motion)
istigh = inside (rest)
laistigh de = inside of (in relation to something),
Preposition:
as = out of
as an = out of the
Adverb:
amach = outside (motion)
amuigh = outside (rest)
lasmuigh de = outside of (in relation to something).
Prepositions (like i and as) don't differ between motion and rest nowadays
i dteach = in a house, into a house
sa teach = in the house, into the house.
So you can use adverbs (isteach, amach etc.) on their own or additionally.
Tá sé fuar amuigh, ach buíochas le Dia tá mé istigh. = It's cold outside, but thank God I'm inside.
Tá mé istigh sa teach. = I am in the house.
Tar isteach! = Come in!
Téir amach! = Go out!
Tá mé ag dul isteach sa teach. = I am going into the house.
Tháinig mé as an dteach amach. = I came out of the house.
Adverb forms with L- (< leath = side) can be used relatively. Then you have to mention something in between.
Forms with taobh (taobh amuigh, taobh istigh) have the same meaning:
Tá mé laistigh (taobh istigh) den doras = I am inside of the door
Tá an capall lasmuigh (taobh amuigh) den fhuinneog = The horse is outside of the window.
Without "de", lasmuigh is similar in meaning to amuigh (and laistigh to istigh).