Cúmhaí wrote:
We know about this for words like "bliain" and "ceann" and other measurements of time and counting words, but is it possible to use with generic nouns like "úlla" or "madraí" or something?
Yes. Polish textbook for Munster Irish,
An Ghaeilge by Aidan Doyle and Edmund Gussmann, if I recall correctly,
does not even mention the version with singular and lenition after numerals. Only plural with no lenition after 3-6. And it exclusively teaches vigesimal (so only
a deich is fiche, never
tríocha). But I am not home atm. and cannot check in the book what explanation of numerals is exactly given there. I’ll check later this evening if I don’t forget about it. But I am sure I was surprised it was totally contradictory to what Duolingo taught me. ;-)
GnaG also describes both ways:
Quote:
- The noun following 3-10 is today mostly in the singular, but it is
- lenited after 3-6 (e.g.: trí bhád = three boats)
- eclipsed after 7-10 (e.g.: seacht mbád = seven boats)
- less commonly, the noun following 3-10 is in the plural, but it is
- not lenited after 3-6 (e.g.: trí bliana = three years)
(an h-prefix preceding a vowel: e.g.: trí huibhe = 3 eggs)
- eclipsed after 7-10 (e.g.: seacht mbliana = seven years)