For a complete list of wombat explanations, see: viewforum.php?f=34

This post discusses the use of the genitive. If you want to know how to form the genitive, see these topics:

viewtopic.php?f=28&t=838 (genitive singular)
viewtopic.php?f=28&t=839 (genitive plural)

Using the Genitive Case

Generally speaking, when one noun follows another, it must be in the genitive.

teach solais lighthouse
bosca adhmaid wooden box
ailse chraicinn skin cancer
glione fíona glass of wine
ainghléas innill engine trouble
in ainm Dé! in the name of God!

Even if there's an article in the middle, you still use the genitive. Note: In English, the article might be repeated, but not in Irish.

mac an bhúistéara the butcher's son (the son of the butcher)
teach an mhadaidh the doghouse
dath an fhéir the colour of the grass
bean an tí the woman of the house
solás na gréine sunlight (the light of the sun)
Mí na Samhna November (the month of November)

I said that the genitive is used when one noun follows another; that includes verbal nouns.

ag glanadh na fuinneoige cleaning the window
ag déanamh na hoibre doing the work
ag baint an fhéir cutting the grass

The genitive is also used when a noun follows a compound preposition.

ar son na cúise for the sake of the cause
in aghaidh na naimhde against the enemies
caoineadh os cionn coirp lament for the dead (keening over a body)
i dtóin an tí in back of the house
i ndiaidh do chúil backwards (after your back)

The genitive is used when a noun follows chun, cois, dála, timpeall or trasna.

trasna na páirce across the park
timpeall an domhain around the world
chun cinn forward

The genitive is used after a quantity word.

go leor fíona a lot of wine
méid airgid amount of money
an iomarca béime too much emphasis

But beware! If you have a definite noun or noun phrase, you make it genitive by leniting it, not by changing the ending.

Cáit but geata Cháit
bean an phoist but ainm bhean an phoist
teach an mhadaidh but dath theach an mhadaidh
mí Lúnasa but deireadh mhí Lúnasa


Summary
Use the genitive after:

1. another noun
2. a compound preposition, or chun, cois, dála, timpeall or trasna.
3. a verbal noun
4. a quantity word
5. cuid

If you have a definite noun or noun phrase, you make it genitive by leniting it, not by changing the ending.

To the extent possible under law, Amy de Buitléir has waived all copyright and related or neighboring rights to this work.

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