For a complete list of wombat explanations, see: viewforum.php?f=34
Wombat's Unified Copula Theory (WUCT) v4.0
1. Classification sentences
If the predicate is indefinite, the sentence is a classification sentence. The predicate comes first (usually it's the reverse in English).
2. Identification sentences
a. If the predicate is a proper noun or emphatic pronoun, and subject is neither, the predicate comes first (usually it's the reverse in English).
b. Otherwise, the subject comes first, as in English.
3. Proleptic Pronouns
(a) [Ulster version] The copula can never be followed directly by a proper or definite noun, so you need to insert a proleptic pronoun (é, í, iad). (This proleptic pronoun isn't the subject or the predicate, and it isn't translated.)
(b) [Connacht/Munster version]
i. If your sentence has proper nouns or definite nouns in it, you you need to insert a proleptic pronoun (é, í, iad). It precedes the first proper noun or a definite noun, whichever it is you've got, and agrees with it in gender. (This proleptic pronoun isn't the subject or the predicate, and it isn't translated.)
ii. If the subject is é, í, or iad, it goes both before and after the predicate.
Examples
Psst! You can generate your own custom examples at http://nualeargais.ie/foghlaim/copulaForm.php
Classification sentences:
Code: Select all
Subject Predicate Example Translation Order
indef. noun indef. noun Is marsúipiach wombat.* A wombat is a marsupial. reverse of English, pred-subj
* Better to avoid an indefinite subject.
def. noun indef. noun Is wombat [é] an t-ainmhí sin. That animal is a wombat. reverse of English, pred-subj
prop. noun indef. noun Is wombat Amy. Amy is a wombat. reverse of English, pred-subj
reg. pron. indef. noun Is wombat í. She is a wombat. reverse of English, pred-subj
emph. pron. indef. noun Is wombat sise. She is a wombat. reverse of English, pred-subj
Identification sentences where the predicate is a proper noun or emphatic pronoun, and subject is neither:
Code: Select all
Subject Predicate Example Translation Order
indef. noun prop. noun Not normally allowed in Irish or English
indef. noun emph. pron. Not normally allowed in Irish or English
def. noun emph. pron. Is sise an wombat. The wombat is her. reverse of English, pred-subj
-or- She is the wombat.
def. noun prop. noun Is í Amy an wombat. The wombat is Amy. reverse of English, pred-subj
reg. pron. prop. noun Is í Amy í. She is Amy. reverse of English, pred-subj
Other identification sentences:
Code: Select all
Subject Predicate Example Translation Order
indef. noun def. noun Not normally allowed in Irish or English
indef. noun reg. pron. Not normally allowed in Irish or English
def. noun def. noun Is í an bhean sin an wombat. That woman is the wombat. same as English, subj-pred
def. noun reg. pron. Not normally allowed in Irish or English
prop. noun def. noun Is í Amy an wombat. Amy is the wombat. same as English, subj-pred
prop. noun prop. noun Not normally allowed in Irish or English
prop. noun reg. pron. Not normally allowed in Irish or English
prop. noun emph. pron. Not normally allowed in Irish or English
reg. pron. def. noun Is í sin an wombat. She is the wombat. same as English, subj-pred
* Normally you wouldn't have a pronoun on its own, you'd follow it with sin, seo, etc.
reg. pron. reg. pron. Not normally allowed in Irish or English
reg. pron. emph. pron. Not normally allowed in Irish or English
emph. pron. def. noun Is mise an wombat. I am the wombat. same as English, subj-pred
emph. pron. prop. noun Is sise Amy. She is Amy. same as English, subj-pred
emph. pron. reg. pron. Is mise í. I am her. same as English, subj-pred
emph. pron. emph. pron. Not normally allowed in Irish or English
Restructuring a sentence to avoid an indefinite subject:
*Is marsúipiach wombat. A wombat is a marsupial.
- Better: Marsúipiach atá sa whombat.
- Other dialects prefer: Is marsúipiach é an wombat or Marsúipiach is ea an wombat.
Split predicate
Is wombat í a bhfuil a lán eolais faoin chopail aici. She's a wombat who knows a lot about the copula.