Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/196

Rh Rh These are examples of real diminutives in, but such real diminutives are not numerous, as most nouns in have practically the same meaning as the nouns from which they were derived (the latter being now generally obsolete): , a fly, from , a fly; , a briar, from , a briar; , an ash, from , an ash.

All derived nouns in are feminine.

Derived Nouns. Words are of three classes—Simple, Derivative, and Compound. All simple words are, as a general rule, monosyllables; they are the roots from which derivative and compound words spring. Derivative words are made up of two or more parts. These parts undergo slight changes when they are united to form words, and thus the component parts are somewhat disguised. The difficulty which presents itself to a student in the spelling of Irish is more apparent than real. The principle of vowel-assimilation is the key to