Page:Graimear na Gaedhilge.djvu/215

Rh Personal Nouns.

An Irish name consists of two parts, the (or simply ), which corresponds to the English Christian name, and the, the surname or family name.

When the Christian name is used in addressing a person, it is always in the vocative case, and preceded by the particle, which causes aspiration, e.g.:
 * Wait for me, John.
 * Good morning, James.

When the Christian name is in the genitive case, it is aspirated, e.g.:
 * Mary’s book.
 * George’s knife.

Surnames when not preceded by a Christian name usually take the termination, which has the force of a patronymic (or father-name), and are declined like (par. 57). They are usually preceded by the article except in the vocative case:, Power; , O’Brien’s horse