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Rh PART II.—ETYMOLOGY.

CHAPTER I.

The Article.

In Irish there is only one article,, which corresponds to the English definite article, "the."

There is no indefinite article, so that means either "horse" or "a horse."

In all cases of the singular number the article has the form, except in the genitive feminine, when it becomes.

The article had formerly an initial. This reappears after the following prepositions,, , or , in; , to; , with; , through. Although this really belongs to the article, still it is usually written as part of the preposition; as, in the book; , with the man.

INITIAL CHANGES PRODUCED BY THE ARTICLE

Singular.

(a) If a noun begins with an aspirable consonant (except, , and ), it is apirated by the article