Adjectives

Singular		Plural
Nominative	Genitive	Nominative	Genitive
Bachlach mór	Bachlaigh mhór	Bachlaigh mhór	Bachlach mór
Giorsach bheag	Giorsach beag	Giorsachan beag	Giorsach(an) beag

 
Comparison

There are 3 degrees of comparison: equative, comparative and superlative. All are formed from the positive.

(a) Equative

In the absolute form, the equative is formed by "co" or "cho":

co dona - so bad

tá e co fuar - it is so (very) cold

In the relative form, the preposition "le" is added:

cho maith leinne as good (well) as we

tá e co comasach le duine airithe - he is as powerful as anybody

(b) Comparative

The comparative takes a special form, and is preceded by "nas" (present) or "na ba" (preterit), e.g:

ta e nas fhéarr - it is better

A relative comparative is futher followed by "na", e.g:

ta e nas fhéarr na sin  - it is better than that

In the attributive construction:

duine nas fhéarr (na b'fhéarr) - a better man

duine nas fhéarr (na b'fhéarr) na - a better man than

(c) Superlative

The superlative is formed from the comparative, preceded by "is" (present) or "ba" (preterit). It is usually found in attributive construction, as:

• an music ba deise chualaigh duine riamh - the nicest music man had ever heard

• peacadh is lugha - the least sin

• an biadh is fhéarr  - the best food

• air an aon is sine - on the oldest one

Adjective		Comparative/superlative
ard	high	nas airde	higher
beag	little	nas lugha	less smaller
deas	nice	nas deise	nicer
dona	bad	nas measa na ba mheasa	worse
fada	long	nas fhaide na b'fhaide	longer farther further
furasta	easy	nas fhasa	easier
glan	clean	nas gloine	cleaner
goirid	short	nas goiride	shorter
íseal	low	nas ísle	lower
luath	quick early	nas luaithe	quicker earlier sooner
maith	good	nas fhéarr na b'fhéarr	better
		b'fhéarr leam	I had rather
mall	slow late	nas moille	slower later
mór	great big	nas mó	greater bigger
sean	old	nas sine	older
tiream	dry	nas tiorma	drier
tiugh	thick	nas tiugha	thicker

Some adjectives have an extended form, used with the copula:

Comparative	Extended form	Example
Fhéarr	fheirrde	is fheirrde sinn e	we are the better of it
Measa	mhiste	cha mhiste leam	I don't grudge (you)
Mó	mhóide	cha mhóide go rig thu leas	it won't avail you

Compare:

tá me nas fhéarr de - I am (the) better of it.