Ar

Overview

Ar takes the dative case.

Forms

Interrogatives

Mutations

Physical & Spatial Domain

Used where things are located, how they are attached, and how they are oriented in space.

Placement & Proximity

• Topographic: ar an mbord — on the table; ar an mbaile — in the town.
• Attached/Held: ar teaghrán — on a string/leash; ar srian — on a bridle/rein.
• Relative Distance: ar amharc — within sight; ar éisteacht — within earshot.
• Orientation: thuas air — south of it/above it; ar aghaidh — forward.
• Exit/Entry: amach ar an doras — out through the door.

Appearance & Physical State

• Clothing (Wearing): Tá cóta air — He is wearing a coat.
• Clothing (Action): Cuir ort do chóta — Put on your coat.
• Inherent Features: Tá dath dearg air — It has a red color; ar dháth an róis — rosen-colored.
• Structural Parts: tá doirse ar an teach — the house has doors.
• Similes: ar dhéanamh báid — boat-shaped; ar ghile an tsneachta — snow-white.

Experiential Domain

Experiences are viewed as forces acting upon a person.

Internal States & Emotions

• Sensations: tá áthas orm — I am happy; tá eagla orm — I am afraid.
• Ailments: tá tinneas cinn orm — I have a headache.
• Identity: Máirtín atá air — His name is Martin.
• Triggers: Chuir sé fearg orm — He made me angry.

Situational Conditions

• Abstract States: ar meisce — drunk; ar buile — furious/mad; ar fheabhas — excellent.
• Active Status: ar an obair — at work/working.
• Probabilities: Tá báisteach air — It looks like rain; Tá cogadh air — War is likely.

Social & Economic Domain

Used to handle interactions involving money, authority, and obligation.

Finance & Measurement

• Price: ar phunt — for a pound; tá punt ar an úll — the apple costs a pound.
• Dimensions: ar airde — in height; ar fad — in length.
• Calculations: a sé ar a trí sin a dó — 6 divided by 3 is 2.
• Counting: duine ar fhichid — 21 (one on twenty).

Obligation & Authority

• Necessity: tá orm bainne a ól — I must drink milk.
• Liability: tá a báis ort — you are responsible for her death.
• Power: rí ar Sasana — King over England.
• Financial Debt: tá airgead agam ort — you owe me money.

Comparative & Logical Domain

Used for identifying a person’s place within a group or their relation to others.

Groups & Rankings

• Membership: tá sé ar na fir is mó — he is among the biggest men.
• Superlative: tá sé ar an bhfear is mó acu — he is the biggest/greater man of them.
• Order: bhí sé ar an dara fear a tháinig — he was the 2nd man who came.

Comparisons

• Advantage: tá bliain agam air — I am 1 year older; bhí deich nóiméad aige orm — he had a 10m lead.
• Identity: fear ar d’ainm — a man of your name / named like you.

Phrasal Domain

Used for specific structures where ar serves a functional grammatical purpose.

The Dative of Disadvantage

When an action negatively impacts a person, ar identifies that person.

• Malicious Intent: spóirt ag Cáit ar Seán — Cáit’s fun at Seán’s expense.
• Accidental/Adverse Damage: Bhris sé an claí uirthi — He broke her fence / the fence on her.
• Property: Bhí sé ag briseadh fuinneogaí ort — He was breaking your windows.

Set Verbal Pairings

• Social Verbs: iarr ar… — ask; glaoigh ar… — call; féach ar… — look at.
• Cognitive Verbs: tá aithne agam ar Cháit — I know/am acquainted with Kate; tá eolas agat ar Éirinn — you know/have information on Ireland.

Time & Emphasis

• Temporal: ar maidin — in the morning; ar a dó a chlog — at 2 o’clock.
• Causality: ar ghrá Dé — for the love of God; ar a thuarastal — for his salary; ar a iarratas — at his request; ar thoil Dé — at God’s will.
• Post-Perfect: arna críochnú dom — after it was finished by me.
• Imperative Booster: scríobh ort! — write on! / just write!