An t‑alt (The article)

Níl ach alt amháin sa Ghaeilge, is é sin, an t‑alt cinnte: (There is only one article in Irish, that is to say, the definite article:)

an scoil (the school)

Ciallaíonn “scoil”, mar sin, “school” nó “a school”. (So, “scoil” means “school” or “a school*.)

Úsáidtear an fhoirm an i ngach tuiseal san uimhir uatha, seachas sa tuiseal ginideach, baininscneach – úsáidtear an fhoirm na sa tuiseal sin. (The form an is used in every case in the singular, except the genitive case, feminine – the form na is used in that case.)

Úsáidtear an fhoirm na i gcónaí san uimhir iolra: (The form na is always used in the plural:)

na scoileanna (the schools)

Cuirtear an t‑alt le cé agus leis na réamhfhocail shimplí do, de, faoi, i, ó chun na comhfhocail cén, don, den, faoin, sa (a úsáidtear roimh chonsain), san (a úsáidtear roimh ghutaí), agus ón a chumadh. (The article is added to cé and to the simple prepositions do, de, faoi, i, ó to form the compound words cén, don, den, faoin, sa (which is used before consonants), san (which is used before vowels), and ón.)