[Course Forum] Basic Irish I, II, III, and IV by Baas

@Baas

Thank you for these courses. They have been very helpful thus far. I’ve started this topic grouping them all together to make things easier, I hope that’s okay.

I have encountered some confusing translations in Basic Irish II. In lesson 8 aon…amháin and in lesson 9 amháin are both translated as: one (used to count human beings) but in that same lesson aon úll amháin is used to count a thing: one apple. Using the same translation also makes for some confusing answer choices when reviewing and doing speed reviews.

I may be confusing by adding this, but an Irish textbook I’ve been using puts aon in front of nouns even when counting people. This may be a case of unnecessary grammar, so please ignore if need be.

Is it possible these translations can be clarified? Thank you!

1 Like

Hey, you’re right.

amháin (used to count HUMANS) => buachaill amháin (one boy), bean amháin (one woman)

aon…amháin (used to count THINGS) => aon úll amháin (one apple), aon leabhar amháin (one book), aon teach amháin (one house)

Counting animals:
capall amháin OR aon chapall amháin (one horse)
madra amháin OR aon mhadra amháin (one dog)
cat amháin OR aon chat amháin (one cat)

Thanks for your message.

1 Like