[Aireacha] Fwd: Ceist faoi CAD

[jerrykelly at att.net]

A Éamoinn, a chara

You've called attention to the difference between the direct relative clause
and the indirect relative clause.  A lot of latitude is given in informal
speech, but let's make sure we understand what the direct and indirect
relatives are first (before we examine your 'cad' question).
 
EXAMPLE OF A DIRECT RELATIVE
Is é seo an madra a itheann an coinín.  /  This is the dog which eats the
rabbit.  
 
Here we see a nice simple direct progress through the sentence with only one
subject and/or reference to only one subject:  "This (dog)... eats the
rabbit" and "This is the dog which eats the rabbit."  That's the direct
relative.  Notice that the subject of the verb 'eats' is to the left of the
verb 'eats.'
 
EXAMPLE OF AN INDIRECT RELATIVE
Is é seo an madra a n-itheann an coinín.  /  This is the dog which the
rabbit eats.  
 
Here we start off with one subject ('This is ...') and switch to another
("...the rabbit eats").  This is the indirect relative.  The subject of the
verb 'eats' is on the right side of the verb 'eats'.  Notice the change in
the relative particle (from 'a' to 'a n-') to indicate that we're working
with the indirect relative.
 
 
OTHER EXAMPLES:
 
an cloch a bhuaileann an fear /  the stone which hits the man
an cloch a mbuaileann an fear (é) /  the stone which the man strikes (it) 

an fearr a itheann an glasra  / the man who eats the vegetable
an fear a n-itheann an glasra (é) / the man who the vegetable eats (him) 

bia a mholfaidh an bhean / food which will praise the woman
bia a molfaidh an bhean (é) / food which the woman will praise (it) 

an áit a fhágfadh na páistí / the place which should leave the children
an áit a bhfágfadh na páistí (í) / the place where the children should leave
(it) 

an t-am a théann ró-thapaigh / the time which goes too quickly 
an t-am a dtéann Séan ró-thapaigh / the time when Seán goes too quickly 


CAD
 
Okay, now we're ready for Cad.  Let's look at a few variations.

Cad (a)tá ort?  /  What is on you? 
(The subject is to the left of the verb 'tá.'  Simple direct relative.)

Cad é atá ort?  /  What is it which is on you?   
(The subject is to the left of the verb 'tá.'  Simple direct relative.)

Cad é a ndearna tú?  /  What is it which you did?  
(We switch from one subject to another.  From "What is it.." to "You did."
This is an indirect relative.  The form "...a ndearna tú?" is the formal
form.)

Cad é a rinne tú?  /  What is it which you did?
This is indirect.  We start with one subject and switch to another.  But
we're not using the formal form.  You'll see this.  It's informal speech.
It happens a lot.

Cad a cheapann tú?  and Cad é a cheapann tú?  /  What (is it) you think?
This is indirect but we're not using the formal form.  You'll see this.
It's informal speech.  It happens a lot.
 
Cad a gceapann tú?  and Cad é a gceapann tú?  /  What (is it) you think? 
This is indirect using the formal form.   
 
 
Hope that's helpful.  LGDG, - G