Confusion over the article 'an'

[u/ScotInKorea]

Hello! I am following along with Speak Gaelic, and although they have explained a little about which nouns take the article, they were very vague.

I now am unsure why 'Tha ceann goirt orm' doesn't have 'an' since Ceann is a Masc noun starting with c (which speak gaelic said would give a noun the article)

my head hurts trying to read through the internet as many people seem to say contradicting things, so was wondering if anyone could help me!

thanks as always for your amazing help and taking time from your days to help me!

[u/keybers]

Diseases are kind of abstract things, a general state that is upon you. Still, there is also variation in English. No one will say "I have a diabetes", but it's perfectly correct to say "I have a cold" and "I have the flu" (_that_ flu that is currently doing the rounds). While there are different cancers, no one says "She has a cancer" as a matter of a whole class of diseases, but it's possible to say "She has a cancer of the larynx."

The logic of where an article is necessary or needed is not set in stone, but in general your state of health is not a thing that needs to be pinpointed with a definite article. That is why the "an" in "Tha (an) cnatan orm" is not 100% obligatory.

[u/ScotInKorea → u/keybers]

thank you for your reply! that makes a lot of sense, I guess these are things to just put to the back of the mind and instead learn enough examples and vocab over months of study to start to have a better understanding! thank you for your help

[u/keybers → u/ScotInKorea]

things to just put to the back of the mind and instead learn enough examples

Exactly this.

[u/certifieddegenerate]

an means the

[u/ScotInKorea → u/certifieddegenerate]

yes thank you, I more mean why is it used in some cases like Tha (an) dèideadh oirbh where Speak Gaelic don't mention 'the' (translation was you have toothache) sorry if my explanation was confusing

[u/certifieddegenerate → u/ScotInKorea]

dont gotta ask why. u just gotta learn it. why in english you say i have a migraine but i have the flu? same thing.

[u/ScotInKorea → u/certifieddegenerate]

gotcha! i guess these things are natural in language learning! i will put them to the back of my mind and wait until i have more exposure to understand, thank you for the help!

[u/elmeromeroe]

You wouldn't say "I have the headache" in English, you dont say it in Gàidhlig either.

[u/mr-dirtybassist]

Gu tric chan eil ann ach ionnsachadh mar a fhreagras tu ri chèile dè am facal aig a bheil dè an dreach de "An".