Editing Copula (linguistics) (section)

==== Irish ====
In [[Irish language|Irish]] and [[Scottish Gaelic]], there are two copulas, and the [[syntax]] is also changed when one is distinguishing between states or situations and essential characteristics.

Describing the subject's state or situation typically uses the normal [[verb–subject–object|VSO ordering]] with the verb {{lang|ga|bí}}. The copula {{lang|ga|is}} is used to state essential characteristics or equivalences.

:{| border="0" cellspacing="2" cellpadding="1" valign="top"
| align=left valign=top|  || align=right valign=top |  || align=left valign=top |
|-
| {{lang|ga|{{noitalic|Is}} fear é Liam.}} || {{gloss|Liam is a man.}} || (lit. {{gloss|Is man Liam.}})
|-
| {{lang|ga|{{noitalic|Is}} leabhar é sin.}} || {{gloss|That is a book.}} || (lit. {{gloss|Is book it that.}})
|}

The word {{lang|ga|is}} is the copula (rhymes with the English word "miss").

The pronoun used with the copula is different from the normal pronoun. For a masculine singular noun, {{lang|ga|é}} is used (for "he" or "it"), as opposed to the normal pronoun {{lang|ga|sé}}; for a feminine singular noun, {{lang|ga|í}} is used (for "she" or "it"), as opposed to normal pronoun {{lang|ga|sí}}; for plural nouns, {{lang|ga|iad}} is used (for "they" or "those"), as opposed to the normal pronoun {{lang|ga|siad}}.<ref>{{Cite book|last1=Dillon|first1=Myles|author-link1=Myles Dillon|last2=Ó Cróinín|first2=Donncha|author-link2=Donncha Ó Cróinín|date=1961|title=Teach Yourself Irish|url=https://archive.org/details/TeachYourselfIrish|location=London|publisher=English Universities Press|page=52}}</ref>

To describe being in a state, condition, place, or act, the verb "to be" is used: {{lang|ga|Tá mé ag rith.}} {{gloss|I am running.}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.teanglann.ie/ga/fgb/rith|title=Foclóir Gaeilge–Béarla (Ó Dónaill): rith|website=www.teanglann.ie}}</ref>