I have a few questions that I hope someone can
answer.
1. Can anyone tell me why the "a" in the following
sentence is there?
D'oscail sí an doras agus cé a bhí ann ach an
frog.
I understand the sentence, I just don't understand
why the "a" is there.

2. When using the copula IS, I understand that
when é, í or iad is the subject, you must repeat
them at the end of the sentence. EX: Is é an
dochtúr é. My question is, does this rule apply to
all forms of the copula and does it apply to verbs
in general?

3. When I translate the following sentence,
"Isteach le Róisín sa chaisleán." as "In with rose
into the castle," did I translate it correctly?

Any help is appreciated, Go raibh ma

1
The "a" is a relative participle (mír choibhneasta.) In the example you give it begins a relative clause (clásáil choibhneasta), " a bhí ann" "Cé" comes with a relative clause,
Cé a thóg mo chóta? Who took my coat? Cé atá ann? (in this example it joins the verb) Who is there?
Cé a d'ith mo dhinnéar? Who ate my dinner?
Cé a chonaic tú? who did you see?
Cé a rinne é? Who did it?
Sometimes it comes with a personal or a demonstrative pronoun, or it combines with copulas. But thats another story.


2
Normally its: Is doctúir é , he is a doctor.
You say Is é an doctúir, he is the doctor.
In answer to a question Cé hé? (Who is it (he)?) You would say "Is é an doctúir é."
"Is múinteoir mé," I am a teacher.
"Is mé an múinteoir". I am the teacher.
Also if I am reporting something someone else said then I repeat the é. Dúirt Máire gurb é an doctúir é, Mary said that he was the doctor, (or Mary said that it was the doctor.)

3
I think its a correct translation. It means Roisin went into the castle. Isteach liom, is a way of saying I went in. (in with me)

Does this clear it up for you at all, at all?
Kay.

Go raibh míle maith agat. Is é an mhaith liom.
I have one small question though. Does the rule
concerning Copulas in question two apply to verbs
as well? I hate to be such a pest but as there are
no teachers near to me, I am forced to teach
myself. It makes me pestlike when dealing with
grammer. Gabh mo leithscéal agus go raibh maith
agat aríst.
Pa