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Returning to some further forms of the definite article: if a masculine noun begins with a vowel, then the article becomes an t- with its letter T making a tchuh sound. So An t-Eilean Beag (the small island), is pronounced un TCHAYlan bake. In contrast, when a feminine noun begins with a vowel then the definite article has no tchuh sound. An abhainn bheag (un AHvin vake), the small river, is feminine. Where a masculine noun begins with an S, then the definite article remains as an, like An Srath Mòr (un sraah more) – Strathmore in Angus. In contrast, feminine nouns beginning with an S have the article an t-, which silences the initial letter S. So An t-Sròn sounds like un trawn - The Promontory or Nose, of Troon in Ayrshire.

As in many other European languages, adjectives usually follow the noun in Gaelic. Where more emphasis is required, they can precede the noun. Geàrr Aonach (gyar OEnuch), Glen Coe, meaning the short, steep ridge and Garbh Bheinn (garav vyn), Ardgour, are examples of emphatic abruptness and roughness respectively. Note how the preceding adjective causes lenition of the noun following, but is not lenited itself. A less emphatically rough mountain is Beinn Gharbh in Assynt, where the adjective following is lenited in the usual way to agree with the feminine noun. To revise: an adjective following a masculine noun is not lenited, as in Càrn Mòr.