This bit of grammar been at me for years, would like some help clarifying when to use which one.
Here is an example:
Atá tú
A bhfuil tú
What is the difference and when can you use which?
Different relative clauses
X atá tú, direct relative clause,
X is subject or object of the relative clause (both impossible here. There’s no object of tá and it’s subject must be tú here.) or predicate of a cleft sentence
e.g. Is ag scríobh ata tú, Is ann atá tú
X a bhfuil tú [color=red]in[/color]direct relative clause.
A resumptive pronoun in the relative clause is referring back to the antecedent X ,
e.g. an sliabh a bhfuil tú air = the mountain on which you are, an file a bhfuil tú ag léamh a leabhair = the poet whose book you’re reading,
Or there’s an adverbial relation.
e.g. an áit a bhfuil tú = the place where you are