Irish conjugation
Irish verb forms are constructed either synthetically or analytically.
Synthetic forms express the information about person and number in the ending: e.g., molaim "I praise", where the ending -aim stands for "1st person singular present". In this case, a pronoun is not allowed: * molaim mé is ungrammatical. Molann mé is allowed but using the -aim ending is more common.
Analytic forms are those whose endings contain no information about person and number, and a pronoun is necessary: e.g., molann sibh "you (pl.) praise", where the ending -ann expresses only the present tense, and the pronoun sibh "you" (pl.) must accompany it in order to express "2nd person plural".
In addition to the three persons, Irish also has an impersonal form (also called the "autonomous" form), which is used in forming passives and can conveniently be translated with "one" or "someone" as the subject. Shown below are the distribution of synthetic and analytic forms in the standard language; in the dialects, other patterns may be found, although some of the most important distinctions made in certain dialects are pointed out in this article.
See Irish orthography for a discussion of how verb endings are pronounced.
Regular verbs
There are two conjugation classes of regular verbs, as illustrated below. Forms in italics are not part of the standard language. The suffixes shown change to agree with the word ending in a velarised ("broad") consonant or palatalised ("slender") consonant. The examples below verbs ending with "broad" consonants above and "slender" consonants below.
Note that in the "historical" tenses (the imperfect, preterite, and conditional), a consonant-initial stem undergoes lenition (and dialectally is preceded by "do"), while a vowel-initial stem is prefixed by d’. A stem beginning with f plus vowel takes both, e.g., fan "wait", d'fhan sé "he waited". The preterite impersonal, e.g., fanadh "one waited", neither undergoes lenition nor receives d’. The -f- in future and conditional stems is pronounced /h/; except in the conditional 2nd person singular and the impersonal, where it remains /f/.
1st conjugation
Mol - To praise Tuig - To understand |
Mut. | Analytic | Synthetic | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | Impersonal | |||||||||||||||
1st | 2nd | 3rd m./f. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||||||||||||
Indicative | Present | None | Molann Tuigeann |
-(e)ann | Molaim Tuigim |
-(a)im | Molair Tuigir |
-(a)ir | Molann _ Tuigeann _ |
Molaimid Tuigimid |
-(a)imid | Molann sibh Tuigeann sibh |
Molaid Tuigid |
-(a)id | Moltar Tuigtear |
-t(e)ar | |
Past Imperfect |
Len. | Mholadh Thuigeadh |
-(e)adh | Mholainn Thuiginn |
-(a)inn | Mholtá Thuigteá |
-t(e)á | Mholadh _ Thuigeadh _ |
Mholaimis Thuigimis |
-(a)imis | Mholadh sibh Thuigeadh sibh |
Mholaidís Thuigidís |
-(a)idís | Moltaí Tuigtí |
-t(a)í | ||
Past Perfect |
Len. | Mhol Thuig |
_ | Mholas Thuigeas |
-(e)as | Mholais Thuigis |
-(a)is | Mhol _ Thuig _ |
Mholamar Thuigeamar |
-(e)amar | Mholabhar Thuigeabhar |
-(e)abhar | Mholadar Thuigeadar |
-(e)adar | Mholadh Thuigeadh |
-(e)adh | |
Future | None | Molfaid Tuigfid |
-f(a)id | Molfad Tuigfead |
-f(e)ad | Molfair Tuigfir |
-f(a)ir | Molfaid _ Tuigfid _ |
Molfaimid Tuigfimid |
-f(a)imid | Molfaid sibh Tuigfid sibh |
Molfaid Tuigfid |
-f(a)id | Molfar Tuigfear |
-f(e)ar | ||
Conditional | Len. | Mholfadh Thuigfeadh |
-f(e)adh | Mholfan Thuigfeann |
-f(e)ann | Mholfá Thuigfeá |
-f(e)á | Mholfadh _ Thuigfeadh _ |
Molfaimis Thuigfimis |
-f(a)imis | Mholfadh sibh Thuigfeadh sibh |
Mholfaidís Thuigfidís |
-f(a)idís | Mholfaí Thuigfí |
-f(a)í | ||
Imperative | None | Moleadh Tuigeadh |
-(e)adh | Molaim Tuigim |
-(a)im | Mol Tuig |
_ | Moladh _ Tuigeadh _ |
Molaimis Tuigimis |
-(a)imis | Molaigí / Molaidh Tuigigí / Tuigidh |
-(a)igí / -(a)idh |
Molaidís Tuigidís |
-(a)idís | Moltar Tuigtear |
-t(e)ar | |
Subjunctive | Present | Eclip. Go _ |
Mola Tuige |
-a / -e |
Go molad Go dtuigead |
-(e)ad | Go molair Go dtuigir |
-(a)ir | Mola _ Tuige _ |
Go molaimid Go dtuigimid |
-(a)imid | Go mola sibh Go dtuige sibh |
Go molaid Go dtuigid |
-(a)id | Go moltar Go dtuigtear |
-t(e)ar | |
Past | Eclip. Dá _ |
Moladh Tuigeadh |
-(e)adh | Dá molainn Dá dtuiginn |
-(a)inn | Dá moltá Dá dtuigteá |
-t(e)á | Dá moladh _ Dá dtuigeadh _ |
Dá molaimis Dá dtuigimis |
-(a)imis | Dá moladh sibh Dá dtuigeadh sibh |
Dá molaidís Dá dtuigidís |
-(a)idís | Dá moltaí Dá dtuigtí |
-t(a)í | ||
Past Participle | None | Molta Tuigthe |
-ta/-te |
2nd conjugation
Second stem verbs take the same base suffixes as first conjugation verbs, but add the infix in -(a)í- (most forms), or -(e)o-/-ó- (in the future and conditional).
Roots ending in a slender consonant undergo syncope before the addition of -í-.
Tosaigh - To begin Inis - To tell |
Mut. | Analytic | Synthetic | ||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Singular | Plural | Impersonal | |||||||||||||||
1st | 2nd | 3rd m./f. | 1st | 2nd | 3rd | ||||||||||||
Indicative | Present | None | Tosaíonn Insíonn |
-(a)íonn | Tosaím Insím |
-(a)ím | Tosaír Insír |
-(a)ír | Tosaíonn _ Insíonn _ |
Tosaímid Insímid |
-(a)ímid | Tosaíonn sibh Insíonn sibh |
Tosaíd Insíd |
-(a)íd | Tosaítear Insítear |
-(a)ítear | |
Past Imperfect |
Len. | Thosaíodh D'insíodh |
-(a)íodh | Thosaínn D'insínn |
-(a)ínn | Thosaíteá D'insíteá |
-(a)íteá | Thosaíodh _ D'insíodh _ |
Thosaímis D'insímis |
-(a)ímis | Thosaíodh sibh D'insíodh sibh |
Thosaídis D'insídis |
-(a)ídis | Thosaítí D'insítí |
-(a)ítí | ||
Past Perfect |
Len. | Thosaigh D'inis |
_ | Thosaíos D'insíos |
-(a)íos | Thosaís D'insís |
-(a)ís | Thosaigh _ D'inis _ |
Thosaíomar D'insíomar |
-(a)íomar | Thosaíobhar D'insíobhar |
-(a)íobhar | Thosaíodar D'insíodar |
-(a)íodar | Thosaíodh D'insíodh |
-(a)íodh | |
Future | None | Tosóid Inseóidh |
-(e)óidh | Tosód Inseód |
-(e)ód | Tosóir Inseóir |
-(e)óir | Tosóid _ Inseóidh _ |
Tosóimid Inseóimid |
-(e)óimid | Tosóid sibh Inseóidh sibh |
Tosóid Inseóid |
-(e)óid | Tosófar Inseófar |
-(e)ófar | ||
Conditional | Len. | Thosódh D'inseódh |
-(e)ódh | Thosóinn D'inseóinn |
-(e)óinn | Thosófa D'inseófá |
-(e)ófá | Thosódh _ D'inseódh _ |
Thosóimis D'inseóimis |
-(e)óimis | Thosódh sibh D'inseóidís sibh |
Thosóidís D'inseóidís |
-(e)óidís | Thosóidaí D'inseófaí |
-(e)ófaí | ||
Imperative | None | Tosaíodh Insíodh |
-(a)íodh | Tosaím Insím |
-(a)ím | Tosaigh Inis |
_ | Tosaíodh _ Insíodh _ |
Tosaímis Insímis |
-(a)ímis | Tosaígí / Tosaídh Insígí / Insídh |
-(a)ígí / -(a)ídh |
Tosaídis Insídís |
-(a)ídís | Tosaítear Insítear |
-(a)ítear | |
Subjunctive | Present | Eclip. Go _ |
Go dtosaí Go n-insí |
-(a)í | Go dtosaíod Go n-insíod |
-(a)íod | Go dtosaír Go n-insír |
-(a)ír | Go dtosaí _ Go n-insí sí |
Go dtosaímid Go n-insímid |
-(a)ímid | Go dtosaí sibh Go n-insí sibh |
Go dtosaíd Go n-insíd |
-(a)íd | Go dtosaítear Go n-insítear |
-(a)ítear | |
Past | Eclip. Dá _ |
Dá dtosaíodh Dá n-insíodh |
-(a)íodh | Dá dtosaínn Dá n-insínn |
-(a)ínn | Dá dtosaíteá Dá n-insíteá |
-(a)íteá | Dá dtosaí _ Dá n-insi _ |
Dá dtosaímis Dá n-insímis |
-(a)ímis | Dá dtosaí sibh Dá n-insíodh sibh |
Dá dtosaídís Dá n-insídís |
-(a)ídís | Dá dtosaítí Dá n-insítí |
-(a)ítí | ||
Past participle | None | Tosaithe Inste |
-the/-te |
Irregular verbs
There are eleven irregular verbs in Standard Irish; individual dialects have a few more. Most of them are characterized by suppletion, that is, different roots are used to form different tenses. Analytic forms are indicated by the symbol +. The preterites of many irregular verbs take the nonpreterite forms of preverbal particles, e.g., an (interrogative particle) and ní (negative particle), instead of ar (pret. interrogative particle) and níor (pret. negative particle). Some verbs have different independent and dependent forms in certain tenses; the independent forms are used when no particle precedes the verb, and also after má "if" (open conditional) and the direct relative particle a, while the dependent forms are used after all other particles.
Abair "to say"
The d- in this verb's independent forms is not lenited, and the dependent forms are slightly archaic.
Abair, "to say" | Analytic | Synthetic | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Indicative | Present | Independent | deir | deir- |
Dependent | abrann | ab(a)r- | ||
Past Imperfect | Independent | deireadh | deir- | |
Dependent | abradh | ab(a)r- | ||
Past Perfect | dúirt | dúr- | ||
Future | Independent | déarfaidh | déar- | |
Dependent | abróidh | abró- | ||
Conditional | Independent | déarfadh | déar- | |
Dependent | abródh | abró- | ||
Imperative | abradh | abair, abraigí; abr- | ||
Subjunctive | Present | Independent | go ndeire | go ndeir- |
Dependent | go n-abra | go n-abr- | ||
Past | Independent | dá ndeireadh | dá ndeir- | |
Dependent | dá n-abradh | dá n-abr- | ||
Verbal Noun | rá | |||
Past Participle | ráite |
Beir "to bear"
Beir, "to bear" | Standard | Munster | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analytic | Syntethic | Analytic | Synthetic | ||
Indicative | Present | beireann | beir- | ||
Past Imperfect | bheireadh | bheir | |||
Past Perfect | rug | rug- | riug | riug- | |
Future | béarfaidh | béar- | |||
Conditional | béarfadh | béar- | |||
Imperative | beireadh | beir- | |||
Subjunctive | Present | go mbeire | go mbeir- | ||
Past | dá mbeireadh | dá mbeir- | |||
Verbal Noun | breith | ||||
Past Participle | beirthe |
Bí "to be"
If a noun phrase is in the predicate, then forms of the particle "is" are used rather than anything below.
Bí, "to be" | Analytic | Synthetic | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Indicative | Present | Independent | tá(nn) | taoi (2pS), táthaoi (2pP), tádar (3pP); tái- |
Dependent | fuil | fuil- | ||
Negative | níl | níl- | ||
Present Habitual | bíonn | bí- | ||
Past Imperfect | bhíodh | bhí- | ||
Past Perfect | Independent | bhí | bhío- | |
Dependent | raibh | rabh- | ||
Future | beidh | be- | ||
Conditional | bheadh | bhei- | ||
Imperative | bíodh | bí, bígí; bí- | ||
Subjunctive | Present | go raibh | go rabh- | |
Past | dá mbeadh | dá mbei- | ||
Verbal Noun | bheith | |||
Past Participle | (none) |
Clois / Cluin "to hear"
Clois is used in southern and south-central Irish (Munster, Connemara, Aran Islands etc.), whereas cluin is used in northern and north-central varieties (Mayo, Ulster).
Clois/ Cluin "to hear" | Southern Irish | Northern Irish | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | |||
Indicative | Present | cloiseann | clois- | cluineann | cluin- | |
Past Imperfect | chloiseadh | chlois- | chluineadh | chluin- | ||
Past Perfect | chuala | chual- | chuala | chual- | ||
Future | cloisfidh | clois- | cluinfidh | cluin- | ||
Conditional | chloisfeadh | chlois- | chluinfeadh | chluin- | ||
Imperative | cloiseadh | clois, cloisigí; clois- | cluineadh | cluin, cluinigí; cluin- | ||
Subjunctive | Present | go gcloise | go gclois- | go gcluine | go gcluin- | |
Past | dá gcloiseann | dá gclois- | dá gcluineadh | dá gcluin- | ||
Verbal Noun | cloisteáil | cluinstin | ||||
Past Participle | cloiste | cluinte |
Déan "to do, to make"
Déan, "to do, to make" | Standard | Munster | Ulster, Aran (Connacht) | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | |||
Indicative | Present | Independent | ghní(onn) | ghní- | ghní(onn) | ghní- | ||
Dependent | déanann | déan- | deineann | dein- | ||||
Past Imperfect | Independent | (gh)níodh | ghní- | ghníodh | ghní- | |||
Dependent | dhéanadh | dhéan- | dhein | dhein- | ||||
Past Perfect | Independent | rinne | rinn- | dheineadh | dhein- | rinn | rinn- | |
Dependent | dearna | dearn- | dearn | dearn- | ||||
Future | Independent | déanfaidh | déan- | |||||
Dependent | ||||||||
Conditional | Independent | dhéanfadh | dhéan- | |||||
Dependent | ||||||||
Imperative | déanadh | déan, déanaigí; déan- | deineadh | dein, deinigí; dein- | ||||
Subjunctive | Present | go ndéana | go ndéan- | go ndeina | go ndein- | |||
Past | dá ndéanadh | dá ndéan- | dá ndeineadh | dá ndein- | ||||
Verbal Noun | déanamh | |||||||
Past Participle | déanta |
Faigh "to find, to get"
The f- in forms of this verb is eclipsed rather than lenited after ní.
Faigh, "to get" | Analytic | Synthetic | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Indicative | Present | Independent | gheiheann | gheibh- |
Dependent | faigheann | faigh- | ||
Past Imperfect | Independent | gheibheadh | gheibh- | |
Dependent | d'fhaigheadh | d'faigh- | ||
Past Perfect | fuair | fuair- | ||
Future | Independent | gheobhaidh | gheobh- | |
Dependent | faighidh | faigh- | ||
Conditional | Independent | gheobhadh | gheobh- | |
Dependent | faigheadh | faigh- | ||
Imperative | faigheadh | faigh, faighigí; faigh- | ||
Subjunctive | Present | go bhfaighe | go bhfaigh- | |
Past | dá bhfaigeadh | dá bhfaigh- | ||
Verbal Noun | fáil | |||
Past Participle | faighte |
Feic "to see"
Feic, "to see" | Standard | Munster | Ulster | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | |||
Indicative | Present | Independent | feiceann | feic- | c(h)íonn | c(h)í- | tchíonn | tchí- |
Dependent | feiceann | feic- | feiceann | feic- | ||||
Past Imperfect | Independent | d'fheiceadh | fheic | c(h)íodh | c(h)í- | tíodh | tchí- | |
Dependent | fheiceadh | fheic- | ||||||
Past Perfect | Independent | chonaic | chonaic- | chnaic | chnaic- | thain(a)ic | thainic- | |
Dependent | faca | fac- | feaca(igh) | feaca- | faca | fac- | ||
Future | Independent | feicfidh | feic- | c(h)ífidh | c(h)í- | tchífidh | tchí- | |
Dependent | gcífidh | gcí- | ||||||
Conditional | Independent | d'fheicfeadh | d'fheic- | c(h)ífeadh | c(h)í | tchífeadh | tchí- | |
Dependent | fheicfeadh | fheic- | gcífeadh | gcí- | ||||
Imperative | feiceadh | feic, feicigí; feic- | ||||||
Subjunctive | Present | go bhfeice | go bhfeic- | |||||
Past | dá bhfeiceadh | dá bhfeic- | ||||||
Verbal Noun | feiceáil | feiscint | ||||||
Past Participle | feicthe |
Ith "to eat"
Ith, "to eat" | Standard | Cape Clear (Munster) | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | ||
Indicative | Present | itheann | ith- | ||
Past Imperfect | d'itheadh | d'ith- | |||
Past Perfect | d'ith | d'ith- | duaidh | dua- | |
Future | íosfaidh | íosfai- | |||
Conditional | Independent | d'íosfadh | díos- | ||
Dependent | íosfadh | íos- | |||
Imperative | itheadh | ith, ithigí; ith- | |||
Subjunctive | Present | go n-ithe | go n-ith- | ||
Past | dá n-itheadh | dá n-ith- | |||
Verbal Noun | ithe | ||||
Past Participle | ite |
Tabhair, "to give, to bring, (to be named)"
Tabhair, "to give, to bring" | Analytic | Synthetic | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Indicative | Present | General | tug | tug- |
Independent | bheir | bheir- | ||
Dependent | tabhrann | tabh(a)r- | ||
Past Imperfect | General | thugainn | thug- | |
Independent | bheirinn | bheir- | ||
Dependent | tabhrainn | tabh(a)r- | ||
Past Perfect | thug | thug- | ||
Future | General | tabharfaidh | tabhar- | |
Independent | bhéaraid | bhéar- | ||
Dependent | tiubhraid | tiubhr- | ||
Conditional | General | thabharfadh | thabhar- | |
Independent | bhéarfadh | bhéar- | ||
Dependent | tiubhradh | tiubhr- | ||
Imperative | tugadh | tabhair, tugaigí; tug- | ||
Subjunctive | Present | go dtuga | go dtug- | |
Past | dá dtugdh | dá dtug- | ||
Verbal Noun | tabhairt | |||
Past Participle | tugtha |
The meaning "to be named" is often found in writings and can therefore be considered as strange for learners. When meaning "to be named" the verbform is usually followed by the preposition "ar", which is also inflected due to the person it is connected with. e.g.:
- Bhí Seán, mar a thugtaí air, an-shásta. "Seán, as he was (usually) called, was very happy."
- Tá Seán ag tabhairt an úill dom. "Seán is giving me the apple."
Tar, "to come"
Tar, "to come" | Standard | Munster (some) | Connacht (some) | Ulster | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | ||
Indicative | Present | tagann (tig le) | tag- | tigeann | tig- | teagann | teag- | tig | tig- |
Past Imperfect | thagadh | thag- | |||||||
Past Perfect | tháinig | tháng- | |||||||
Future | tiocfaidh | tioc- | |||||||
Conditional | thiocfadh | thioc- | |||||||
Imperative | tagadh | tar, tagaigí; tag- | tagadh | tair, tagaigí; tag- | tagadh | teara, tagaigí; tag- | tagadh | gabh, tagaigí; tag- | |
Subjunctive | Present | go dtag | go dtag- | go dtí | go dtí- | go dtí | go dtí- | ||
Past | dá dtagadh | dá dtag- | |||||||
Verbal Noun | teacht | ||||||||
Past Participle | tagtha |
Téigh, "to go"
Téigh, "to go" | Standard | Connemara (Connacht) | Munster | Ulster | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | Analytic | Synthetic | |||
Indicative | Present | téann | téi- | |||||||
Past Imperfect | théadh | théi- | ||||||||
Past Perfect | Independent | chuaigh | chu- | |||||||
Dependent | deachaigh | deach- | ||||||||
Future | rachaidh (raghfaidh) | rach- (raghf-) | gabhfaidh | gabhf- | raghaidh | ragh- | ||||
Conditional | rachadh (raghfadh) | rach- (raghf-) | ghabhfadh | ghabhf- | raghadh | ragh- | ||||
Imperative | téadh | téi- | téadh | teire/ gabh; té- | téadh | teir, teiridh; té- | téadh | téithear; gabh-/té- | ||
Subjunctive | Present | go dté | go dté- | |||||||
Past | dá dtéadh | dá dté- | ||||||||
Verbal Noun | dul | goil | goil | |||||||
Past Participle | dulta | goite | goite |
Verbal nouns
Formation of the verbal noun
Irish has no infinitive and uses instead the verbal noun. The verbal noun can be formed using different strategies (mostly suffixes). The most common of these are:
- Suffix -adh, e.g., bog "soften" : bogadh
- Suffix -áil, e.g., fág "leave" : fágáil
- Suffix -ú, e.g., ardaigh "lift" : ardú
- Suffix -amh, e.g., caith "spend" : caitheamh
- Suffix -t, e.g., cosain "defend" : cosaint
- Suffix -úint, e.g., lean "follow" : leanúint
- Slender consonant is made broad, e.g., coisc "prevent" : cosc
- Suffix -ach, e.g., ceannaigh "buy" : ceannach
- No change, e.g., ól "drink" : ól
- Suffix -cht, e.g., dúisigh "awake" : dúiseacht
- Suffix -e, e.g., rinc "dance" : rince
Usage of the verbal noun
The verbal noun is used as the infinitive would be used in English.
- D'iarr sé orm imeacht. "He asked me to go."
- B'fhearr liom fanacht. "I would rather stay."
A progressive can be expressed with the preposition ag and is equivalent to the English present participle.
- Tá Seán ag obair. "Seán is working."
- Bhí Máire ag caint. "Máire was speaking."
A perfect tense can be formed with either of the compound prepositions tar éis or i ndiaidh and the verbal noun.
- Tá sí tar éis baint an fhéir. "She has (just) mowed the grass." (cf. Hiberno-English "She is after cutting the grass.")
- Bhí sé i ndiaidh ní na gcupán. "He had (just) washed the cups." (cf. Hiberno-English "He was after washing the cups.")
Preverbal particles
Irish uses a number of preverbal particles to modify the meaning of a sentence. In a positive statement, no particle is used and the verb comes first (except in Munster Irish where "Do" is placed before verbs in the past, habitual past and conditional, leniting the verb that follows). This is still seen in the Standard Language in said tenses, prefixed to verbs beginning with vowels, e.g., D'ól mé (D'ólas in Munster Irish) meaning "I drank":
- Tuigeann Seán Gaeilge. "Seán understands Irish."
- Thuig Seán Gaeilge. "Seán understood Irish."
- Thuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge. "Seán would understand Irish."
Negative particles
To negate a statement, the particle ní is used, which causes lenition; a d’ before a vowel or lenited f is omitted:
- Ní thuigeann Seán Gaeilge. "Seán doesn't understand Irish."
- Ní thuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge. "Seán wouldn't understand Irish."
- Ní ólfadh Séamas an bainne. "Séamas would not drink the milk." (cf. D'ólfadh Séamas an bainne. "Séamas would drink the milk.")
- Ní fhanfadh Úna liom. "Úna would not wait for me." (cf. D'fhanfadh Úna liom. "Úna would wait for me.")
In the preterite, the particle níor is used . There is lenition but no d’.
- Níor thuig Seán Gaeilge. "Seán didn't understand Irish."
- Níor ól Séamas an bainne. "Séamas didn't drink the milk." (cf. D'ól Séamas an bainne. "Séamas drank the milk.")
- Níor fhan Úna liom. "Úna didn't wait for me." (cf. D'fhan Úna liom. "Úna waited for me.")
(In Ulster, the negative particles cha(n), pret. char are also used)
Interrogative particles
To pose a simple yes/no question, the particle an is used, which causes eclipsis (no eclipsis of vowels, because an already ends with n). In the preterite ar (+ lenition) is used. The prefix d’ is omitted:
- An dtuigeann Seán Gaeilge? "Does Seán understand Irish?"
- An dtuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge? "Would Seán understand Irish?"
- An ólann Séamas bainne? "Does Séamas drink milk?"
- An bhfanfadh Úna liom? "Would Úna wait for me?"
- Ar thuig Seán Gaeilge? "Did Seán understand Irish?"
- Ar ól Séamas an bainne? "Did Séamas drink the milk?"
- Ar fhan Úna liom? "Did Úna wait for me?"
These particles are also used to introduce an indirect question:
- Níl a fhios agam an dtuigeann Seán Gaeilge. "I don't know if Seán understands Irish."
- Ní mé ar ól Séamas an bainne. "I wonder if Séamas drank the milk."
Negative interrogative particles
To pose a negative yes/no question, the particle nach is used, which causes eclipsis (in preterite: nár + lenition):
- Nach dtuigeann Seán Gaeilge? "Doesn't Seán understand Irish?"
- Nach dtuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge? "Wouldn't Seán understand Irish?"
- Nach n-ólfadh Séamas an bainne? "Wouldn't Séamas drink the milk?"
- Nach bhfanfadh Úna liom? "Wouldn't Úna wait for me?"
- Nár thuig Seán Gaeilge? "Didn't Seán understand Irish?"
- Nár ól Séamas an bainne? "Didn't Séamas drink the milk?"
- Nár fhan Úna liom? "Didn't Úna wait for me?"
(In Munster ná is used instead of nach.)
Wh-interrogative particles
To pose a wh-question, one of the interrogative particles cá, cad a/céard a, cathain a, cé a, conas a etc. is used.
- Cá gcuirfidh tú an litir? "Where will you put the letter?"
- Cad/Céard a cheapfaidh na comharsana? "What will the neighbors think?"
- Cathain a dhíolfaidh sibh bhur dteach? "When will you sell your house?"
- Cé a sheasfaidh i m'aice? "Who will stand next to me?"
- Conas a ghlanfaidh tú an gúna? "How will you clean the dress?"
Subjunctive
The subjunctive covers the idea of wishing something and so appears in some famous Irish proverbs and blessings. It is considered an old-fashioned tense for daily speech (except in set phrases) but still appears often in print.
The subjunctive is normally formed from "Go" (which triggers eclipsis) plus the subjunctive form of the verb, plus the subject, plus the thing being wished for. For instance, the subjunctive form of "teigh" (go) is "té":
- Go dté tú slán. -- May you be well.
(lit: may you go well)
Again, the subjunctive of "tabhair" (give) is "tuga":
- Go dtuga Dia ciall duit. -- May God give you sense.
In the third example, the wish is also a curse, like this one from Tory Island in Donegal:
- Go ndéana an Diabhal toirneach de d'anam in Ifreann. -- May the Devil make thunder of your soul in Hell.
The subjunctive is generally formed by taking the present indicative tense of the verb and adding on the appropriate subjunctive ending depending on broad or slender, and first or second conjugation. For example, the present tense first person singular of bog (to move) is bog mé and its subjunctive in the same person is boga mé:
1st Conjugation:
mol (to praise) | mola mé | mola tú | mola sé/sí | molaimid | mola sibh | mola siad |
bris (to break) | brise mé | brise tú | brise sé/sí | brisimid | brise sibh | brise siad |
2nd Conjugation:
beannaigh (to bless) | beannaí mé | beannaí tú | beannaí sé/sí | beannaímid | beannaí sibh | beannaí siad |
bailigh (to collect) | bailí mé | bailí tú | bailí sé/sí | bailímid | bailí sibh | bailí siad |
E.g., "go mbeannaí Dia thú"—May God bless you.
There is also some irregularity in certain verbs in the subjunctive. The verb bí (to be) is the most irregular verb in Irish (as in most Indo-European languages):
Present Indicative | tá mé/táim | tá tú | tá sé/sí | tá muid/táimid | tá sibh | tá siad |
Present Subjunctive | raibh mé | raibh tú | raibh sé/sí | rabhaimid | raibh sibh | raibh siad |
The Irish phrase for "thank you"—go raibh maith agat—uses the subjunctive of "bí" and literally means "may there be good at-you".
Some verbs do not follow the conjugation of the subjunctive exactly as above. The irregularities apply to verbs whose stem ends already in a stressed vowel, and the rules of Irish orthography and pronunciation mean that it cannot take another:
Present Indicative | Present Subjunctive | |
---|---|---|
téigh (to go) | téann tú | té tú |
sáigh (to stab) | sánn tú | sá tú |
luigh (to mention; cite) | luíonn tú | luí tú |
*feoigh (to decay; wither) | feonn tú | feo tú |
- Although, feoigh does not have a fáda (accent), the 'o' in this position is stressed (pronounced as though it is ó) and so the subjunctive is irregular.
It is important to note that when the subjunctive is used in English, it may not be used in Irish, and another tense might be used instead:
- If I were (past subjunctive) you, I would study for the exam tomorrow. -- Dá mba (past/conditional of the copula) mise tusa, dhéanfainn (conditional) staidéar ar don scrúdú amárach.
- I wish *(that) you were (past sub.) here. -- Is mian liom go raibh (present sub.) tú anseo.
- It is important that he choose (present sub.) the right way—Tá sé tábhachtach go roghnaíonn (present indicative) sé ar an mbealach ceart.
- **When you're older (present ind.), you'll understand—Nuair a bheidh (future ind.) tú níos sine, beidh tú a thuiscint.
- *Note that in English, the relative pronoun that can be omitted, but in Irish, the corresponding go must be retained.
- **Note that in English, the present tense is often used to refer to a future state, but in Irish, there is less freedom with tenses (time is more strictly bound to the appropriate tense, present for present, past for past, future for future). In this particular example, you will be older, and it is then that you will understand.
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For a list of words relating to Finished, see the Irish verbs category of words in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |