# Graiméar na Gaedhilge/Part III Chapter V

CHAPTER V.
The Verb.
547. As a general rule the verb precedes its nominative: as, tá sé, he is; ḃí an fear ann, the man was there.
Exceptions. (1) When the subject is a relative or an interrogative pronoun the verb comes after its subject; as,
    An buaċaill a ḃuaileas mé. The boy who strikes me.
    Cad atá agat? What have you?
(2) In a relative sentence the nominative though not a relative pronoun may precede its verb; but as the noun is usually far separated from the verb, a ​personal pronoun is used as a sort of temporary subject, so that really the noun and its pronoun are nominative to the same verb: as,
Compare the similar use of the French pronoun ce; or the English “He that shall persevere unto the end, he shall be saved.”
(3) The nominative often precedes its verb in poetry, and sometimes even in prose.
    Raṫ go raiḃ ort! Success to you!
548. Transitive verbs govern the accusative case; and the usual order of words is, Verb, Subject, Object. When the subject or object is a relative or an interrogative pronoun it precedes the verb.
    Do rinne Seaġán an bád sain. John made that boat.
    Do ḃuail an buaċaill é. The boy struck him.
For the conditions under which a verb is aspirated or eclipsed, see pars. 21(g) and 26(e).
Use of the Subjunctive Mood.
549. The most frequent use of the present subjunctive is with the conjunction GO, expressing a wish. If the wish be negative use NÁ (except with raiḃ).
| Go mbeannuiġiḋ Dia ḋuit! | May God bless you! |
| Go ḃfóiriḋ Dia orainn! | God help us! |
| Go dtéiġ tú slán! | Safe home! (may you go safely)! |
| Nár léigiḋ Dia sin! | May God not allow that! God forbid! |
| Go raiḃ maiṫ agat! | Thank you! |
| Ná raiḃ maiṫ agat! | No thanks to you! |
550. The subjunctive is also used after NÓ GO, GO or ACHT GO, all meaning “until”; and after MUNA, “unless,” but only when there is an element of doubt.
| Fan anseo go dtagad arís. | Stay here till I come again, |
| Muna gcreidiḋ siḃ mé. | Unless you believe me. |
| Muna dtugaiḋ tú an t‑airgead dom. | Unless you give me the money. |
551. SUL A, SUL FA, SUL MÁ, SUL DÁ, all meaning “before,” when used with reference to an event not considered as an actual occurrence, take the subjunctive; as,
552. The past subjunctive is found after DÁ or MUNA to express a supposed condition. They may also take a conditional. In translating the English phrases “if he believed,” “if he had believed” (im​plying that he did not believe), we use dá with the past subjunctive; but as this Tense is identical in form with the Imperfect Tense, it may be said that it is the Imperfect Tense which is employed in this case.
    If you were to see Donal on the following day you would pity him.
    Dá ḃfeicṫeá Doṁnall ar maidin lá ar n‑a ḃáraċ baḋ ṫruaġ leat é.
    If you were to give me that book.
    Dá dtugṫá-sa doṁsa an leaḃar sin.
    If it were true for him. Dá mbaḋ fíor ḋó é.
All the particles given above can also be used with the past subjunctive in reference to past time.
553. In the passive voice the present and past subjunctive are identical in form with the Present and Imperfect Tenses (respectively) of the Indicative Mood.
    May it be worn out well. Go gcaiṫtear go maiṫ é.
    May it never be worn out. Nár ċaiṫtear go deo é.
    If it were worn out. Dá gcaiṫtí é.
Relative Form of the Verb.
554. The relative form of the verb is used after the relative particle a, when it is the subject of the verb; (but never after the negative relative naċ, which or who … not). It has a distinct form in two, and only ​two, Tenses—the Present and the Future. In these two Tenses it ends in as or eas. In all the other Tenses the third person singular is used after the relative pronoun. The verb is aspirated after the relative, expressed or understood; but naċ eclipses.
555. The inflection of the relative form in present tense is not used in the spoken Language of to-day (except in proverbs). In Connaught the final s of the relative form is added to the form for the 3rd person singular; e.g., an fear a ḃuaileanns, the man who strikes; an buaċaill a ṫuigeanns, the boy who understands. The literary form of the relative in the future tense is retained in full vigour in Connaught; e.g., an fear a ḃuailfeas, the man who will strike. In Munster the relative form has entirely disappeared in both the present and the future tenses (except in proverbs). The 3rd person singular form has taken its place; e.g., an fear a ḃuaileann, the man who strikes.
556. As the relative has no inflection for case, ambiguity sometimes arises: e.g., an fear a ḃuail Seaġán, may mean, either the man who struck John, or, the man whom John struck. The context usually solves the difficulty. The following construction is sometimes employed in order to obviate any ambiguity:—
| An fear a ḃuail Seaġán. | The man who struck John. |
| An fear gur ḃuail Seaġán é. | The man whom John struck. |
557. Cionnus, how; nuair, when; and mar, as, are followed by the relative form of the verb in the Present and Future, and the verb is aspirated ; but with cionnus a, cia an ċaoi, cia an nós, cia an moḋ, or any ​other such locutions, the eclipsing a or i (in which) is used before the verb. Before the Past Tense, of course, ar (a + ro) is used. Cionnus a ḃfuil tú? How are you?
Mar is also followed by the ordinary Present and Future.
558. SUL, “before,” has two usages. It may be followed by the relative forms—e.g., sul ṫiocfas sé, sul ṫáinig sé; or else it may be followed by one of the particles a, má, fá, dá, all of which eclipse.
559. After these particles, the Subjunctive Mood is often used when the event is future and uncertain, or contains a mental element: as—
    Imṫiġ leat sul a ḃfeiciḋ sé tú.
    Be off (with you) before he sees you (i.e., so that he may not see you).
It is not correct to eclipse after the word sul, as sul dtáinig, although sometimes done.
560. The relative form of the Present Tense is frequently used as a historic present, even when no relative occurs in the sentence: as—
    Noċtas Eireṁón dóiḃ.  Eremon revealed to them.
The Verbal Noun and its Functions.
561. “Is there an Infinitive in Irish?” We give here Father O’Leary’s answer to his own question, “Certainly not.” In Irish there is neither an infinitive mood nor a present participle, both functions being discharged by the verbal noun. It follows from this statement that there is no such thing as a sign of the infinitive mood in Irish.
| Is maiṫ liom siuḃal. | I wish to walk. |
| Duḃras leis gan teaċt. | I told him not to come. |
| Tá ormsa feiteaṁ. | I have to wait. |
| Níor ṁaiṫ liom beannuġaḋ dó. | I did not wish to salute him. |
| Ní ṫig le mála folaṁ seasaṁ. | An empty bag cannot stand. |
562. In the above examples, and in thousands of similar ones, the Irish verbal noun is an exact equivalent in sense of the English infinitive, sign and all. If any one of the prepositions do (or a), le or ċum, be used before the verbal nouns in the above examples, the result is utter nonsense. Now consider the following examples:—
| Is maiṫ liom an bóṫar do ṡiuḃal. | I wish to walk the road. |
| Is maiṫ liom focal do laḃairt. | I wish to speak a word. |
| Duḃairt m’aṫair liom gan an capall do ḋíol. | My father told me not to sell the horse. |
| Is cóir ḋuit an feur do ḃaint. | You ought to cut the grass. |
| An féidir leat an ċaint do ṫuigsint? | Can you understand the conversation? |
| Is mian liom litir do sgríoḃaḋ. | I wish to write a letter. |
563. The preposition do in the above examples and ones like them between the noun and the verbal noun, is very often, in the spoken language, softened to a: and this a is not heard before or after a vowel: as
    Is cóir ḋuit coṁairle ’ġlacaḋ.
    You ought to take advice.
564. In any sentence of the first set of examples there is question of only one thing; e.g., siuḃaI, teaċt, feiṫeaṁ, &c., but in each of the sentences of the second set there is a relation between two things: e.g., bóṫar and siuḃal, focal and laḃairt, &c., and to express this relationship a preposition is used between the two nouns. If the relation between the nouns be altered the preposition must also be altered, as—
| Tá bóṫar agam le siuḃal, | I have a road to walk. |
| Tá focaI agam le laḃairt, | I have a word to say. |
| Tá capall agam le díol, | I have a horse for sale (to sell). |
| Tá feur agat le baint, | You have grass to cut. |
| Tá teaċ ċum coṁnuiġṫe agam. | I have a house to live in. |
| Tá capall ċum marcuiġeaċta aige. | He has a horse to ride on. |
If in any one of these sentences the wrong preposition be employed the proper meaning cannot be expressed.
566. In translating the simple English infinitive of an intransitive verb, use the simple verbal noun in Irish: as,
| He told me to go to Cork. | Duḃairt sé liom dul go Corcaiġ. |
| An empty bag cannot stand. | Ní ṫig le mála folaṁ seasaṁ. |
| It is impossible to write without learning. | Ní féidir sgríoḃaḋ gan foġlaim. |
| I prefer to walk. | Is fearr liom siuḃal. |
| He cannot stand. | Ní ṫig leis seasaṁ. |
| Tell him to sit down. | Abair leis suiḋe síos. |
| Tell them to go away. | Abair leo imṫeaċt. |
| He came to stay, | Ṫáinig sé le fanaṁaint. |
| I have a word to say, | Tá focal agam le laḃairt. |
| You are to wait, | Tá tú le feiṫeaṁ. |
| I am to go, | Táim le dul. |
568. When the English verb is transitive and in the simple infinitive (no purpose implied) use the preposition do or the softened form a.
| My father told me to buy a horse. | Duḃairt m’aṫair liom capall do ċeannaċ. |
| You ought to have cut the grass. | Ba ċóir ḋuit an feur do ḃaint. |
| He told me not to shut the door. | Duḃairt sé liom gan an doras do ḋúnaḋ. |
| Would you like to read this book? | An mian leat an leaḃar so do léiġeaḋ? |
569. When the English infinitive is transitive, and also expresses purpose, use either ĊUN or LE before the noun which is the object of the English infinitive, and DO before the verbal noun in Irish; ċun takes ​the noun after it in the genitive; le becomes leis before the article, and then causes eclipsis if the noun be singular.
| He will come to judge the living and the dead. | Tiocfaiḋ Sé ċum breiṫeaṁnais do ṫaḃairt ar ḃeoḋaiḃ agus ar ṁarḃaiḃ. |
| He came to buy a horse. | Ṫáinig sé le capall do ċeannaċ. |
| He went to strike the men. | Ċuaiḋ sé ċun na ḃfear do ḃualaḋ. |
| He went to strike the man. | Ċuaiḋ sé leis an ḃfear do ḃualaḋ. |
| He said that to praise the girl. | Duḃairt sé sin leis an gcailín do ṁolaḋ. |
| He came to buy the horse. | Ṫáinig sé ċum an capaill a ċeannaċ. |
570. We can also express the above by means of the preposition do alone, but in this case we must put the verbal noun before the other noun. This latter will, of course, be now in the genitive case, because one noun governs another in the genitive case. This is the only governing power the verbal noun has in Irish.
| He came to buy the horse. | Ṫáinig sé do ċeannaċ an ċapaill. |
| He went to strike the man. | Ċuaiḋ sé do ḃualaḋ an ḟir. |
| Did you come to strike John? | An dtángais do ḃualaḋ Seaġáin? |
| He came to make fun. | Ṫáinig sé do ḋeunaṁ grinn. |
| They came to make war. | Ṫángadar do ḋeunaṁ cogaiḋ. |
N.B.—This latter method is not often used in the spoken language.
571. When the English infinitive is passive, and also expresses purpose, use le.
| He is to be hanged. | Tá sé le croċaḋ, or le ḃeiṫ croċta. |
| The milk is to be drunk. | Tá an bainne le h‑ól (&c). |
| Cows are to be bought at the fair. | Tá ba le ceannaċ ar an aonaċ. |
| The grass is to be cut. | Tá an feur le baint. |
| The house is to be sold. | Tá an teaċ le díol. |
| There is no one to be seen on the road. | Ní ḟuil duine ar biṫ le feicsint ar an mbóṫar. |
572. When a personal pronoun is the object of the English infinitive and the latter does not express purpose, we translate as follows:—
| You ought not to strike me. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ní cóir ḋuit mé do ḃualaḋ. Ní cóir ḋuit mo ḃualaḋ. |
| I wished to strike him. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ba ṁian liom é do ḃualaḋ. Ba ṁian liom a ḃualaḋ. |
| I wish to praise her. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Is mian liom i do ṁolaḋ. Is mian liom a molaḋ. |
| It is not right to strike them. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ní cóir iad do ḃualaḋ. Ní cóir a mbualaḋ. |
| It is a bad thing to wound me. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Is olc an rud mé do ġonaḋ. Is olc an rud mo ġonaḋ. |
| I cannot understand it. | I cannot understand it. | Ní ṫig liom a ṫuigsint (its understanding). |
| Could you tell me who it was? | Could you tell me who it was? | An féidir leat a innsint dom cia ’rḃ’é? |
| A desire to kill them came upon me. | A desire to kill them came upon me. | Ṫáinig mian a marḃṫa ormsa. |
In this sentence marḃṫa is the genitive case (after the noun mian) of the verbal noun marḃaḋ.
573. When the English infinitive governing a personal pronoun expresses purpose, we translate as follows:—
| He came to strike me. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ṫáinig sé dom ḃualaḋ. Ṫáinig sé le mé do ḃualaḋ. |
| I went to strike them. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ċuaiḋ mé d’á mḃualaḋ. Ċuaiḋ mé le h‑iad do ḃualaḋ. |
| They are coming to wound us. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Tá siad ag teaċt dár ngonaḋ. Tá siad at teaċt le sinn do ġonaḋ. |
If we used the autonomous form in this last sentence we would get—
| They are coming to wound us. | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Táṫar ag teaċt dár ngonaḋ. Táṫar ag teaċt le sinn do ġonaḋ. |
574. The English present participle is usually translated by the verbal noun preceded by the preposition ag. If the English present participle expresses “rest” (e.g., standing, sitting, lying, sleeping, &c.), the verbal noun must be preceded by the preposition i (= in) compounded with a suitable possessive adjective (§ 186).
| Tá siad ag teaċt. | They are coming. |
| Ḃí an buaċaill ’na ṡeasaṁ. | The boy was standing. |
| Tá an ḃean na seasaṁ. | The woman is standing. |
575. The verbal noun in each of the above is dative case, governed by the preposition ag.
576. When the English present participle governs an objective case, the object if a noun will follow the verbal noun in Irish and will be in the genitive case.
| He is cutting the grass. | Tá sé ag baint an ḟéir. |
| She was stretching out her hand. | Ḃí sí ag síneaḋ a láiṁe amaċ. |
| Are you reading the letter? | Ḃfuil tú ag léiġeaḋ na litre? |
| Who was beating the child? | Cia ḃí ag bualaḋ an leinḃ? |
577. If the object of the English present participle be a personal pronoun we cannot translate as in the above sentences, because the pronouns have no genitive case; hence instead of using the personal pronouns we must employ the possessive adjectives. Possessive adjectives must always precede the nouns which they qualify.
| He is striking me. | Tá sé ’ġam (or agom) ḃualaḋ (lit. he is at my beating). |
| Are you breaking it? | Ḃfuil tú ’ġá (aga) ḃriseaḋ? |
| Are you breaking them? | Ḃfuil tú ’ġá (aga) mbriseaḋ? |
| He is praising us. | Tá sé ġár (ag ár) molaḋ. |
| Is he not burning them? | Naċ ḃfuil sé ’ġa (aga) ndóġaḋ? |
| They are not striking her. | Ní ḟuil siad ’ġá (aga) bualaḋ. |
Note carefully the initial effects of the possessive adjectives on the verbal nouns after them.
​578. Preceded by ar, the Verbal Noun has the force of a Present Participle Passive, denoting a continued or habitual state: as,
| Ní ḟuil an teanga sin ar laḃairt anois. | That language is not spoken now. |
| Tá an ċruit ar croċaḋ ar an ngéig. | The harp is hanging on the bough. |
| Sgeul ar leanaṁaint. | A continued story. |
In this idiom ar neither aspirates nor eclipses.
579. With iar, after (eclipsing), the Verbal Noun has the force of a Perfect Participle: as,
    Iar dteaċt i n‑Éirinn do Ṗádraig,
    Patrick having come into Ireland.
But in this idiom iar is usually shortened to ar: as, ar dteaċt, &c., the eclipsis being retained. In colloquial language the Verbal Noun is commonly aspirated, not eclipsed, by ar in this usage.
580. Gan is the word used to express negation with the Verbal Noun: as, gan teaċt, not to come.
    Abair le Brian gan an gort do ṫreaḃaḋ.
    Tell Brian not to plough the field.
581. Gan with the Verbal Noun has the force of the Passive Participle in English with un prefixed: as,
    Mo ċúig púint olna agus iad gan sníoṁ,
    My five pounds of wool, and they unspun.
​582. The genitive of the Verbal Noun is often used where a relative or infinitive clause would be used in English: as,
    Níor fágaḋ fear inniste sgéil,
    There was not a man left to tell the tidings.
    Cailín deas crúiḋte na mbó,
    The pretty girl who milks the cows (lit. of the milking, &c.).
583. The following examples will be studied with advantage. They are culled from Father O’Leary’s Mion-ċaint:—
| Someone is striking me. | Táṫar ’ġam ḃualaḋ. |
| I am being struck. | Táim dom ḃualaḋ. |
| Someone is striking the dog. | Táṫar ag bualaḋ an ġaḋair. |
| The dog is being struck. | Tá an gaḋar dá ḃualaḋ. |
| Someone is breaking the stones. | Táṫar ag briseaḋ na gcloċ. |
| The stones are being broken. | Tá na cloċa dá mbriseaḋ. |
| They used to kill people. | Ḃítí ag marḃaḋ daoine. |
| People used to be killed. | Ḃíoḋ daoine dá marḃaḋ. |
| They used to buy horses. | Ḃítí ag ceannaċ capall. |
| Horses used to be bought. | Ḃíoḋ capaill dá gceannaċ. |
| We (or they) will be digging potatoes. | Béiḋfear ag baint ṗrátaoi. |
| Potatoes will be dug. | Béiḋ prátaoi dá mbaint. |
| We shall have dug the potatoes. | Béiḋ na prátaoi bainte againn. |
| If they were breaking stones, they would not be cold. | Dá mbéiḋfí ag briseaḋ cloċ ní ḃéiḋfí fuar. |
| If they are breaking stones they are not cold. | Má táṫar ag briseaḋ cloċ ní ḟuiltear fuar. |
THE VERB IS.
584. A definite noun is one limited by its nature or by some accompanying word to a definite, individual or group.
The following are definite nouns:—
(b) A noun preceded by the definite article.
(c) A noun preceded by a demonstrative adjective.
(d) A noun preceded by gaċ (because it means each taken individually).
Any noun not included in the above classes is an indefinite noun.
​585. Whenever a definite noun is the subject of a verb in English, and the verb is is employed in translating into Irish, a personal pronoun must immediately precede the definite noun in Irish.
    John is the man. Is é Seaghán an fear
WHEN TO USE THE VERB IS.
586. (a) When the verb "to be" in English is followed by a definite noun, use is: as,
| I am John. | Is mise Seaġán. |
| It is the man. | Is é an fear é. |
| You are my brother. | Is tú mo ḋearḃráṫair. |
| James is the man. | Is é Seumas an fear. |
| It is the woman of the house. | Is í bean an tiġe í. |
| Are you not my friend? | Naċ tú mo ċara? |
| He is not my father. | Ní h‑é sin m’aṫair. |
All sentences of this class are called “Identification sentences.”
He, she and they in sentences of identity have usually the force of demonstrative pronouns, and are translated by é sin, í sin, iad san.
(b) When the verb “to be” in English is followed by an indefinite noun is or tá may be used, but with very different meanings. Whenever we use the verb is in such a sentence we convey the idea of “classification,” or species: as, Is ​ainiṁiġe bó. A cow is an animal, &c.; or we lay stress on what the person or thing is at the time being, without any thought that he has become what he, or it, is. For instance, a father, enumerating to a friend the various positions in life of his children, may say, Is ceannuiḋe Seumas, is sagart Seaġán, agus is fear dliġe Miċeál: James is a merchant, John a priest, and Michael is a lawyer. He should not use tá in such a case, as he considers simply what each is at the time being. When tá is used we convey the idea that the person or thing has become what he (or it) is, and that he (or it) was not always so. Suppose a father is telling what professions his sons have adopted, he should say, tá Seumas ’na ceannuiḋe, &c. In such constructions the verb tá must be followed by the preposition i or a, and a suitable possessive adjective.
(c) The difference between tá and is is well exemplified by the two sentences is fear é and tá sé ’na ḟear, both meaning “He is a man.” If we see a figure approach us in the dark, and after looking closely at it we discover it to be a man, our correct phraseology would then be, is fear é. But when we say tá sé ’na ḟear we convey a very different idea. We mean that the person of whom we are speaking is no longer a boy, he has now reached manhood. If anyone were speaking to you of a person as if he were a mere boy, and you wished to correct him, you should use the phrase tá sé ’na ḟear.
​(d) When the indefinite noun after the verb “to be” in English is qualified by an adjective, the verb is or tá may be used according to the idea we wish to convey. If we wish to express a “condition sentence” (i.e., one which has reference to the state or condition of the subject at the time in question), we use tá; otherwise we employ is, e.g.,
| He is a small man. | Tá sé ’na ḟear ḃeag. |
| He is a useful man. | Tá sé ’na ḟear ḟóġanta. |
| She was a good woman | Ḃí sí ’na mnaoi ṁaiṫ. |
(e) When the verb is is employed in such sentences there is a choice of two constructions. In the second construction (as given in the examples below), we emphasise the adjective, by making it the prominent idea of the sentence. The definite article must be used in the second construction.
| Is lá breáġ é. Is breáġ an lá é. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | It is a fine day. |
| Is oiḋċe ḟuar í. Is fuar an oiḋċe í. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | It is a cold night. |
| Is bó breáġ í sin. Is breáġ an bó í sin. | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | That is a fine cow. |
| Naċ oileán deas é sin? Naċ deas an t‑oileán é sin? | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | Isn't that a pretty island? |
    Honey is sweet, is milis mil or tá mil milis.
    He is strong, is láidir é or tá sé láidir.
587. The beginning of a sentence is naturally the place of greatest prominence, and is usually occupied in Irish by the verb. When, however, any idea other than that contained in the verb is to be emphasised, it is placed immediately after the verb is, and the rest of the sentence is thrown into the relative form.
For example, “We went to Derry yesterday,” would be generally translated: Ċuaiḋ sinn go Doire indé: but it may also take the following forms according to the word emphasised.
| We went to Derry yesterday. | Is sinne do ċuaiḋ go Doire indé. |
| We went to Derry yesterday. | Is go Doire do ċuaiḋ sinn indé. |
| We went to Derry yesterday. | Is indé do ċuaiḋ sinn go Doire. |
The Verb IS is then used.
| (1) | To express | Identity, | e.g., | Is é Conn an rí. |
| (2) | „ | Classification, | „ | Is rí Conn. |
| (3) | „ | Emphasis, | „ | Is indé do ċuaiḋ sinn go Doire. |
POSITION OF WORDS WITH IS.
589. The predicate of the sentence always follows IS: as,
| Dermot is a man, | Is fear Diarmuid. |
| They are children, | Is páisdí iad. |
| John is a priest, | Is sagart Seaġán. |
| Coal is black, | Is duḃ gual. |
| A cow is an animal, | Is ainiṁíġe bó. |
| Turf is not coal, | Ní gual móin. |
| Is it a man? | An fear é? |
590. Sentences of Identification—e.g., Conn is the king—form an apparent exception. The fact is that in this sentence either the word “Conn” or “the king” may be the logical predicate. In English “king” is the grammatical predicate, but in Irish it is the grammatical subject, and “Conn” is the grammatical predicate. Hence the sentence will be, Is é Conn an rí.
591. In such sentences, when two nouns or a pronoun and noun are connected by the verb is, as a general rule, the more particular and individual of the two is made grammatical predicate in Irish. The converse usually holds in English. For instance, we say in English “I am the messenger,” but in Irish is mise an teaċtaire (lit. “the messenger is I”). Likewise with the following:—
| You are the man, | Is tú an fear. |
| He is the master, | Is é sin an maiġistir. |
| We are the boys, | Is sinne na buaċaillí. |
| It is the master, | Is é an maiġistir é. |
| He is the master, | Is é sin an maiǵistir. |
| (The underlined words are the predicates.) ||
593. In recent times we often find such sentences as “Is é an maiġistir,” “Is é an fear,” &c., for “It is the master,” “It is the man,” in which the last é, the subject of the sentence, is omitted.
Translation of the English Secondary Tenses.
594. The English Present Perfect Tense is translated by means of the Present Tense of the verb tá, followed by d’ éis (or tar éis) and the verbal noun. When d’ éis comes immediately before the verbal noun, the latter will be in the genitive case; but when d’ éis is separated from the verbal noun by the object of the English verb, the verbal noun will be preceded by the preposition do, and will be dative case.
| He wrote, | Do sgríoḃ sé. |
| He has just written, | Tá sé d’ éis sgríoḃṫa. |
| He broke the window, | Do ḃris sé an ḟuinneog. |
| He has broken the window, | Tá sé d’ éis na fuinneoige do ḃriseaḋ. |
| He has just died, | Tá sé d’ éis báis d’ḟaġáil. |
596. When the English verb is transitive there is another very neat method of translating the secondary tenses. As already stated, there is no verb “to have” in Irish: its place is supplied by the verb tá and the preposition ag. Thus, “I have a book” is, Tá leaḃar agam. A similar construction may be used in translating the secondary tenses of an English transitive verb. The following sentences will illustrate the construction:—
| I have written the letter, | Tá an litir sgríoḃṫa agam. |
| I have struck him, | Tá sé buailte agam. |
| Have you done it yet? | Ḃfuil sé deunta agat fós? |
| I have broken the stick, | Tá an maide briste agam. |
597. The English Pluperfect and Future Perfect are translated in the same manner as the Present Perfect, except that the Past and Future Tenses respectively of TÁ must be used instead of the Present, as above. The following examples will illustrate the construction;—
| He died, | He died, | Fuair sé bás. |
| He had just died, | He had just died, | Ḃí sé d’ báis d’ ḟaġáil. |
| He had broken the chair, | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ḃí sé d’ éis na caṫaoireac do ḃriseaḋ. Ḃí an ċaṫaoir briste aige. |
| The window has just been broken by a stone, | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Táṫar d’ éis na fuinneoige do ḃriseaḋ le cloiċ. |
| I had written the letter, | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Ḃí an litir sgríoḃṫa agam.Ḃíos d’ éis na litre do sgríoḃaḋ. |
| I shall have finished my work before you will be ready, | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Béad d’ éis críċe do ċur ar mo ċuid oibre sul a mbéir réiḋ (ullaṁ),Béiḋ mo ċuid oibre críoċnuiġṫe agam sul a mbéir réiḋ. |
Prepositions after Verbs.
598. We give here a few verbs which require a preposition after them in Irish, although they require none in English:—
| Géillim do, | Géillim do, | I obey. |
| Uṁluiġim do, | Uṁluiġim do, | „ |
| Cuidiġim le, | Cuidiġim le, | I assist. |
| Innsim do, Deirim le, | $\scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,$ | I tell. |
| Tugaim ar | Tugaim ar | I persuade, prevail over. |
| Tugaim fá, | Tugaim fá, | I endeavour. |
| Iarraim ar, | Iarraim ar, | I ask (beseech). |
| Fiafruiġim de, | Fiafruiġim de, | I ask (enquire). |
| Geallaim do, | Geallaim do, | I promise. |
| Beannuiġim do, | Beannuiġim do, | I salute. |
| Cuiṁniġim ar, | I remember. |
| Beirim ar, | I catch, I overtake. |
| Gleusaim ar, | I prepare (gleus ort, get ready). |
| léigim do, | I allow, permit. |
| Coṁairliġim do, | I advise. |
| Maiṫim do, | I forgive, pardon. |
| Freagraim do, | I answer. |
| Fóirim ar, | I help. |
| Éiriġeann liom, | I succeed (lit. It arises with me). |
| Tigim le, | I confirm, I corroborate. |
| Tig liom | I can. |
| Sgaoilim do, | I loose. |
| Impiġim ar, | I beg, I beseech. |
| Taiṫniġim le, | I please. |
599. Many verbs require prepositions different from those required by their English equivalents.
| Laḃraim ar, | I speak of. |
| Fanaim le, | I wait for. |
| Tráċtaim ar, | I treat of. |
| Ceilim ar, | I conceal from. |
| Sgaraim le, | I separate from. |
| Cuirim fios ar, | I send for. |
| Laḃraim le, | I speak to. |
| Deirim le, | I say to. |
| Ar … le, | say, said to (ar is used only in quotation). |
| Ḃeirim aġaiḋ ar, | I face (for) (a place). |
| Deunaim magaḋ fá, | I make fun of, I mock. |
| Criṫim fá, | I tremble at. |
| Bainim le (also do), | I belong to, I appertain to. |
| Beirim buaiḋ ar, | I win a victory over. |
| Táim boḋruiġṫe ag, | I am bothered with. |
| Éistim le, | I listen to. |
| Dar le, | I t seems to. |
| Glaoiḋim ar | I call for. |
| Cinnim ar, | I excel or surpass in. |
| Guiḋim ar, | I pray for; also, I beseech. (guiḋ orainn, pray for us.) |
| Feuċ ar, | look at (feuċ orṫa, Look at them; feuċ iad, Examine or try them). |
| Fágaim slán ag, | I bid farewell to. |
| Leanaim le, | I stick to. |
| Beirim ar … ar | I take hold of … by: as, He caught me by the hand. Rug sé ar láiṁ orm. Catch her by the hand, Beir ar láiṁ uirṫi. |
| Díolaim le … ar, | I sell to … for. He sold me a cow for £10. Ḋíol sé bó liom ar ḋeiċ bpúntaiḃ. |
| Díolaim as, | I pay for. |
| Caiṫim le, | I throw at. |
| Cromaim ar, tosnuiġim ar, luiġim ar, | I begin to (do something). |
The Negative Adverb—Not,
600. Young students experience great difficulty in translating the English negative adverb—“not.” We here give the various ways of translating “not.”
| Not, | with the | Imperative | mood, | is translated by | ná. |
| „ | „ | Subjunctive | „ | „ | nár. |
| „ | „ | Verbal noun | Verbal noun | „ | gan. |
| Indicative Mood | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Past Tense | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | statement, níor or ċar. |
| Indicative Mood | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | Past Tense | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | question, nár or naċar. |
| Indicative Mood | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | All other tenses | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | statement, ní or ċa. |
| Indicative Mood | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \\\ \\\ \\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | All other tenses | $\scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}$ | question, naċ, ná. |
“If … not” is translated by muna: if the verb be in the past tense use munar.
All the above forms are used in principal sentences only. In dependent sentences “that … not” is always translated by naċ or ná, except in the past tense, indicative mood, when nár or naċar must be used.
Ní, aspirates; ċa, eclipses. Ċa becomes ċan before is and fuil: e.g. ċan mé, It is not I.
How to answer a question. Yes — No.
601. (a) In Irish there are no fixed words for “Yes” or “No.” As a general rule in replying to questions, “Yes” or “No” is translated by using the same verb and tense as has been employed in the question. ​The subject of the verb used in reply need not be expressed, except when it is contained in the verb ending. In English we frequently use a double reply, as “Yes, I will.” “No, I was not,” &c. In Irish we use only one reply.
| Ḃfuil tú tinn? Táim. | Are you sick? Yes, or I am. |
| Raiḃ sé annsoin? Ní raiḃ. | Was he there ? No. |
| An ḃfaca tú Seaġán? Ní ḟaca or ní ḟacas. | Did you see John ? No. |
| An ḃfaca sé an teaċ? Ċonnaic. | Did he see the house? He did. |
| An dtuigeann tú? Tuigim. | Do you understand ? Yes. |
| An dtiocfaiḋ tú? Ní ṫiocfad. | Will you come? No, I will not. |
(b) When the question has been asked with any part of the verb is, expressed or understood, followed by a definite noun, the English subject must be used in the answer, as also must the verb, except when the answer is negative.
| An tú an fear? Ní mise. | Are you the man? No. |
| Naċ é sin an fear? Is é. | Is not he the man ? Yes, he is. |
| Ar ḃ’é sin Seaġán? Níor ḃ’é. | Was that John? No, it was not. |
| FIRST SPEAKER. | SECOND SPEAKER. |
| Is mise an teaċtaire. | An tú? |
| I am the messenger. | Are you? |
| Ní h‑é sin ár sagart. | Naċ é? |
| He is not our priest. | Isn’t he? |
| Is é an fear é. | Ní h‑é. |
| It is the man. | It is not. |
(c) Whenever the question is asked by any part of the verb is, followed by an indefinite predicate, the word “Yes” is usually translated by repeating the verb and the indefinite predicate, as—
| Naċ fuar an lá é? Is fuar. | Isn't it a cold day? Yes, or It is. |
| Naċ maiṫ é? Is maiṫ. | Is it not good? Yes, or It is. |
| An aige atá an t‑airgead? Is aige. | Is it he who has the money? Yes. |
But in this case the answer may also be correctly given by using the neuter pronoun eaḋ. Is eaḋ (or ’seaḋ for “yes;” ní h‑eaḋ for “no.”
| An madaḋ é sin? Ní h‑eaḋ. | Is that a dog ? No. |
| An Sasanaċ é? ’Seaḋ. | Is he an Englishman? Yes. |
| Naċ maiṫ é? ’Seaḋ. | Isn’t it good ? It is. |
Cia rinne é sin? Mise.   Who did that? I did.
* ↑ Not before the English infinitive is translated by gan (a prep., without).
* ↑ Whenever the object of the verbal noun is a phrase, it cannot be put in the genitive case, but the possessive adjective a is used before the verbal noun.
* ↑ Pronounced morru.