The Genitive C

ase, Singular and Plural

Irregular Verbs • The Im

perative Mood

Bria

thra

Nea

mhr

ialta

• A

n M

odh

Ord

aith

each

General R

ules Governing V

erbs • The Verb Bí • R

egular Verbs

Ria

lach

a G

inea

rálta

mai

dir l

e Br

iath

ra •

An

Bria

thar

Bí •

Bri

athr

a R

ialta

Noun Endings in the G

enitive Case • The C

opula Is

Dei

rí A

inm

fhoc

al s

a Tu

isea

l Gin

idea

ch •

An

Cho

pail

IsThe Article and G

ender of Nouns • The V

ocative Case

An

tAlt

agus

Insc

ne A

inm

fhoc

al •

An

Tuis

eal G

airm

each

Verb Past tense Present tense Future tense Conditional mood

Abair (Say)

dúirt mé/tú/sé/sí; dúramar; dúirt sibh/siadAn ndúirt tú léi teacht ar ais?Dúirt./Ní dúirt.Autonomous: dúradh/ní dúradh

deirim; deir tú/sé/sí; deirimid; deir sibh/siadAn ndeir tú leis teacht ar ais?Deirim./Ní deirim.Autonomous: deirtear/ní deirtear

déarfaidh mé/tú/sé/sí; déarfaimid; déarfaidh sibh/siadAn ndéarfaidh sibh leis teacht ar ais?Déarfaidh./Ní déarfaidh.Autonomous: déarfar/ní déarfar

déarfainn; déarfá; déarfadh sé/sí;déarfaimis; déarfadh sibh; déarfaidísAn ndéarfá leis teacht ar ais?Déarfainn./Ní déarfainn.Autonomous: déarfaí/ní déarfaí

Beir (Bring, Take)

rug mé/tú/sé/sí; rugamar; rug sibh/siadAr rug siad ar na gadaithe go fóill?Rug./Níor rug. Autonomous: rugadh/níor rugadh

beirim; beireann tú/sé/sí; beirimid; beireann sibh/siadAn mbeireann sé mála leis de ghnáth?Beireann./Ní bheireann.Autonomous: beirtear/ní bheirtear

béarfaidh mé/tú/sé/sí; béarfaimid; béarfaidh sibh/siadAn mbéarfaidh tú do ríomhaire leat amárach?Béarfaidh./Ní bhéarfaidh.Autonomous: béarfar/ní bhéarfar

bhéarfainn; bhéarfá; bhéarfadh sé/sí; bhéarfaimis; bhéarfadh sibh; bhéarfaidísAn mbéarfadh sé leis a mhála? Bhéarfadh./Ní bhéarfadh.Autonomous: bhéarfaí/ní bhéarfaí

Bí (Be)

bhí mé/tú/sé/sí; bhíomar; bhí sibh/siadAn raibh sibh amuigh mall aréir?Bhí./Ní raibh. Autonomous: bhíothas/ní rabhthas

bím; bíonn tú/sé/sí; bímid; bíonn sibh/siadAn mbíonn siad amuigh déanach san oíche?Bíonn./Ní bhíonn.Autonomous: bítear/ní bhítear

beidh mé/tú/sé/sí; beimid; beidh sibh/siadAn mbeidh tú amuigh déanach san oíche?Beidh./Ní bheidh.Autonomous: beifear/ní bheifear

bheinn; bheifeá; bheadh sé/sí; bheimis; bheadh sibh; bheidísAn mbeadh sí in ann é sin a dhéanamh?Bheadh./Ní bheadh.Autonomous: bheifí/ní bheifí

Clois (Hear)

chuala mé/tú/sé/sí; chualamar; chuala sibh/siadAr chuala tú an t-amhrán sin riamh?Chuala./Níor chuala.Autonomous: chualathas/níor chualathas

cloisim; cloiseann tú/sé/sí; cloisimid; cloiseann sibh/siadAn gcloiseann sí é go minic?Cloiseann./Ní chloiseann.Autonomous: cloistear/ní chloistear

cloisfidh mé/tú/sé/sí; cloisfimid; cloisfidh sibh/siadAn gcloisfidh sibh é ag teacht isteach?Cloisfidh./Ní chloisfidh.Autonomous: cloisfear/ní chloisfear

chloisfinn; chloisfeá; chloisfeadh sé/sí; chloisfimis; chloisfeadh sibh; chloisfidísAn gcloisfimis iad ag teacht isteach?Chloisfeadh./Ní chloisfeadh.Autonomous: chloisfí/ní chloisfí

Déan (Do, Make)

rinne mé/tú/sé/sí; rinneamar; rinne sibh/siadAn ndearna sí an obair go léir?Rinne./Ní dhearna.Autonomous: rinneadh/ní dhearnadh

déanaim; déanann tú/sé/sí; déanaimid; déanann sibh/siadAn ndéanann tusa an obair?Déanaim./Ní dhéanaim.Autonomous: déantar/ní dhéantar

déanfaidh mé/tú/sé/sí; déanfaimid; déanfaidh sibh/siadAn ndéanfaidh siad an obair go léir?Déanfaidh./Ní dhéanfaidh.Autonomous: déanfar/ní dhéanfar

dhéanfainn; dhéanfá; dhéanfadh sé/sí;dhéanfaimis; dhéanfadh sibh; dhéanfaidísAn ndéanfadh sí gar dom?Dhéanfadh./Ní dhéanfadh.Autonomous: dhéanfaí/ní dhéanfaí

Faigh (Get)

fuair mé/tú/sé/sí; fuaireamar; fuair sibh/siadAn bhfuair sé cóip den leabhar sin fós?Fuair./Ní bhfuair.Autonomous: fuarthas/ní bhfuarthas

faighim; faigheann tú/sé/sí; faighimid; faigheann sibh/siadAn bhfaigheann sibh seans é sin a dhéanamh?Faigheann./Ní fhaigheann.Autonomous: faightear/ní fhaightear

gheobhaidh mé/tú/sé/sí; gheobhaimid; gheobhaidh sibh/siadAn bhfaighidh tú seans é a fheiceáil?Gheobhaidh./Ní bhfaighidh.Autonomous: gheofar/ní bhfaighfear

gheobhainn; gheofá; gheobhadh sé/sí; gheobhaimis; gheobhadh sibh; gheobhaidís An bhfaighidís deis imirt?Gheobhadh./Ní bhfaigheadh.Autonomous: gheofaí/ní bhfaighfí

Feic(See)

chonaic mé/tú/sé/sí; chonaiceamar; chonaic sibh/siadAn bhfaca tú an scannán sin fós?Chonaic./Ní fhaca.Autonomous: chonacthas/ní fhacthas

feicim; feiceann tú/sé/sí; feicimid; feiceann sibh/siadAn bhfeiceann tú an bhean sin go minic?Feicim./Ní fheicim.Autonomous: feictear/ní fheictear

feicfidh mé/tú/sé/sí; feicfimid; feicfidh sibh/siadAn bhfeicfidh sibh an bhean sin arís?Feicfidh./Ní fheicfidh.Autonomous: feicfear/ní fheicfear

d’fheicfinn; d’fheicfeá; d’fheicfeadh sé/sí;d’fheicfimis; d’fheicfeadh sibh; d’fheicfidísAn bhfeicfeá é ag teacht?D’fheicfinn./Ní fheicfinn.Autonomous: d’fheicfí/ní fheicfí

Ith (Eat)

d’ith mé/tú/sé/sí; d’itheamar; d’ith sibh/siadAr ith sibh bia Seapánach riamh?D’ith./Níor ith.Autonomous: itheadh/níor itheadh

ithim; itheann tú/sé/sí; ithimid; itheann sibh/siadAn itheann tú bia Seapánach go minic?Ithim./Ní ithim.Autonomous: itear/ní itear

íosfaidh mé/tú/sé/sí; íosfaimid; íosfaidh sibh/siadAn íosfaidh tú bia Francach agus tú ansin?Íosfaidh./Ní íosfaidh.Autonomous: íosfar/ní íosfar

d’íosfainn; d’íosfá; d’íosfadh sé/sí; d’íosfaimis; d’íosfadh sibh; d’íosfaidísAn íosfaidís an bia sin go léir?D’íosfadh./Ní íosfadh.Autonomous: d’íosfaí/ní íosfaí

Tabhair(Give)

thug mé/tú/sé/sí; thugamar; thug sibh/siadAr thug tú airgead dó?Thug./Níor thug.Autonomous: tugadh/níor tugadh

tugaim; tugann tú/sé/sí; tugaimid; tugann sibh/siadAn dtugann tú airgead dó?Tugaim./Ní thugaim.Autonomous: tugtar/ní thugtar

tabharfaidh mé/tú/sé/sí; tabharfaimid; tabharfaidh sibh/siadAn dtabharfaidh sibh airgead dó?Tabharfaidh./Ní thabharfaidh.Autonomous: tabharfar/ní thabharfar

thabharfainn; thabharfá; thabharfadh sé/sí; thabharfaimis; thabharfadh sibh; thabharfaidísAn dtabharfá ar ais é?Thabharfainn./Ní thabharfainn.Autonomous: thabharfaí/ní thabharfaí

Tar (Come)

tháinig mé/tú/sé/sí; thángamar; tháinig sibh/siadAr tháinig tú abhaile déanach?Tháinig./Níor tháinig.Autonomous: thángthas/níor thángthas

tagaim; tagann tú/sé/sí; tagaimid; tagann sibh/siadAn dtagann tú anseo ar do rothar?Tagaim./Ní thagaim.Autonomous: tagtar/ní thagtar

tiocfaidh mé/tú/sé/sí; tiocfaimid; tiocfaidh sibh/siadAn dtiocfaidh tú abhaile ina dhiaidh sin?Tiocfaidh./Ní thiocfaidh.Autonomous: tiocfar/ní thiocfar

thiocfainn; thiocfá; thiocfadh sé/sí; thiocfaimis; thiocfadh sibh; thiocfaidísAn dtiocfadh sí liom, an dóigh leat?Thiocfadh./Ní thiocfadh.Autonomous: thiocfaí/ní thiocfaí

Téigh(Go)

chuaigh mé/tú/sé/sí; chuamar; chuaigh sibh/siadAn ndeachaigh sibh chuig an dráma sin?Chuaigh./Ní dheachaigh.Autonomous: chuathas/ní dheachthas

téim; téann tú/sé/sí; téimid; téann sibh/siadAn dtéann tú chuig ceolchoirm ansin riamh?Téim./Ní théim.Autonomous: téitear/ní théitear

rachaidh mé/tú/sé/sí; rachaimid; rachaidh sibh/siadAn rachaidh sibh chuig cúpla féile i rith an tsamhraidh?Rachaidh./Ní rachaidh.Autonomous: rachfar/ní rachfar

rachainn; rachfá; rachadh sé/sí; rachaimis; rachadh sibh; rachaidísAn rachaidís ann dá mbeadh an t-airgead acu?Rachadh./Ní rachadh.Autonomous: rachfaí/ní rachfaí

The Imperative Mood (An Modh Ordaitheach)SingularIn Irish, the root of the verb (the form found in Ó Dónaill’s Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, for example), is the same as the second person singular of the imperative, that is, the form used when giving an order to one person, e.g. imir (play), ceannaigh (buy), ceartaigh (correct).

PluralThe first conjugationThis is how verbs in the first conjugation are changed to the plural (when giving a command to more than one person):

Singular Plural

1. The ending -igí or -aigí is added to the verbs which have only one syllable in their root. bris tóg

brisigítógaigí

breaktake

2. The endings -áil and -áin are broadened and -aigí is added. marcáiltaispeáin

marcálaigítaispeánaigí

markshow

3. In the case of verbs ending in -igh which contain a long vowel, the -igh is replaced by -igí. dóighléigh

dóigíléigí

burnread

4. The short vowel in verbs such as nigh and suigh is lengthened and the -gh ending is replaced by -gí.

nighsuigh

nígísuígí

washsit

Noun Endings in the Genitive Case • The Copula Is General Rules Governing Verbs • The Verb Bí • Regular Verbs Irregular Verbs • The Imperative MoodThe Article and Gender of Nouns • The Vocative Case

The Article and Gender of Nouns (An tAlt agus Inscne Ainmfhocal)

1. There is no equivalent in Irish to the indefinite articles a and an in English, therefore cailín means both girl and a girl.

2. Irish nouns are either masculine or feminine. The beginning of the noun often undergoes a change in the singular when it’s preceded by the article, depending on the gender of the noun and its role in the sentence. The article an is used before both masculine and feminine nouns in the singular.

Nouns in the Singular Preceded by the Article

Masculine nouns (indefinite) Masculine nouns (definite) Feminine nouns (indefinite) Feminine nouns (definite)

Nouns beginning with a vowel easpag bishop

an t-easpagthe bishop

iris magazine

an iristhe magazine

Nouns beginning with a consonant

bainisteoir manager

an bainisteoirthe manager

bean woman

an bheanthe woman

Nouns beginning with s sagart priest

an sagartthe priest

siúr sister (religious)

an tsiúr*the sister (religious)

Nouns beginning with d or tduine persontionscadal project

an duinethe personan tionscadalthe project

deirfiúr sistertine fire

an deirfiúr**the sisteran tine**the fire

*A t cannot be placed before nouns beginning with sc-, sf-, sm-, sp-, st-. **A séimhiú is not added to feminine nouns beginning with d or t in the nominative case.

3. The letters at the end of a noun often give a clue as to the gender of that noun. There are general guidelines in the table below – consult the dictionary if you’re not sure about the gender of a noun.

Masculine nouns Feminine nouns

Endings Examples Endings Examples

-amh cúnamh help trealamh equipment -(a)id sochraid funeral conclúid conclusion

-(a)ire iascaire fisherman ailtire architect -áid earráid error sráid street

-al cainéal channel pobal community -(a)íl feadaíl whistling próifíl profile

-án amhrán song cosán path -áil anáil breath péinteáil painting

-as breithiúnas judgement iarratas application -ailt fuascailt release oscailt opening

-(e)acht* ceacht lesson fuacht cold -aint seachaint avoidance tuiscint understanding

-éad buiséad budget seaicéad jacket -áint taispeáint showing tiomáint driving

-(e)adh geimhreadh winter samhradh summer -(a)íocht*** iomaíocht competition/rivalry filíocht poetry

-éal béal mouth scéal story -(a)irt scairt shout ardchúirt high court

-éar féar grass páipéar paper -chan athbheochan revival beochan animation

-eo ceo fog treo direction -(e)áil próiseáil processing sábháil saving

-éir** báicéir baker siúinéir carpenter -(e)acht*** gluaiseacht movement beannacht blessing

-eoir múinteoir teacher feirmeoir farmer -eog/-óg spideog robin bábóg doll

-ín cailín girl toitín cigarette -ic fisic physics spuaic blister

-(i)ú síniú signature athrú change -il áibhéil exaggeration barúil opinion

-óir ambasadóir ambassador cúntóir assistant -im coiscéim footstep éirim intelligence

-ste coiste committee páiste child -in glúin knee síocháin peace

-úir saighdiúir solider dochtúir doctor -ine glaine cleanness uaine green

-ún botún mistake príosún prison -ip cóip copy teip failure

-úr casúr hammer pictiúr picture -irm gairm occupation stoirm storm

-ús folús vacuum parlús parlour -is/-ís uirlis tool coicís fortnight

-ilt eitilt flight míorúilt miracle

-it geit fright póit hangover

-lann bialann restaurant léachtlann lecture theatre

-óid agóid protest éabhlóid evolution

-úil barúil opinion súil eye

*one-syllable nouns -úint canúint dialect géarleanúint persecution

**in the case of occupations ***multi-syllable nouns

4. The names of countries (e.g. An Astráil, An Fhrainc) and rivers (e.g. An Bhóinn, An tSionainn) are feminine for the most part. Languages (e.g. An Ghaeilge, An Iodáilis) are also feminine. An Béarla (English) is an exception, as it’s a masculine noun.

5. The plural form of the definite article is na. Na has no effect on nouns beginning with a consonant: na boird the tables

When na is placed before a noun beginning with a vowel, an h precedes that noun: na hiarratais the applications

The Genitive Case Singular (An Tuiseal Ginideach Uatha)A noun is in the genitive case when it’s directly preceded by, or when the definite article accompanying it is preceded by, certain words.

Words which are followed by the genitive Nominative case Genitive case

Nouns an t-aire the ministerTomás Tomás

óráid an aire the minister’s speechcarr Thomáis Tomás’ car

Compound prepositions an teach the housean samhradh the summer

os comhair an tí in front of the housei rith an tsamhraidh during the summer

Certain prepositions an chathair the citySéamas Séamasan pháirc the fieldan spéir the sky

chun na cathrach to the citydála Shéamais like Séamastimpeall na páirce around the fieldtrasna na spéire across the sky

Verbal nouns an seomra the rooman múinteoir the teacher

ag glanadh an tseomra cleaning the roomag cáineadh an mhúinteora criticising the teacher

Words used to refer to general quantity airgead moneyeolas information

a lán airgid a lot of moneyníos mó eolais more information

Initial Changes to Masculine Nouns in the Genitive SingularThe table below shows the changes to the beginning of masculine nouns in the genitive case singular.

Nominative case Genitive case

Nouns beginning with a vowel iriseoir (a) journalist an t-iriseoir the journalist

pá iriseora a journalist’s pay pá an iriseora the journalist’s pay

Nouns beginning with a consonant bainisteoir (a) manager an bainisteoir the manager

carr bainisteora a manager’s car carr an bhainisteora the manager’s car

Nouns beginning with s saoririseoir (a) freelance journalist an saoririseoir the freelance journalist

obair saoririseora a freelance journalist’s work obair an tsaoririseora the freelance journalist’s work

Nouns beginning with d or t

duine (a) person an duine the person taispeántas (an) exhibition an taispeántas the exhibition

cearta duine a person’s rightscearta an duine the person’s rights ag moladh taispeántais praising an exhibition ag moladh an taispeántais praising the exhibition

Initial Changes to Feminine Nouns in the Genitive SingularThe table below shows the changes to the beginning of feminine nouns in the genitive case singular.

Nominative case Genitive case

Nouns beginning with a vowel iris (a) journal an iris the journal

teideal irise the title of a journal teideal na hirise the title of the journal

Nouns beginning with a consonant bileog (a) leaflet an bhileog the leaflet

dath bileoige the colour of a leaflet dath na bileoige the colour of the leaflet

Nouns beginning with s sráid (a) street an tsráid the street

ag bun sráide at the bottom of a street ag bun na sráide at the bottom of the street

Nouns beginning with d or t

dánlann (an) art gallery an dánlann the art gallery taithí experience an taithí the experience

oibrithe dánlainne art gallery workers oibrithe na dánlainne the art gallery’s workers i ndiaidh taithí after experiencei ndiaidh na taithí after the experience

The Genitive Case Plural (An Tuiseal Ginideach Iolra)There are two types of plurals in Irish: weak plurals and strong plurals.

Weak pluralsA noun is said to have a weak plural: (a) if the nominative case plural ends in a slender consonant (e.g. -igh, -ill, -in) or (b) if -a is added to the nominative singular to form the nominative plural.Nouns with a weak plural take the same form in the genitive case plural and in the nominative case singular.

Nominative case singular Nominative case plural Genitive case plural

ball member baill members ball members

dualgas duty dualgais duties dualgas duties

cléireach clerk cléirigh clerks cléireach clerks

bileog sheet (of paper) bileoga sheets (of paper) bileog sheets (of paper)

Strong pluralsAny noun that doesn’t have a weak plural has a strong plural. Nouns with a strong plural take the same form in all cases in the plural.

Nominative case singular Nominative case plural Genitive case plural

dlí law dlíthe laws dlíthe laws

institiúid institute institiúidí institutes institiúidí institutes

tuarascáil report tuarascálacha reports tuarascálacha reports

tír country tíortha countries tíortha countries

Eclipsis (Urú)An urú is added to a noun when the definite article na precedes it in the genitive plural.

na bileoga the leaflets ag seoladh na mbileog sending the leaflets

na hinstitiúidí the institutes baill na n-institiúidí the members of the institutes

na tuarascálacha the reports foilsiú na dtuarascálacha the publishing of the reports

In the genitive plural, when an urú is added to a lowercase letter which is a vowel, a hyphen is used. However, when an urú is added to a capital letter which is a vowel, a hyphen is not used.

na hairteagail the articles ag dréachtú na n-airteagal drafting the articles

na hIodálaigh the Italians ionadaithe na nIodálach the Italians’ representatives

na hIniúchóirí the Auditors obair na nIniúchóirí the Auditors’ work

The Copula Is (An Chopail Is)The copula is in Irish corresponds to some uses of the English verb be. Is is usually used to refer to permanent qualities. Bí, on the other hand, is mostly used to refer to temporary qualities and to say where something is or to refer to the state it’s in.

Is Bí

Is dochtúir í. She’s a doctor. Tá an lá go deas. It’s a nice day.

Is mise Brian. I’m Brian. Tá post maith agam. I have a good job.

Is is used:(a) in classification sentences. Is Éireannach é. He’s an Irish person.(b) in identification sentences. Is í Mairéad an rúnaí. Mairéad is the secretary.(c) with the preposition le to refer to ownership. Is le Diarmaid an carr dearg sin. That red car belongs to Diarmaid.(d) to add emphasis. Is uaimse a fuair sé é. It’s from me he got it.

The Copula in the Present Tense, Past Tense and Conditional Mood

The copula in the present tense The copula in the past tense and in the conditional mood*

Before consonants and before fl-, fr-

Before vowels and before fh + a vowel

AffirmativeisIs bean álainn í.She’s a lovely woman.

baBa dhuine aclaí é uair amháin.He was once a fit person.

b’B’iontach an scannán é.It was a great film.

NegativeníNí fear deas é. He’s not a nice man.

níorNíor mháthair rómhaith í.She wasn’t a very good mother.

níorbhNíorbh fhéidir leis teacht.He couldn’t come.

InterrogativeanAn múinteoirí iad? Are they teachers?

arAr mháthair mhaith í?Was she a good mother?

arbhArbh fhearr leat pionta?Would you prefer a pint?

Negative Interrogative

nachNach Francach é? Is he not French?

nárNár mhac léinn anseo é?Was he not a student here?

nárbhNárbh iontach an lá é?Wasn’t it a great day?

Dependent

gur/gurb**Cloisim gur dochtúir maith í. I hear that she’s a good doctor.Deir siad gurb é an duine is fearr sa rang é. They say that he’s the best person in the class.

gurChuala mé gur dhrochdhuine é.I heard he was a bad person.

gurbhMheas mé i gcónaí gurbh eolaí é.I always thought that he was a scientist.

Negative Dependent

nachDeir siad nach múinteoir maith é. They say he’s not a good teacher.

nárDúirt sí nár mhúinteoir maith é.She said he wasn’t a good teacher.

nárbhDúirt sí nárbh athair maith é.She said he wasn’t a good father.

*There is a séimhiú on consonants following past tense and conditional forms of the copula: Ba fhreagra maith é. It was a good answer.

**In the present tense, gurb is used before pronouns (e.g. é, iad) and adjectives beginning with a vowel. Note, however, that gur is usually used before a noun beginning with a vowel: Deir sí gur Astrálach é. She says that he’s an Australian.

Ní prefixes h to the pronouns é, í and iad, as well as to ea and to adjectives: Ní hí Doireann an duine is sine. Doireann is not the eldest.

Ní haoibhinn beatha an scoláire. The scholar’s life is not blissful.

Ba is the form of the copula used before all the pronouns in the past tense: Ba iad na páistí a chonaic é. It was the children who saw him/it.

The Copula Is: Questions and Answers in the Present Tense

(a) When a pronoun (e.g. mé/mise, tú/tusa) follows the interrogative form of the copula (an or nach), the answer must contain a pronoun:

An í Aoife an duine is óige? Is í. Is Aoife the youngest? Yes.

An iadsan na múinteoirí? Is iad*. Are they the teachers? Yes. *Note: The emphatic form of the pronoun (mise, tusa, eisean, etc.) cannot be used in the answer.

(b) When a noun comes between an or nach and the pronoun, however, is ea/ní hea are used in the answer: An meicneoir é Tomás? Is ea./Ní hea. Is Tomás a mechanic? Yes./No.

(c) When a prepositional pronoun (e.g., agat(sa), dúinn(e), leat(sa)) comes directly after an or nach, the same prepositional pronoun is included in the answer: An agatsa atá mo pheann? Ní agam*. Do you have my pen? No. *Note: The emphatic form of the prepositional pronoun cannot be used in the answer.

(d) When an adjective comes directly after an or nach, the same adjective is included in the answer: Nach deas an lá é? Is deas. Isn’t it a nice day? Yes.

The Copula Is: Questions and Answers in the Past Tense and in the Conditional Mood

Definite nouns: Arbh í Ciara an duine ab óige? Was Ciara the youngest? Ba í./Níorbh í. Yes./No.

Indefinite nouns: Ar dhuine deas é? Ba ea./Níorbh ea. Was he a nice person? Yes./No. Nárbh fhearr duit fanacht anseo? B’fhearr./Níorbh fhearr. Would it not be better for you to stay here? Yes./No.

General Rules Governing Verbs (Rialacha Ginearálta maidir le Briathra)Most verbs in Irish are regular. There are only eleven irregular verbs: abair (say), beir (bring/take), bí (be), clois (hear), déan (do/make), faigh (get), feic (see), ith (eat), tabhair (give), tar (come), téigh (go).

Slender with Slender and Broad with Broad (Caol le Caol agus Leathan le Leathan)If a slender vowel comes before a consonant, a slender vowel must usually follow it; but if a broad vowel comes before a consonant, a broad vowel must usually follow it. This rule is known as ‘caol le caol agus leathan le leathan’. feiceáil slender with slender fágáil broad with broad

An important pointA pronoun (mé, tú, sí, etc.) is not used when answering yes or no to questions such as those in the table below – it’s usually incorrect to use a pronoun in such cases. This applies to all the tenses.

Past tense Ar ól tú an sú oráiste ar fad?Did you drink all the orange juice?

D’ól./Níor ól. Yes./No.

Present tense An gceannaíonn sí carr nua gach bliain?Does she buy a new car every year?

Ceannaíonn./Ní cheannaíonn.Yes./No.

Future tense An dtabharfaidh tú airgead dóibh?Will you give them money?

Tabharfaidh./Ní thabharfaidh.Yes./No.

The Verb Bí (An Briathar Bí)The present tense is used to describe something which is true now or always holds true:

Tá mé ag obair mar fhreastalaí i mbialann.

I’m working as a waiter in a restaurant.

The present habitual tense is used in all other cases – to describe events that happen regularly, for example:

Bím sa bhaile gach tráthnóna timpeall a sé a chlog.

I’m home every evening around six o’clock.

Bí (be) is the only verb in Irish which has distinct forms in the present tense and in the present habitual tense.

Regular Verbs (Briathra Rialta)

The first conjugation The second conjugationInterrogative particle

Questions and answers Negative particle Negative interrogative particleBroad

tóg takeSlender

caith spendBroad

ceannaigh buySlender

imir play

The past tense- A séimhiú is added to the initial consonant of the root of the verb, e.g. shiúil mé.- D’ is prefixed to verbs beginning with a vowel or f, and a séimhiú is added to verbs beginning with f, e.g. d’ól siad, d’fhreastail sí.

thóg mé thóg tú thóg séthóg sí thógamarthóg sibh thóg siad

Autonomous:tógadhníor tógadh

chaith mé chaith túchaith séchaith síchaitheamarchaith sibh chaith siad

Autonomous:caitheadhníor caitheadh

cheannaigh mécheannaigh túcheannaigh sécheannaigh sícheannaíomarcheannaigh sibh cheannaigh siad

Autonomous:ceannaíodhníor ceannaíodh

d’imir mé d’imir tú d’imir séd’imir sí d’imríomar d’imir sibh d’imir siad

Autonomous:imríodhníor imríodh

ar + séimhiú

Ar chaith tú an t-airgead ar fad?

Chaith./Níor chaith.

Did you spend all the money?

Yes./No.

níor + séimhiú

Níor chaith mé mórán airgid.

I didn’t spend much money.

nár + séimhiú

Nár thóg tú na taibléid?

Did you not take the tablets?

The present tense- First conjugation: -ann or -eann is placed at the end of the root, e.g. tógann sé.- Second conjugation: -igh in the root is reduced to í and -onn is added, e.g. ceannaíonn sí.

tógaim tógann tú tógann sétógann sí tógaimidtógann sibhtógann siad

Autonomous:tógtarní thógtar

caithim caitheann tú caitheann sécaitheann sí caithimid caitheann sibh caitheann siad

Autonomous:caitearní chaitear

ceannaím ceannaíonn tú ceannaíonn séceannaíonn sí ceannaímidceannaíonn sibh ceannaíonn siad

Autonomous:ceannaítearní cheannaítear

imrím imríonn túimríonn séimríonn sí imrímid imríonn sibh imríonn siad

Autonomous:imrítearní imrítear

an + urú(consonants only)

An gcaitheann sí mórán airgid?

Caitheann./Ní chaitheann.*

Does she spend much money?

Yes./No.

ní + séimhiú

Ní cheannaím irisí rómhinic.

I don’t buy magazines too often.

nach + urú(consonants and vowels)

Nach dtógann tú siúcra?

Do you not take sugar?

Nach n-ólann tú fíon?

Do you not drink wine?

The future tense- First conjugation: -faidh or -fidh is placed at the end of the root, e.g. tógfaidh siad.- Second conjugation: -aigh in the root is replaced by -óidh or -eoidh, e.g. ceannóidh mé.

tógfaidh métógfaidh tútógfaidh sétógfaidh sí tógfaimidtógfaidh sibhtógfaidh siad

Autonomous:tógfarní thógfar

caithfidh mécaithfidh tú caithfidh sécaithfidh sí caithfimid caithfidh sibh caithfidh siad

Autonomous:caithfearní chaithfear

ceannóidh mé ceannóidh tú ceannóidh séceannóidh sí ceannóimidceannóidh sibh ceannóidh siad

Autonomous:ceannófarní cheannófar

imreoidh méimreoidh túimreoidh séimreoidh sí imreoimid imreoidh sibh imreoidh siad

Autonomous:imreofarní imreofar

an + urú(consonants only)

An dtógfaidh tú leat é?

Tógfaidh./Ní thógfaidh.

Will you take it with you?

Yes./No.

ní + séimhiú

Ní cheannóidh mé leabhar dá cuid go deo arís.

I’ll never buy one of her books again.

nach + urú(consonants and vowels)

Nach gcaithfidh tú cóta?

Will you not wear a coat?

Nach n-inseoidh tú bréag?

Will you not tell a lie?

The conditional mood- A séimhiú is added to verbs beginning with a consonant, e.g. thógfainn. - D’ is prefixed to verbs beginning with a vowel or f, and a séimhiú is added to verbs beginning with f, e.g. d’fhágfainn.- D’ is not used after an, ní or nach, e.g. an imeofá ...?

thógfainnthógfá thógfadh séthógfadh sí thógfaimisthógfadh sibhthógfaidís

Autonomous:thógfaíní thógfaí

chaithfinnchaithfeáchaithfeadh séchaithfeadh sí chaithfimischaithfeadh sibh chaithfidís

Autonomous:chaithfíní chaithfí

cheannóinncheannófácheannódh sécheannódh sí cheannóimischeannódh sibhcheannóidís

Autonomous:cheannófaíní cheannófaí

d’imreoinnd’imreofád’imreodh séd’imreodh sí d’imreoimis d’imreodh sibh d’imreoidís

Autonomous:d’imreofaíní imreofaí

an + urú(consonants only)

An gceannófá leabhar dom?

Cheannóinn./Ní cheannóinn.

Would you buy a book for me?

Yes./No.

ní + séimhiú

Ní thógfainn ort é!

I wouldn’t blame you!

nach + urú(consonants and vowels)

Nach gceannófá carr nua?

Would you not buy a new car?

Nach n-imreoidís leat?

Would they not play with you?

*There are two ways to say yes and no in the present tense, first person singular: An gcaitheann tú mórán airgid? Caithim./Ní chaithim. or Caitheann./Ní chaitheann.

ConjugationsVerbs in Irish are divided into two groups or conjugations:

1. The first conjugationOne-syllable verbs such as bris (break), mol (praise) and suigh (sit) and multi-syllable verbs ending in -áil and -áin, such as sábháil (save) and taispeáin (show).

2. The second conjugationThis consists of multi-syllable verbs. Some of them end in -(a)igh, such as ceannaigh (buy), while others end in -il, -ir and -is, such as ceangail (tie), imir (play) and inis (tell).

The second conjugationThis is how verbs in the second conjugation are changed to the plural (the form used to give a command to more than one person):

Singular Plural

1. The ending -igh is changed to -ígí. The ending -aigh is changed to -aígí.

éirigh ceannaigh

éirígí ceannaígí

get upbuy

2. In the case of verbs with more than one syllable in their root, ending in -(a)il, -(a)in, -(a)ir and -(a)is, the -(a)i is left out and -(a)ígí is added to them.

ceangail imir

ceanglaígíimrígí

tie play

The negative form

The negative is formed by placing ná before the affirmative of the verb. Ná prefixes h to initial vowels: Ná bris é! Don’t break it!

Ná habair leis go bhfuil mé anseo. Don’t tell him I’m here.

The irregular verbs

Second person singular Second person plural

abair abair abraigí say, sing

beir beir beirigí bring, take

bí bí bígí be

clois ---------- ---------- hear

déan déan déanaigí do, make

faigh faigh faighigí get

feic feic feicigí see

ith ith ithigí eat

tabhair tabhair tugaigí give

tar tar tagaigí come

téigh téigh téigí go

Using the Dictionary (An Foclóir a Úsáid) It’s essential to use a dictionary when writing in Irish. The main dictionary of the Irish language, Niall Ó Dónaill’s Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, contains a lot of useful grammatical information (the gender of nouns, for example) that will help you write more accurately in the language.

Say you’re about to write the word fuinneog (window), it’ll be preceded by the definite article an and it’ll be in the nominative case. You have a problem, however: you’re unsure whether or not you should add a séimhiú to the f. To solve this particular problem, all you have to do is search for the word in Ó Dónaill’s dictionary.

This is the information you’ll be given:

Since the word is feminine and begins with a consonant, a séimhiú will be added to it:

an fhuinneog the window

You’re told as well what to write in the nominative plural:

na fuinneoga the windows

You’re also told the forms used in the genitive singular and plural:

gloine na fuinneoige the glass of the window (genitive singular) ag ní na bhfuinneog* washing the windows (genitive plural)

*A tilde (~) beside gpl. in the dictionary means that the genitive plural form is the same as the nominative singular form, that is, the headword in the dictionary.

Don’t forget this important point about Ó Dónaill’s dictionary: f. = feminine m. = masculine

Nouns – The Article and Gender (Ainmfhocail – An tAlt agus Inscne)Table of Contents • Using the Dictionary 1Table of C

ontents • Using the D

ictionaryC

lár Á

bhai

r • A

n Fo

clói

r a Ú

sáid

2 4 5 6

An

Tuis

eal G

inid

each

, Uat

ha a

gus

Iolr

a

Table of Contents Clár Ábhair Lch.

Using the Dictionary An Foclóir a Úsáid 1

The Article and Gender of Nouns · The Vocative Case An tAlt agus Inscne Ainmfhocal · An Tuiseal Gairmeach 2

The Genitive Case, Singular and Plural An Tuiseal Ginideach, Uatha agus Iolra 3

Noun Endings in the Genitive Case · The Copula Is Deirí Ainmfhocal sa Tuiseal Ginideach · An Chopail Is 4

General Rules Governing Verbs · The Verb Bí · Regular Verbs Rialacha Ginearálta maidir le Briathra · An Briathar Bí · Briathra Rialta 5

Irregular Verbs · The Imperative Mood Briathra Neamhrialta · An Modh Ordaitheach 6

Pronunciation and Orthography · Months and Days · Location and Motion · Directions

Foghraíocht agus Litriú · Míonna agus Laethanta ·Suíomh agus Gluaiseacht · Na hAirde 7

Adjectives Aidiachtaí 8

Numbers Uimhreacha 9

Personal Pronouns · Prepositional Pronouns ·Possessive Adjectives

Forainmneacha Pearsanta · Forainmneacha Réamhfhoclacha ·Aidiachtaí Sealbhacha 10

Simple Prepositions Réamhfhocail Shimplí 11

Index Innéacs 12

Masculine nouns

A broad consonant at the end of some masculine nouns is made slender.

an t-amhrán the song

deireadh an amhráin the end of the song

-each changes to -igh and -ach changes to -aigh.

an cléireachthe clerkan t-earrach the spring

obair an chléirighthe clerk’s worktús an earraigh the beginning of spring

-eadh changes to -idh and -adh changes to -aidh.

an geimhreadh the winteran cogadh the war

ag deireadh an gheimhridh at the end of wintertar éis an chogaidh after the war

-a is added to some masculine nouns which end in a broad consonant.

fíon winesnámh swimming

buidéal fíona (a) bottle of winelinn snámha (a) swimming pool

Nouns which denote occupations, and which end in -ir, are broadened.

fiaclóir (a) dentistan múinteoir the teacher

pá fiaclóra (a) dentist’s payceartúcháin an mhúinteorathe teacher’s corrections

Nouns which end in -ín or in a vowel remain unchanged.

an cailín the girlan bia the food

cairde an chailín the girl’s friendsblas an bhia the taste of the food

Feminine nouns

-e is added to some feminine nouns which end in a slender consonant.

eaglais (a) churchan tseachtain the week

doras eaglaise the door of a churchag deireadh na seachtaine at the end of the week

The broad consonant at the end of some feminine nouns is made slender and -e is added.

an fhuinneog the window

in aice na fuinneoige beside the window

-each changes to -í and -ach to -aí.

an bhaintreach the widowan ghealach the moon

pinsean na baintrí the widow’s pensionsolas na gealaí the light of the moon

-a is added to nouns which have more than one syllable and which end in -eacht, -acht, -íocht or -aíocht.

an ghluaiseachtthe movementiarracht effortan cháilíocht the qualificationan íocaíocht the payment

baill na gluaiseachta the members of the movementag déanamh iarrachta making an effortag fáil na cáilíochta getting the qualificationag lorg na híocaíochta looking for the payment

The slender consonant at the end of some feminine nouns which have one syllable is made broad and -ach is added.

cáin taxtraein (a) trainbeoir (a) beer

foirmeacha cánach tax formsstáisiún traenach (a) train stationpionta beorach (a) pint of beer

Some feminine nouns which have more than one syllable are syncopated and -each or -ach is added.

litir (a) letter an eochair the key

clúdach litreach (an) envelope poll na heochrach the keyhole

Some nouns which end in a vowel remain unchanged.

an trá the beachan íomhá the image

bóthar na trá the beach roadag forbairt na híomhá developing the image

-n is added to some other nouns which end in a vowel.

an chomharsa the neighbouran mhonarchathe factory

teach na comharsan the neighbour’s housegeataí na monarchan the gates of the factory

Plural Nouns Preceded by the Article

Indefinite Definite

Plural noun beginning with a consonant cailíní girls na cailíní the girls

Plural noun beginning with a vowel éin birds na héin the birds

The vocative case is used when a person is being addressed.

In the vocative case, a séimhiú is added to female names beginning with a consonant.

Nominative case Vocative case

Clár a Chlár

Siobhán a Shiobhán

A séimhiú is also added to masculine names and they’re often slenderised.

Nominative case Vocative case

Cathal a Chathail

Séamas a Shéamais

The Vocative Case (An Tuiseal Gairmeach)

Present tense Present habitual tense

Affirmative Negative Affirmative Negative

táim/tá mé I amtá tú you aretá sé he istá sí she istáimid we aretá sibh you aretá siad they areAutonomous: táthar

nílim/níl mé I am notníl tú you are notníl sé he is notníl sí she is notnílimid we are notníl sibh you are notníl siad they are notAutonomous: níltear

bím I ambíonn tú you are bíonn sé he isbíonn sí she isbímid we arebíonn sibh you arebíonn siad they are Autonomous: bítear

ní bhím I am notní bhíonn tú you are notní bhíonn sé he is notní bhíonn sí she is notní bhímid we are notní bhíonn sibh you are notní bhíonn siad they are notAutonomous: ní bhítear

The Genitive Case Singular: Noun Endings (An Tuiseal Ginideach Uatha: Deirí Ainmfhocal)In Ó Dónaill’s Irish-English dictionary, Foclóir Gaeilge-Béarla, the genitive singular ending of each noun appears beside the abbreviation gs. This guide below will also help you to form the genitive singular.

Irregular Verbs (Briathra Neamhrialta)

The Genitive Case, Singular and Plural 3

Index (Innéacs)

Réam

hfhocail Shim

plí

Foghraíocht agus Litriú • Míonna agus Laethanta • Suíom

h agus Gluaiseacht • N

a hAirde

Aidiachtaí

Forainmneacha Pearsanta • Forainm

neacha Réam

hfhoclacha • A

idiachtaí Sealbhacha

Uim

hreachaPr

onun

ciat

ion

and

Ort

hogr

aphy

• M

onth

s an

d D

ays

• Lo

catio

n an

d M

otio

n •

Dir

ectio

ns

Adj

ectiv

es

Pers

onal

Pro

noun

s •

Prep

ositi

onal

Pro

noun

s •

Poss

essi

ve A

djec

tives

Num

bers

Simple Prepositions before Nouns Beginning with a Consonant

de, do, faoi, mar, ó, roimh, trí

A séimhiú is added to nouns that follow them.

ag, amhail, as, chuig, chun, dar, go, go dtí, le, murach, os, seachas

A séimhiú is not added to nouns that follow them.

ar, gan, idir, thar

A séimhiú is added to nouns that follow them some of the time.*

i/in

I is usually written before consonants and an urú is added to nouns that follow it.The form in is used before vowels.**

Bhí sí ag obair ansin mar fhreastalaí.She was working there as a waitress.

Tháinig an gadaí isteach trí fhuinneog an tí. The thief came in through the window of the house.

Rachaidh mé leat go Corcaigh amárach. I’ll go with you to Cork tomorrow.

Abair le Máirín go raibh mé ag cur a tuairisce.Tell Máirín that I was asking for her.

Séimhiú:Sin leabhar gan mhaith.That book is no good.

No séimhiú:D’fhág sé mé gan pingin rua.He left me penniless.

Tá cónaí uirthi i gCorcaigh anois.She lives in Cork now.

Tá sé ina chónaí in Eochaill anois. He lives in Youghal now.

**In is used in the following cases as well:

tá sibh in bhur gcónaí you (pl) are living in dhá pháirt in two parts in An tSraith ar Lár in An tSraith ar Lár (book title)

In is used before placenames outside Ireland (except for names of countries) of which there is no Irish language version: in San Francisco (in San Francisco) but i mBostún (in Boston)

Simple Prepositions before Nouns Beginning with a Vowel

go, le

An h is placed before nouns beginning with a vowel which follow them.

ag, amhail, ar, as, chuig, chun, dar, faoi, gan, idir, in, mar, murach, ó, roimh, seachas, trí, um

Nouns beginning with a vowel which follow them remain unchanged.

de, do

These prepositions are contracted before a vowel or fh + a vowel.

Bhuail mé le hAnna inné.I met Anna yesterday.

Chuaigh sí go hAontroim don deireadh seachtaine.She went to Antrim for the weekend.

Ghlaoigh mé ar úinéir an árasáin.I called the owner of the apartment.

Tá sí ina cónaí in Éirinn le bliain anois.She’s been living in Ireland for a year now.

Thug sí grianghraf d’Anna dom.She gave me a photograph of Anna.

Thug sí cupán tae d’fhear an phoist.She gave the postman a cup of tea.

Simple Prepositions and the Article (Réamhfhocail Shimplí agus an tAlt)This is a list of simple prepositions with the definite article singular:ag an (at the), ar an (on the), as an (from the), chuig an (to the), den (of the), don (for the), faoin (under/about the), leis an (with the), ón (from the), roimh an (before the), sa(n) (in the), thar an (over/past the), tríd an (through the), um an (at/about the)

Group 1ag an, ar an, as an, chuig an, faoin, leis an, ón, roimh an, thar an, tríd an

An urú is added to the consonants b, c, f, g, p.

An urú is not added to the consonants d, t.

The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) remain unchanged.

ag anat the

ag an mbus at the bus

ag an dochtúir at the doctor

ag an óstán at the hotel

ar anon the

ar an gcathaoir on the chair

ar an túr on the tower

ar an urláron the floor

as anfrom the

as an bportachfrom the bog

as an doirteal from the sink

as an Eoraip from Europe

chuig anto the

chuig an ngarda to the guard

chuig an timpiste to the accident

chuig an urlabhraí to the spokesperson

faoinunder the/about the

faoin bhfuinneog under the window

faoin doras under the door

faoin uisce under the water

leis anwith the

leis an ngaoth with the wind

leis an toghchán with the election

leis an úinéir with the owner

ónfrom the

ón bhfreastalaí from the waiter

ón deachtóir from the dictator

ón aiste from the essay

roimh anbefore the

roimh an gcruinniú before the meeting

roimh an tógálaí before the builder

roimh an Aoine before Friday

thar anover the/past the

thar an mballa over the wall

thar an doras past the door

thar an uisce over the water

tríd anthrough the

tríd an bpáirc through the field

tríd an teach through the house

tríd an ollscoil through the university

Nouns beginning with sAfter a preposition and article, t is placed before feminine nouns beginning with s + vowel or beginning with sl-, sn- or sr-:

Masculine Feminine

chuig an sagart to the priest chuig an tsiúr to the sister (religious order)

ar an seanfhear on the old man ar an tseanbhean on the old woman

roimh an samhradh before the summer roimh an tsochraid before the funeral

sa siopa in the shop sa tsráid in the street

*A séimhiú is added to nouns that follow ar, gan, idir, thar some of the time:

ar on

(a) Ar is followed by a séimhiú when a specific location is referred to: Bhí an geansaí nua ar Phádraig inniu. Pádraig had the new jumper on today. Bhí sé thuas ar bharr an tí. He was up on the top of the house.(b) There is no séimhiú after ar: - when a general location is referred to: ar muir (at sea), ar bord (on board) - when a state or condition is referred to: ar ceal (cancelled), ar meisce (drunk) - when time is referred to: ar ball (in a while), ar maidin (in the morning)

gan without

(a) There is a séimhiú on nouns beginning with b, c, g, m, p after gan: gan chead (without permission)(b) There is no séimhiú on the consonants d, f, s, t after gan: gan sos (without a break) Exceptions: gan fhios (unknowingly), gan fháil (inaccessible) (c) There is no séimhiú on a noun after gan if it’s followed by an adjective, sub-clause or proper noun: gan phingin (penniless) but gan pingin rua (without a red cent) gan bhriseadh (without a break) but gan briseadh ar bith a fháil (without getting any break) gan Máire (without Máire)

idir between/both

(a) A séimhiú follows idir when it means ‘among’ or ‘both’ or when there is a list: Bhí idir bhuachaillí agus chailíní i láthair. (There were both boys and girls present.)(b) A séimhiú does not follow idir when space or time is referred to: idir Baile Átha Cliath agus Corcaigh (between Dublin and Cork) idir meán lae agus meán oíche (between midday and midnight)

thar over/past

(a) A séimhiú follows thar sometimes, particularly when it’s followed by a proper noun or a definite noun: Shiúil sí thar Pheadar gan labhairt leis. (She walked past Peadar without speaking to him.) Chuaigh an piléar thar cheann Thomáis. (The bullet went over Tomás’ head.)(b) There is no séimhiú after thar when it’s followed by an indefinite noun which is not qualified and has a general meaning: An mbeidh tú ag dul thar bráid? (Will you be passing by?) Tá mé ag labhairt thar ceann an choiste anseo anocht. (I’m speaking on behalf of the committee here tonight.)

Group 2den, don , sa

A séimhiú is added to the consonants b, c, f, g, m, p.

A séimhiú is not added to the consonants d, t.

The vowels (a, e, i, o, u)remain unchanged.

denof the

den mhí of the month

den téarma of the term

den óstán of the hotel

donfor the

don bhainisteoir for the manager

don deartháir for the brother

don aiste for the essay

sain the – before consonants

sa ghairdín in the garden

sa taighde in the research _

san in the - before vowels and f + a vowel

_ _san óstán in the hotelsan fhuinneog in the window

Simple Prepositions and the Plural Article (Réamhfhocail Shimplí agus an tAlt san Uimhir Iolra)

This is a list of simple prepositions with the definite article plural:ag na (at the), ar na (on the), as na (from the), chuig na (to the), de na (of the), do na (for the), faoi na (under/about the), ó na (from the), leis na (with the), roimh na (before the), sna (in the), thar na (over/past the), trí na (through the), um na (at/around the).

Consonants remain unchanged. An h is placed before nouns beginning with a vowel.

Simple Preposition + na

chuig na bainisteoirí to the managersleis na fir with the men

leis na hógánaigh with the youthsleis na húinéirí with the owners

Personal Pronouns (Forainmneacha Pearsanta)The words below are called personal pronouns; they’re used in sentences in place of a noun and refer to a person or a thing without naming it.

In English, pronouns can be stressed in speech: Tomás: I’m going to Cork tomorrow. Áine: I’m going there as well.

Pronouns cannot be stressed in Irish, however – it’s incorrect to do so. In Irish, you must use the emphatic form of the pronoun: Tomás: Tá mé ag dul go Corcaigh amárach. Áine: Tá mise (or Táimse) ag dul ansin freisin.

Pronoun Emphatic form

I, me mé mise

you tú tusa

he/him/it sé/é* seisean/eisean*

she/her/it sí/í* sise/ise*

we/us sinn/muid sinne/muidne

you sibh sibhse

they/them siad/iad* siadsan/iadsan*

*É/eisean (he/him/it), í/ise (she/her/it) and iad/iadsan (they/them) are used when the pronoun is the object in a sentence or a phrase: Chonaic sé í inné. He saw her yesterday. Chuala sí iad ag caint. She heard them talking.

In a question, when the copula is followed by an emphatic form of a personal pronoun, an emphatic form can’t be used in the answer: An tusa an duine is sine sa chlann? Are you the eldest in the family? Ní mé. No.

Prepositional Pronouns (Forainmneacha Réamhfhoclacha)

1st singular 2nd singular 3rd singular (masc.)

3rd singular(fem.) 1st plural 2nd plural 3rd plural

ag at agam agat aige aici againn agaibh acu

ar on orm ort air uirthi orainn oraibh orthu

as from asam asat as aisti asainn asaibh astu

chuig to chugam chugat chuige chuici chugainn chugaibh chucu

de of díom díot de di dínn díbh díobh

do for dom duit dó di dúinn daoibh dóibh

faoi under fúm fút faoi fúithi fúinn fúibh fúthu

i in ionam ionat ann inti ionainn ionaibh iontu

idir between eadrainn eadraibh eatarthu

le with liom leat leis léi linn libh leo

ó from uaim uait uaidh uaithi uainn uaibh uathu

roimh before romham romhat roimhe roimpi romhainn romhaibh rompu

thar over/past tharam tharat thairis thairsti tharainn tharaibh tharstu

trí through tríom tríot tríd tríthi trínn tríbh tríothu

Useful sentences

ag Tá súile gorma aici. She has blue eyes.

ar

Tá gruaig fhionn air. Tá ocras/tart orm.Tá áthas/díomá/brón/náire orthu.Tá tinneas cinn air. Tá biseach air. Tá cáil uirthi. Tháinig sé aniar aduaidh orm. Theip uirthi sa scrúdú.

He has blond hair.I’m hungry/thirsty.They’re happy/disappointed/sorry/ashamed.He has a headache.He has recovered.She’s famous.It took me by surprise.She failed the exam.

as Tá Bríd freagrach as anois. Bríd is responsible for him/it now.

chuig Chuir mé litir chuici. I sent her a letter.

de Tá mé an-bhuíoch díot. I’m very grateful to you.

do Bheannaigh mé di. Rinne sí gar dom.

I greeted her.She did me a favour.

faoiBhí fuadar fúthu. Tá sí imníoch faoi. Bhí siad ag magadh faoi (or air).

They were in a rush.She’s worried about him/it.They were making fun of him/it.

idir Thosaigh troid eatarthu. A fight started between them.

le Bhuail mé leis inné. Thaitin an scannán liom.

I met him yesterday.I liked the film.

ó Braithim uaim go mór í. Fuair mé litir uaithi.

I really miss her.I received a letter from her.

Possessive Adjectives (Aidiachtaí Sealbhacha)

Before consonants Before vowelsmy mo + séimhiú mo dheartháir my brother m’ m’uncail my uncleyour do + séimhiú do dheartháir your brother d’ d’uncail your unclehis a + séimhiú a dheartháir his brother a a uncail his uncleher a a deartháir her brother a a huncail her uncleour ár + urú ár ndeartháir our brother ár + urú ár n-uncail our uncleyour (pl.) bhur + urú bhur ndeartháir your brother bhur + urú bhur n-uncail your uncletheir a + urú a ndeartháir their brother a + urú a n-uncail their uncle

In the first and second person singular, m’ and d’ are used before fh + a vowel: m’fhiacla my teeth d’fhuinneog your window

Notice, however, that mo and do are used before fh + a consonant: mo fhleasc my flask do fhreagra your answer

Emphatic FormsIn English, possessive adjectives can be stressed in speech: Tomás: Is that my book or your book?

Possessive adjectives cannot be stressed in Irish, however – it’s incorrect to do so. You must instead add an emphatic suffix to the noun: Tomás: An é sin mo leabharsa nó do leabharsa? Tomás: Is that my book or your book?

After a slender consonant e.g. máthair

After a broad consonante.g. teach

mo my + -se mo mháthairse my mother + -sa mo theachsa my housedo your + -se do mháthairse your mother + -sa do theachsa your housea his + -sean a mháthairsean his mother + -san a theachsan his housea her + -se a máthairse her mother + -sa a teachsa her houseár our + -ne ár máthairne our mother + -na ár dteachna our housebhur your (pl.) + -se bhur máthairse your mother + -sa bhur dteachsa your housea their + -sean a máthairsean their mother + -san a dteachsan their house

Possessive Adjectives and Prepositions (Aidiachtaí Sealbhacha agus Réamhfhocail)

This is what happens when the prepositions de, do, faoi, i, le, ó, trí precede possessive adjectives: do/de + a = dá do/de + ár = dár Thug mé tacaíocht dá fheachtas. I supported his campaign. Thug mé tacaíocht dá feachtas. I supported her campaign. Thug mé tacaíocht dár bhfeachtas. I supported our campaign. Thug mé tacaíocht dá bhfeachtas. I supported their campaign. faoi + a = faoina faoi + ár = faoinár i + a = ina i + ár = inár le + a = lena le + ár = lenár ó + a = óna ó + ár = ónár trí + a = trína trí + ár = trínár

a (his) a (her) ár (our) a (their)Nouns beginning with a consonant ... are lenited. ... remain

unchanged. ... are eclipsed. ... are eclipsed.

Bhí mé ag caint lena chara.

I was talking to his friend.

Bhí mé ag caint lena cara.

I was talking to her friend.

Bhí mé ag caint lenár gcara.

I was talking to our friend.

Bhí mé ag caint lena gcara.

I was talking to their friend.

Nouns beginning with a vowel

... remain unchanged.

... are preceded by h. ... are eclipsed. ... are eclipsed.

Bhí mé ag caint lena uncail.

I was talking to his uncle.

Bhí mé ag caint lena huncail.

I was talking to her uncle.

Bhí mé ag caint lenár n-uncail.

I was talking to our uncle.

Bhí mé ag caint lena n-uncail.

I was talking to their uncle.

Cónaí, Suí and Seasamh

Cónaí Suí Seasamh

mé tá mé i mo chónaíI live ...

tá mé i mo shuíI am seated ...

tá mé i mo sheasamhI am standing ...

tú tá tú i do chónaí tá tú i do shuí tá tú i do sheasamhsé tá sé ina chónaí tá sé ina shuí tá sé ina sheasamhsí tá sí ina cónaí tá sí ina suí tá sí ina seasamhsinn/muid táimid inár gcónaí táimid inár suí táimid inár seasamhsibh tá sibh in bhur gcónaí tá sibh in bhur suí tá sibh in bhur seasamhsiad tá siad ina gcónaí tá siad ina suí tá siad ina seasamh

Location vs. MotionDifferent words precede suí and seasamh depending on whether location or motion is being described.

Location MotionBhí sí ina suí in aice leis an stáitse. She was sitting beside the stage.

Bhí sí ag suí síos nuair a chonaic sí é. She was sitting down when she saw him.

Tá sé ina sheasamh thall ansin in aice leis an doras. He’s standing over there beside the door.

Bhuail mé mo cheann ar an lampa agus mé ag seasamh suas. I hit my head on the lamp as I was standing up.

There are four types of numbers in Irish and there are different rules for each type.

Cardinal Numbers (Bunuimhreacha)The numbers below are used for counting and are not followed by a noun.

0 a náid 10 a deich 20 fiche 30 tríocha 700 seacht gcéad

1 a haon 11 a haon déag 21 fiche a haon 40 daichead/ceathracha 800 ocht gcéad

2 a dó 12 a dó dhéag 22 fiche a dó 50 caoga/leathchéad 900 naoi gcéad

3 a trí 13 a trí déag 23 fiche a trí 60 seasca 1,000 míle

4 a ceathair 14 a ceathair déag 24 fiche a ceathair 70 seachtó 2,000 dhá mhíle

5 a cúig 15 a cúig déag 25 fiche a cúig 80 ochtó 7,000 seacht míle

6 a sé 16 a sé déag 26 fiche a sé 90 nócha 10,000 deich míle

7 a seacht 17 a seacht déag 27 fiche a seacht 100 céad 100,000 céad míle

8 a hocht 18 a hocht déag 28 fiche a hocht 200 dhá chéad 1,000,000 milliún

9 a naoi 19 a naoi déag 29 fiche a naoi 600 sé chéad 1,000,000,000 billiún

Cardinal Numbers + Nouns (Bunuimhreacha + Ainmfhocail)In Irish, there are two separate systems for counting people and things. This is how you count things - tables, for example:

1. bord amháin 11. aon bhord déag 2. dhá bhord 12. dhá bhord déag 3. trí bhord 13. trí bhord déag 4. ceithre bhord 14. ceithre bhord déag 5. cúig bhord 15. cúig bhord déag 6. sé bhord 16. sé bhord déag 7. seacht mbord 17. seacht mbord déag 8. ocht mbord 18. ocht mbord déag 9. naoi mbord 19. naoi mbord déag 10. deich mbord 20. fiche bord

Consonants Vowels

1A séimhiú is added to consonants that follow aon, except d, s, t.

aon charr amháin orcarr amháin one car

aon óstán amháin or óstán amháin one hotel

2 – 6A séimhiú is added to consonants that follow 2-6.

dhá charr two carscúig dheoch five drinks

trí óstán three hotelssé aiste six essays

7 – 10An urú is added to consonants (except s) and to vowels that follow 7-10.

seacht gcarr seven carsocht gcóta eight coatsdeich gcathaoirten chairs

naoi n-oíche nine nightsocht n-óstán eight hotelsdeich n-úrscéal ten novels

The nominative singular is usually used after numbers: dhá chat two cats seacht n-éan seven birds

The forms dhá and ceithre are used when counting things: a dó but dhá chupán two but two cups a ceathair but ceithre phláta four but four plates

Nouns with special plural forms

A special plural form is used in the case of the nouns below when they’re preceded by certain cardinal numbers:

1 2 3-6 7-10

bliain (a) year aon bhliain amháin bhliain bliana mbliana

ceann one of something aon cheann amháin cheann cinn gcinn

orlach (an) inch aon orlach amháin orlach horlaí n-orlaí

seachtain (a) week aon seachtain amháin sheachtain* seachtaine seachtaine

troigh (a) foot aon troigh amháin throigh troithe dtroithe

uair (an) hour/time aon uair amháin uair huaire n-uaire

*Dhá sheachtain isn’t said or written too often – the word coicís (fortnight) is usually used to translate two weeks.

Déag

A séimhiú is added to the word déag (-teen) when it’s preceded by a noun ending in a vowel: trí bhosca dhéag thirteen boxes seacht n-oíche dhéag seventeen nights but cúig chathaoir déag fifteen chairs ocht bhfoireann déag eighteen teams

This rule does not apply in the case of the nouns above which have special plural forms or in the case of nouns which follow ordinal numbers. The form déag is always used in those cases: ceithre bliana déag fourteen years an tríú lá déag the thirteenth day

Personal Numerals (Uimhreacha Pearsanta)As mentioned above, there are two separate systems for counting people and things in Irish. This is the system for counting people from 1-10: duine amháin one person beirt two people triúr three people ceathrar four people cúigear five people seisear six people seachtar seven people ochtar eight people naonúr nine people deichniúr ten people

The words duine/daoine (person/people) cannot be used with the personal numerals beirt –deichniúr.

The same system is used to count 11+ people as is used to count objects: aon duine dhéag eleven people dhá dhuine dhéag/dháréag twelve people trí dhuine dhéag thirteen people ceithre dhuine dhéag fourteen people cúig dhuine dhéag fifteen people sé dhuine dhéag sixteen people seacht nduine dhéag seventeen people ocht nduine dhéag eighteen people naoi nduine dhéag nineteen people fiche duine twenty people duine is fiche twenty-one people ceithre dhuine is tríocha thirty-four people sé dhuine is caoga fifty-six people céad duine a hundred people

Ordinal numbers (Orduimhreacha)

Nouns beginning with a vowel

Nouns beginning with a consonant (other than d, t, s)

Nouns beginning with d, t or s

1st an chéad áitthe first place

an chéad bhliain the first year

an chéad duine the first person

2nd an dara háit an dara bliain an dara teach the second house

3rd an tríú háit an tríú bliain an tríú seomrathe third room

4th an ceathrú háit an ceathrú bliain an ceathrú duine

5th an cúigiú háit an cúigiú bliain an cúigiú teach

6th an séú háit an séú bliain an séú seomra

7th an seachtú háit an seachtú bliain an seachtú duine

8th an t-ochtú háit an t-ochtú bliain an t-ochtú teach

9th an naoú háit an naoú bliain an naoú seomra

10th an deichiú háit an deichiú bliain an deichiú duine

11th an t-aonú háit déag an t-aonú bliain déag an t-aonú teach déag

12th an dara háit déag an dara bliain déag an dara seomra déag

13th an tríú háit déag an tríú bliain déag an tríú duine déag

14th an ceathrú háit déag an ceathrú bliain déag an ceathrú teach déag

15th an cúigiú háit déag an cúigiú bliain déag an cúigiú seomra déag

16th an séú háit déag an séú bliain déag an séú duine déag

17th an seachtú háit déag an seachtú bliain déag an seachtú teach déag

18th an t-ochtú háit déag an t-ochtú bliain déag an t-ochtú seomra déag

19th an naoú háit déag an naoú bliain déag an naoú duine déag

20th an fichiú háit an fichiú bliain an fichiú teach

21st an t-aonú háit is fiche an t-aonú bliain is fiche an t-aonú seomra is fiche

22nd an dara háit is fiche an dara bliain is fiche an dara duine is fiche

23rd an tríú háit is fiche an tríú bliain is fiche an tríú teach is fiche

30th an tríochadú háit an tríochadú bliain an tríochadú seomra

40th an daicheadú háit an daicheadú bliain an daicheadú duine

50th an caogadú háit an caogadú bliain an caogadú teach

60th an seascadú háit an seascadú bliain an seascadú seomra

70th an seachtódú háit an seachtódú bliain an seachtódú duine

80th an t-ochtódú háit an t-ochtódú bliain an t-ochtódú teach

90th an nóchadú háit an nóchadú bliain an nóchadú seomra

100th an céadú háit an céadú bliain an céadú duine

Adjectives are words used to describe nouns or pronouns, or to give more information about them. In Irish, they generally follow the noun and agree with it in gender, number and case.

A séimhiú is added to an adjective when it qualifies a feminine noun in the nominative, accusative and vocative cases singular.

A masculine noun + an adjective A feminine noun + an adjective

lá maith (a) good day oíche mhaith (a) good night

cúrsa deacair (a) difficult course obair dheacair difficult work

Adjectives in the Plural

If the noun is in the plural, the adjective which qualifies it must also be in the plural.

Singular Plural

ceist dheacair (a) difficult question ceisteanna deacra difficult questions

Information is given below about forming the plural of various types of adjectives.

Singular Plural

Add... -a to adjectives ending in a broad consonant in the singular

teach mór (a) big house

tithe móra big houses

Add... -e to adjectives ending in a slender consonant in the singular

guth binn (a) sweet voice

guthanna binne sweet voices

Change... -úil to -úladuine suimiúil (an) interesting person

daoine suimiúla interesting people

Change... -air to -ra lá deacair (a) difficult day

laethanta deacra difficult days

Don’t change...

Exceptions:

adjectives ending in a vowel in the singular

Te changes to teo in the plural.Breá changes to breátha in the plural.

cóta buí (a) yellow coat

oíche the (a) warm nightduine breá (a) fine person

cótaí buí yellow coats

oícheanta teo warm nightsdaoine breátha fine people

Séimhiú in the Plural

In the plural, a séimhiú is added to an adjective when it follows a noun which ends in a slender consonant (e.g. -igh, -in, -ir): na teaghlaigh bheaga the small families turais dheacra difficult journeys amhráin dheasa nice songs

Adjectives which are Syncopated in the Plural

Singular Pluralaoibhinn aoibhne lovelybodhar bodhra deafdaingean daingne securedeacair deacra difficultdomhain doimhne deepfolamh folmha emptyíseal ísle lowláidir láidre strongmilis milse sweetramhar ramhra fatrighin righne stubbornsaibhir saibhre richsleamhain sleamhna slipperysocair socra calmuasal uaisle noble

Adjectives which come before the Noun

In Irish most adjectives follow the noun. Sean- (old) and droch- (bad, poor, evil) are exceptions, however – they precede the noun. Vowels that follow them remain unchanged, but a séimhiú is added to most consonants.

Nouns beginning with a vowel remain unchanged

A séimhiú is added to nouns beginning with a consonant

seanéadaí old clothes seanfhear (an) old man

drochíde bad treatment drochdhuine (a) bad person

When sean- precedes a noun, a séimhiú is added to that noun if it begins with one of the consonants b, c, f, g, m or p:

cóta (a) coat seanchóta (an) old coat

mála (a) bag seanmhála (an) old bag

However, if sean- precedes a noun beginning with d, n, t, l or s, there is no séimhiú on that noun:

duine (a) person seanduine (an) old person

teach (a) house seanteach (an) old house

The Prefixes an- and ró-

A séimhiú is added to consonants (except d, t, s) after an- (very); vowels remain unchanged. There is always a hyphen after an-.

A séimhiú is added to the consonants (except d, t, s)

A séimhiú is not added to the consonants d, t, s

The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) remain unchanged

an-mhaith very good

an-deas/an-te/an-saibhir very nice/very hot/very rich

an-óg very young

A séimhiú is added to consonants which follow ró- (too); vowels remain unchanged.

There is always a hyphen between ró- and a vowel; there is usually no hyphen between ró- and a consonant.

A séimhiú is added to consonants The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) remain unchanged

rómhaith too good ró-óg too young

ródheas too nice ró-ard too tall

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Chomh is used when people or things are being compared: Tá Gearóid chomh sean le Bríd. Gearóid is as old as Bríd.

An h is prefixed to the initial vowel of an adjective which follows chomh and the initial vowel of a noun which follows le: Níl Dónall chomh hóg le hÉabha. Dónall is not as young as Éabha.

The words níos ... ná are used to make a comparison between two people or two things: Tá Siobhán níos sine ná Dónall. Siobhán is older than Dónall.

The word is is used before the superlative form of the adjective: Is í Andrea an duine is sine sa rang. Andrea is the eldest in the class.

Adjectives have the same form in the comparative and the superlative.

After níos / is:

There is no change to adjectives ending in a vowel:

buí yellow

Exceptions: breá fine

fada long

te warm

níos buí more yellowis buí most yellowExceptions: níos breátha finer is breátha finestníos faide longeris faide longestníos teo warmeris teo warmest

Adjectives ending in a broad consonant are made slender and -e is added to them:

daor expensive

bán white

níos daoire more expensiveis daoire most expensive

níos báine whiteris báine whitest

Other changes -úil to -úla:

-each to -í:

-ach to -aí:

-air to -ra:

-íoch to -íche:

suimiúil interesting

aisteach strange

tábhachtach important

deacair difficult

iomaíoch competitive

níos suimiúla more interesting is suimiúla most interestingníos aistí strangeris aistí strangestníos tábhachtaí more importantis tábhachtaí most importantníos deacra more difficultis deacra most difficultníos iomaíche more competitive is iomaíche most competitive

Irregular Adjectives

Comparative Superlativeálainn beautiful níos áille more beautiful is áille most beautiful beag small níos lú smaller is lú smallestbreá fine níos breátha finer is breátha finestdian strict níos déine stricter is déine strictestfada long níos faide longer is faide longestfliuch wet níos fliche wetter is fliche wettestfurasta easy níos fusa easier is fusa easiestgearr short níos giorra shorter is giorra shortestleathan wide níos leithne wider is leithne widestmaith good níos fearr better is fearr bestmór big níos mó bigger is mó biggestolc bad níos measa worse is measa worstramhar fat níos raimhre fatter is raimhre fattestsaibhir rich níos saibhre richer is saibhre richestte warm níos teo warmer is teo warmesttréan strong níos treise stronger is treise strongest

Pronunciation and Orthography • Months and Days • Location and Motion • Directions7Adjectives8Numbers9Personal Pronouns • Prepositional Pronouns • Possessive Adjectives 10Simple Prepositions

Sim

ple

Prep

ositi

ons

11

Trí is used before nouns and with the plural form of the definite article:

trí fhuinneog an tí through the window of the house

Rith siad trí na páirceanna. They ran through the fields.

Tríd is used with the singular definite article - it’s incorrect to use it with the plural definite article (na).

Thiomáin mé tríd an mbaile. I drove through the town. but Thiomáin mé trí na sráideanna. I drove through the streets.

Lenition and Eclipsis (Séimhiú agus Urú)

The beginning of a word in Irish can often undergo a change in sound when it’s preceded by a certain word, such as a preposition (e.g. ar, do) or a possessive adjective (mo, do, etc.). One change is called lenition (séimhiú in Irish) and the other eclipsis (urú in Irish).

A séimhiú changes the sound of a consonant and this is shown in written Irish by placing an h after the consonant.

An urú also changes the sound of a letter to that of a different letter. The new sound is written in front of the one that it replaces or ‘eclipses’.

This table shows the changes undergone by consonants to which séimhiú and urú can be added.

Consonant With séimhiú With urúb bh mbc ch gcd dh ndf fh bhfg gh ngm mh no urúp ph bps sh no urút th dt

Short and Long Vowels

Short vowel Long vowelpaiste patch

páiste child

Broad and Slender Consonants (Consain Leathana agus Consain Chaola)

Every consonant in Irish can be either slender or broad.If either of the vowels e or i comes before or after a consonant, it is said to be a slender consonant. Fraincis The s is a slender consonant because it’s preceded by the letter i. líne The l is a slender consonant because it’s followed by the letter i. If one of the vowels a, o or u comes before or after a consonant, it’s said to be a broad consonant.

bóthar The r is a broad consonant because it’s preceded by the letter a. lón The l is a broad consonant because it’s followed by the letter o.

Broad consonant(preceded or followed by one of

the vowels a, o, u)

Slender consonant(preceded or followed by either

of the vowels i or e)airgead money

roinnt airgid some money

Slender with Slender and Broad with Broad (Caol le Caol agus Leathan le Leathan)

When a consonant comes between two vowels, both vowels will usually be either slender or broad. Broad and slender are not usually found together. If a slender vowel comes before a consonant, a slender vowel usually follows it; but if a broad vowel comes before a consonant, a broad vowel usually follows it. This rule is known as ‘caol le caol agus leathan le leathan’. feiceáil slender with slender fágáil broad with broad

Pronunciation and Orthography (Foghraíocht agus Litriú)

Months and Days (Míonna agus Laethanta)

This is how the months appear on the calendar:

This is how the months are referred to in everyday speech:

Eanáir January mí Eanáir the month of January

Feabhra February mí Feabhra the month of February

Márta March mí an Mhárta the month of March

Aibreán April mí Aibreáin the month of April

Bealtaine May mí na Bealtaine the month of May

Meitheamh June mí an Mheithimh the month of June

Iúil July mí Iúil the month of July

Lúnasa August mí Lúnasa the month of August

Meán Fómhair September mí Mheán Fómhair the month of September

Deireadh Fómhair October mí Dheireadh Fómhair the month of October

Samhain November mí na Samhna the month of November

Nollaig December mí na Nollag the month of December

Location and Motion (Suíomh agus Gluaiseacht)

The adverbs síos, thíos, aníos are normally used to refer to something that is below where the speaker is.The adverbs suas, thuas, anuas are normally used to refer to something that is above where the speaker is.

Movement away from the speaker Location, stationary Movement towards the speaker

síos downChuaigh sí síos. She went down.

thíos downBhí mé thíos san íoslach. I was down in the basement.

aníos up (from below) Tháinig sí aníos. She came up.

suas upChuaigh sé suas. He went up.

thuas upBhí sé thuas san áiléar. He was up in the attic.

anuas down (from above) Tháinig sé anuas. He came down.

sall/anonn over/to the far sideChuaigh mé sall/anonn. I went over/to the far side.

thall over/beyond Bhí mé thall. I was over.

anall over (from the far side)Tháinig siad anall. They came over.

abhus hereTá mé abhus anseo. I’m over here/on this side.

isteach in Chuaigh sé isteach. He went in.

istigh in/inside Bhí sé istigh. He was inside.

amach out Tháinig sé amach. He came out.

amach outChuaigh sí amach. She went out.

amuigh out/outsideBhí sí amuigh. She was outside.

isteach inTháinig sí isteach. She came in.

Directions (Na hAirde)Noun Movement Location Coming from a location

an tuaisceart the north ó thuaidh to the north/northwards thuaidh in the north aduaidh from the north

an deisceart the south ó dheas to the south/southwards theas in the south aneas from the south

an t-oirthear the east soir to the east/eastwards thoir in the east anoir from the east

an t-iarthar the west siar to the west/westwards thiar in the west aniar from the west

This is how the days of the week are named:

Dé* is used when a particular day is being referred to:

an Luan Monday Dé Luain on Monday

an Mháirt Tuesday Dé Máirt on Tuesday

an Chéadaoin Wednesday Dé Céadaoin on Wednesday

an Déardaoin Thursday Déardaoin** on Thursday

an Aoine Friday Dé hAoine on Friday

an Satharn Saturday Dé Sathairn on Saturday

an Domhnach Sunday Dé Domhnaigh on Sunday

Inniu an Aoine. Today is Friday. Feicfidh mé tú Dé hAoine. I’ll see you on Friday.

*Note that the nouns are in the genitive case following Dé.**Dé is already incorporated into Déardaoin.

adjectives, 8agreementplural formsséimhiú in the pluraladjectives which are syncopated in the pluraladjectives which come before the nounthe prefixes an- and ró-comparative and superlative formsirregular adjectives

adverbs, 7days of the weekof motion and positioncardinal directions

an- (very), 8

articles, 2lack of indefinite articleinitial changes after the articlecountries and languagessingular and plural forms

autonomous forms of the verb, 5, 6

bí, 5, 6present tense, affirmative and negative, 5, 6present habitual tense, affirmative and negative, 5

cardinal numbers, 9

cardinal numbers + nounsnouns with special plural formsdéag

comparisons, 8 conditional mood, 5, 6

regular verbs, 5autonomous forms, 5, 6questions and answers, 5, 6negative particle (ní), 5, 6negative interrogative particle (nach), 5irregular verbs, 6

consonants, 7broad and slender

copula, 4present tensequestions and answerspast tense and conditional mood

countries, 2preceded by the article

days of the week, 7

directions, 7movementlocation

droch- (bad, evil), 8

eclipsis (see urú)

future tense, 5, 6regular verbs, 5first conjugation, 5second conjugation, 5autonomous forms, 5, 6questions and answers, 5, 6negative particle (ní), 5, 6negative interrogative particle (nach), 5irregular verbs, 6

genitive case, 3, 4words which are followed by the genitive, 3changes to the beginning of masculine nouns, 3changes to the beginning of feminine nouns, 3genitive case plural (weak plurals), 3genitive case plural (strong plurals), 3urú in the genitive plural, 3noun endings in the genitive case, 4

imperative mood, 6singularpluralfirst conjugationsecond conjugationnegative formirregular verbs

lenition (see séimhiú)

location, 7

months, 7preceded by the noun mí

motion, 7

nouns, 2, 3, 4preceded by the article, 2masculine and feminine, 2countries, rivers and languages, 2initial consonants and vowels in the plural, 2vocative case, 2weak plurals and strong plurals, 3genitive case, 3, 4

numbers, 9cardinal numbersnouns after cardinal numbersnouns with special plural forms déagpersonal numeralsordinal numbers (first, second, etc.)

ordinal numbers, 9 past tense, 5, 6

regular verbs, 5first conjugation, 5second conjugation, 5

autonomous forms, 5, 6questions and answers, 5, 6negative particles (ní and níor), 5, 6negative interrogative particles (nach and nár), 5irregular verbs, 6

personal pronouns, (mé, tú, etc.), 10emphatic forms

position (see location)

possessive adjectives (mo, do, etc.), 10possessive adjectives and prepositionscónaí, suí and seasamh

prefixes, 8sean- droch-an-ró-

prepositional pronouns, 10

prepositions (see simple prepositions)

present tense, 5, 6bí, 5regular verbs, 5first conjugation, 5second conjugation, 5autonomous forms, 5, 6questions and answers, 5, 6negative particle (ní), 5, 6negative interrogative particle (nach), 5irregular verbs, 6

pronouns (see personal pronouns)

ró- (too), 8

séimhiú, 7 simple prepositions, 11

before nouns beginning with a consonantbefore nouns beginning with a vowelsimple prepositions and the articlesimple prepositions and the plural article

úrú, 7 verbs, 5, 6

yes and no answers, 5conjugations, 5bí, 5past tense, 5, 6present tense, 5, 6present habitual tense, 5future tense, 5, 6conditional mood, 5, 6irregular verbs, 6imperative mood, 6

vocative case, 2

QuickGuideTM Irish Grammar is an easy-to-use resource which focuses on the main aspects of the grammar of the language. The unique design and colour scheme enable the user to find information quickly, and the jargon-free explanations make this an indispensable tool for both regular users of Irish and learners of the language.

Grammatical explanations are in English and a translation is given of all the Irish language examples, making this QuickGuideTM accessible to learners at all levels of competency.

The focus is on everyday language and on useful words and phrases which can be used in both written and spoken Irish. QuickGuideTM Irish Grammar is suitable for post-primary and third-level students, teachers and adult learners of Irish.

A course with interactive exercises based on this QuickGuideTM is available at www.ranganna.com.

12

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© Gaelchultúr 2011Text: Éamonn Ó Dónaill & Helen HegartyDesign: Gaelchultúr

Index (Innéacs)

Réam

hfhocail Shim

plí

Foghraíocht agus Litriú • Míonna agus Laethanta • Suíom

h agus Gluaiseacht • N

a hAirde

Aidiachtaí

Forainmneacha Pearsanta • Forainm

neacha Réam

hfhoclacha • A

idiachtaí Sealbhacha

Uim

hreacha

Pron

unci

atio

n an

d O

rtho

grap

hy •

Mon

ths

and

Day

s •

Loca

tion

and

Mot

ion

• D

irec

tions

Adj

ectiv

es

Pers

onal

Pro

noun

s •

Prep

ositi

onal

Pro

noun

s •

Poss

essi

ve A

djec

tives

Num

bers

Simple Prepositions before Nouns Beginning with a Consonant

de, do, faoi, mar, ó, roimh, trí

A séimhiú is added to nouns that follow them.

ag, amhail, as, chuig, chun, dar, go, go dtí, le, murach, os, seachas

A séimhiú is not added to nouns that follow them.

ar, gan, idir, thar

A séimhiú is added to nouns that follow them some of the time.*

i/in

I is usually written before consonants and an urú is added to nouns that follow it.The form in is used before vowels.**

Bhí sí ag obair ansin mar fhreastalaí.She was working there as a waitress.

Tháinig an gadaí isteach trí fhuinneog an tí. The thief came in through the window of the house.

Rachaidh mé leat go Corcaigh amárach. I’ll go with you to Cork tomorrow.

Abair le Máirín go raibh mé ag cur a tuairisce.Tell Máirín that I was asking for her.

Séimhiú:Sin leabhar gan mhaith.That book is no good.

No séimhiú:D’fhág sé mé gan pingin rua.He left me penniless.

Tá cónaí uirthi i gCorcaigh anois.She lives in Cork now.

Tá sé ina chónaí in Eochaill anois. He lives in Youghal now.

**In is used in the following cases as well:

tá sibh in bhur gcónaí you (pl) are living in dhá pháirt in two parts in An tSraith ar Lár in An tSraith ar Lár (book title)

In is used before placenames outside Ireland (except for names of countries) of which there is no Irish language version: in San Francisco (in San Francisco) but i mBostún (in Boston)

Simple Prepositions before Nouns Beginning with a Vowel

go, le

An h is placed before nouns beginning with a vowel which follow them.

ag, amhail, ar, as, chuig, chun, dar, faoi, gan, idir, in, mar, murach, ó, roimh, seachas, trí, um

Nouns beginning with a vowel which follow them remain unchanged.

de, do

These prepositions are contracted before a vowel or fh + a vowel.

Bhuail mé le hAnna inné.I met Anna yesterday.

Chuaigh sí go hAontroim don deireadh seachtaine.She went to Antrim for the weekend.

Ghlaoigh mé ar úinéir an árasáin.I called the owner of the apartment.

Tá sí ina cónaí in Éirinn le bliain anois.She’s been living in Ireland for a year now.

Thug sí grianghraf d’Anna dom.She gave me a photograph of Anna.

Thug sí cupán tae d’fhear an phoist.She gave the postman a cup of tea.

Simple Prepositions and the Article (Réamhfhocail Shimplí agus an tAlt)This is a list of simple prepositions with the definite article singular:ag an (at the), ar an (on the), as an (from the), chuig an (to the), den (of the), don (for the), faoin (under/about the), leis an (with the), ón (from the), roimh an (before the), sa(n) (in the), thar an (over/past the), tríd an (through the), um an (at/about the)

Group 1ag an, ar an, as an, chuig an, faoin, leis an, ón, roimh an, thar an, tríd an

An urú is added to the consonants b, c, f, g, p.

An urú is not added to the consonants d, t.

The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) remain unchanged.

ag anat the

ag an mbus at the bus

ag an dochtúir at the doctor

ag an óstán at the hotel

ar anon the

ar an gcathaoir on the chair

ar an túr on the tower

ar an urláron the floor

as anfrom the

as an bportachfrom the bog

as an doirteal from the sink

as an Eoraip from Europe

chuig anto the

chuig an ngarda to the guard

chuig an timpiste to the accident

chuig an urlabhraí to the spokesperson

faoinunder the/about the

faoin bhfuinneog under the window

faoin doras under the door

faoin uisce under the water

leis anwith the

leis an ngaoth with the wind

leis an toghchán with the election

leis an úinéir with the owner

ónfrom the

ón bhfreastalaí from the waiter

ón deachtóir from the dictator

ón aiste from the essay

roimh anbefore the

roimh an gcruinniú before the meeting

roimh an tógálaí before the builder

roimh an Aoine before Friday

thar anover the/past the

thar an mballa over the wall

thar an doras past the door

thar an uisce over the water

tríd anthrough the

tríd an bpáirc through the field

tríd an teach through the house

tríd an ollscoil through the university

Nouns beginning with sAfter a preposition and article, t is placed before feminine nouns beginning with s + vowel or beginning with sl-, sn- or sr-:

Masculine Feminine

chuig an sagart to the priest chuig an tsiúr to the sister (religious order)

ar an seanfhear on the old man ar an tseanbhean on the old woman

roimh an samhradh before the summer roimh an tsochraid before the funeral

sa siopa in the shop sa tsráid in the street

*A séimhiú is added to nouns that follow ar, gan, idir, thar some of the time:

ar on

(a) Ar is followed by a séimhiú when a specific location is referred to: Bhí an geansaí nua ar Phádraig inniu. Pádraig had the new jumper on today. Bhí sé thuas ar bharr an tí. He was up on the top of the house.(b) There is no séimhiú after ar: - when a general location is referred to: ar muir (at sea), ar bord (on board) - when a state or condition is referred to: ar ceal (cancelled), ar meisce (drunk) - when time is referred to: ar ball (in a while), ar maidin (in the morning)

gan without

(a) There is a séimhiú on nouns beginning with b, c, g, m, p after gan: gan chead (without permission)(b) There is no séimhiú on the consonants d, f, s, t after gan: gan sos (without a break) Exceptions: gan fhios (unknowingly), gan fháil (inaccessible) (c) There is no séimhiú on a noun after gan if it’s followed by an adjective, sub-clause or proper noun: gan phingin (penniless) but gan pingin rua (without a red cent) gan bhriseadh (without a break) but gan briseadh ar bith a fháil (without getting any break) gan Máire (without Máire)

idir between/both

(a) A séimhiú follows idir when it means ‘among’ or ‘both’ or when there is a list: Bhí idir bhuachaillí agus chailíní i láthair. (There were both boys and girls present.)(b) A séimhiú does not follow idir when space or time is referred to: idir Baile Átha Cliath agus Corcaigh (between Dublin and Cork) idir meán lae agus meán oíche (between midday and midnight)

thar over/past

(a) A séimhiú follows thar sometimes, particularly when it’s followed by a proper noun or a definite noun: Shiúil sí thar Pheadar gan labhairt leis. (She walked past Peadar without speaking to him.) Chuaigh an piléar thar cheann Thomáis. (The bullet went over Tomás’ head.)(b) There is no séimhiú after thar when it’s followed by an indefinite noun which is not qualified and has a general meaning: An mbeidh tú ag dul thar bráid? (Will you be passing by?) Tá mé ag labhairt thar ceann an choiste anseo anocht. (I’m speaking on behalf of the committee here tonight.)

Group 2den, don , sa

A séimhiú is added to the consonants b, c, f, g, m, p.

A séimhiú is not added to the consonants d, t.

The vowels (a, e, i, o, u)remain unchanged.

denof the

den mhí of the month

den téarma of the term

den óstán of the hotel

donfor the

don bhainisteoir for the manager

don deartháir for the brother

don aiste for the essay

sain the – before consonants

sa ghairdín in the garden

sa taighde in the research _

san in the - before vowels and f + a vowel

_ _san óstán in the hotelsan fhuinneog in the window

Simple Prepositions and the Plural Article (Réamhfhocail Shimplí agus an tAlt san Uimhir Iolra)

This is a list of simple prepositions with the definite article plural:ag na (at the), ar na (on the), as na (from the), chuig na (to the), de na (of the), do na (for the), faoi na (under/about the), ó na (from the), leis na (with the), roimh na (before the), sna (in the), thar na (over/past the), trí na (through the), um na (at/around the).

Consonants remain unchanged. An h is placed before nouns beginning with a vowel.

Simple Preposition + na

chuig na bainisteoirí to the managersleis na fir with the men

leis na hógánaigh with the youthsleis na húinéirí with the owners

Personal Pronouns (Forainmneacha Pearsanta)The words below are called personal pronouns; they’re used in sentences in place of a noun and refer to a person or a thing without naming it.

In English, pronouns can be stressed in speech: Tomás: I’m going to Cork tomorrow. Áine: I’m going there as well.

Pronouns cannot be stressed in Irish, however – it’s incorrect to do so. In Irish, you must use the emphatic form of the pronoun: Tomás: Tá mé ag dul go Corcaigh amárach. Áine: Tá mise (or Táimse) ag dul ansin freisin.

Pronoun Emphatic form

I, me mé mise

you tú tusa

he/him/it sé/é* seisean/eisean*

she/her/it sí/í* sise/ise*

we/us sinn/muid sinne/muidne

you sibh sibhse

they/them siad/iad* siadsan/iadsan*

*É/eisean (he/him/it), í/ise (she/her/it) and iad/iadsan (they/them) are used when the pronoun is the object in a sentence or a phrase: Chonaic sé í inné. He saw her yesterday. Chuala sí iad ag caint. She heard them talking.

In a question, when the copula is followed by an emphatic form of a personal pronoun, an emphatic form can’t be used in the answer: An tusa an duine is sine sa chlann? Are you the eldest in the family? Ní mé. No.

Prepositional Pronouns (Forainmneacha Réamhfhoclacha)

1st singular 2nd singular 3rd singular (masc.)

3rd singular(fem.) 1st plural 2nd plural 3rd plural

ag at agam agat aige aici againn agaibh acu

ar on orm ort air uirthi orainn oraibh orthu

as from asam asat as aisti asainn asaibh astu

chuig to chugam chugat chuige chuici chugainn chugaibh chucu

de of díom díot de di dínn díbh díobh

do for dom duit dó di dúinn daoibh dóibh

faoi under fúm fút faoi fúithi fúinn fúibh fúthu

i in ionam ionat ann inti ionainn ionaibh iontu

idir between eadrainn eadraibh eatarthu

le with liom leat leis léi linn libh leo

ó from uaim uait uaidh uaithi uainn uaibh uathu

roimh before romham romhat roimhe roimpi romhainn romhaibh rompu

thar over/past tharam tharat thairis thairsti tharainn tharaibh tharstu

trí through tríom tríot tríd tríthi trínn tríbh tríothu

Useful sentences

ag Tá súile gorma aici. She has blue eyes.

ar

Tá gruaig fhionn air. Tá ocras/tart orm.Tá áthas/díomá/brón/náire orthu.Tá tinneas cinn air. Tá biseach air. Tá cáil uirthi. Tháinig sé aniar aduaidh orm. Theip uirthi sa scrúdú.

He has blond hair.I’m hungry/thirsty.They’re happy/disappointed/sorry/ashamed.He has a headache.He has recovered.She’s famous.It took me by surprise.She failed the exam.

as Tá Bríd freagrach as anois. Bríd is responsible for him/it now.

chuig Chuir mé litir chuici. I sent her a letter.

de Tá mé an-bhuíoch díot. I’m very grateful to you.

do Bheannaigh mé di. Rinne sí gar dom.

I greeted her.She did me a favour.

faoiBhí fuadar fúthu. Tá sí imníoch faoi. Bhí siad ag magadh faoi (or air).

They were in a rush.She’s worried about him/it.They were making fun of him/it.

idir Thosaigh troid eatarthu. A fight started between them.

le Bhuail mé leis inné. Thaitin an scannán liom.

I met him yesterday.I liked the film.

ó Braithim uaim go mór í. Fuair mé litir uaithi.

I really miss her.I received a letter from her.

Possessive Adjectives (Aidiachtaí Sealbhacha)

Before consonants Before vowelsmy mo + séimhiú mo dheartháir my brother m’ m’uncail my uncleyour do + séimhiú do dheartháir your brother d’ d’uncail your unclehis a + séimhiú a dheartháir his brother a a uncail his uncleher a a deartháir her brother a a huncail her uncleour ár + urú ár ndeartháir our brother ár + urú ár n-uncail our uncleyour (pl.) bhur + urú bhur ndeartháir your brother bhur + urú bhur n-uncail your uncletheir a + urú a ndeartháir their brother a + urú a n-uncail their uncle

In the first and second person singular, m’ and d’ are used before fh + a vowel: m’fhiacla my teeth d’fhuinneog your window

Notice, however, that mo and do are used before fh + a consonant: mo fhleasc my flask do fhreagra your answer

Emphatic FormsIn English, possessive adjectives can be stressed in speech: Tomás: Is that my book or your book?

Possessive adjectives cannot be stressed in Irish, however – it’s incorrect to do so. You must instead add an emphatic suffix to the noun: Tomás: An é sin mo leabharsa nó do leabharsa? Tomás: Is that my book or your book?

After a slender consonant e.g. máthair

After a broad consonante.g. teach

mo my + -se mo mháthairse my mother + -sa mo theachsa my housedo your + -se do mháthairse your mother + -sa do theachsa your housea his + -sean a mháthairsean his mother + -san a theachsan his housea her + -se a máthairse her mother + -sa a teachsa her houseár our + -ne ár máthairne our mother + -na ár dteachna our housebhur your (pl.) + -se bhur máthairse your mother + -sa bhur dteachsa your housea their + -sean a máthairsean their mother + -san a dteachsan their house

Possessive Adjectives and Prepositions (Aidiachtaí Sealbhacha agus Réamhfhocail)

This is what happens when the prepositions de, do, faoi, i, le, ó, trí precede possessive adjectives: do/de + a = dá do/de + ár = dár Thug mé tacaíocht dá fheachtas. I supported his campaign. Thug mé tacaíocht dá feachtas. I supported her campaign. Thug mé tacaíocht dár bhfeachtas. I supported our campaign. Thug mé tacaíocht dá bhfeachtas. I supported their campaign. faoi + a = faoina faoi + ár = faoinár i + a = ina i + ár = inár le + a = lena le + ár = lenár ó + a = óna ó + ár = ónár trí + a = trína trí + ár = trínár

a (his) a (her) ár (our) a (their)Nouns beginning with a consonant ... are lenited. ... remain

unchanged. ... are eclipsed. ... are eclipsed.

Bhí mé ag caint lena chara.

I was talking to his friend.

Bhí mé ag caint lena cara.

I was talking to her friend.

Bhí mé ag caint lenár gcara.

I was talking to our friend.

Bhí mé ag caint lena gcara.

I was talking to their friend.

Nouns beginning with a vowel

... remain unchanged.

... are preceded by h. ... are eclipsed. ... are eclipsed.

Bhí mé ag caint lena uncail.

I was talking to his uncle.

Bhí mé ag caint lena huncail.

I was talking to her uncle.

Bhí mé ag caint lenár n-uncail.

I was talking to our uncle.

Bhí mé ag caint lena n-uncail.

I was talking to their uncle.

Cónaí, Suí and Seasamh

Cónaí Suí Seasamh

mé tá mé i mo chónaíI live ...

tá mé i mo shuíI am seated ...

tá mé i mo sheasamhI am standing ...

tú tá tú i do chónaí tá tú i do shuí tá tú i do sheasamhsé tá sé ina chónaí tá sé ina shuí tá sé ina sheasamhsí tá sí ina cónaí tá sí ina suí tá sí ina seasamhsinn/muid táimid inár gcónaí táimid inár suí táimid inár seasamhsibh tá sibh in bhur gcónaí tá sibh in bhur suí tá sibh in bhur seasamhsiad tá siad ina gcónaí tá siad ina suí tá siad ina seasamh

Location vs. MotionDifferent words precede suí and seasamh depending on whether location or motion is being described.

Location MotionBhí sí ina suí in aice leis an stáitse. She was sitting beside the stage.

Bhí sí ag suí síos nuair a chonaic sí é. She was sitting down when she saw him.

Tá sé ina sheasamh thall ansin in aice leis an doras. He’s standing over there beside the door.

Bhuail mé mo cheann ar an lampa agus mé ag seasamh suas. I hit my head on the lamp as I was standing up.

There are four types of numbers in Irish and there are different rules for each type.

Cardinal Numbers (Bunuimhreacha)The numbers below are used for counting and are not followed by a noun.

0 a náid 10 a deich 20 fiche 30 tríocha 700 seacht gcéad

1 a haon 11 a haon déag 21 fiche a haon 40 daichead/ceathracha 800 ocht gcéad

2 a dó 12 a dó dhéag 22 fiche a dó 50 caoga/leathchéad 900 naoi gcéad

3 a trí 13 a trí déag 23 fiche a trí 60 seasca 1,000 míle

4 a ceathair 14 a ceathair déag 24 fiche a ceathair 70 seachtó 2,000 dhá mhíle

5 a cúig 15 a cúig déag 25 fiche a cúig 80 ochtó 7,000 seacht míle

6 a sé 16 a sé déag 26 fiche a sé 90 nócha 10,000 deich míle

7 a seacht 17 a seacht déag 27 fiche a seacht 100 céad 100,000 céad míle

8 a hocht 18 a hocht déag 28 fiche a hocht 200 dhá chéad 1,000,000 milliún

9 a naoi 19 a naoi déag 29 fiche a naoi 600 sé chéad 1,000,000,000 billiún

Cardinal Numbers + Nouns (Bunuimhreacha + Ainmfhocail)In Irish, there are two separate systems for counting people and things. This is how you count things - tables, for example:

1. bord amháin 11. aon bhord déag 2. dhá bhord 12. dhá bhord déag 3. trí bhord 13. trí bhord déag 4. ceithre bhord 14. ceithre bhord déag 5. cúig bhord 15. cúig bhord déag 6. sé bhord 16. sé bhord déag 7. seacht mbord 17. seacht mbord déag 8. ocht mbord 18. ocht mbord déag 9. naoi mbord 19. naoi mbord déag 10. deich mbord 20. fiche bord

Consonants Vowels

1A séimhiú is added to consonants that follow aon, except d, s, t.

aon charr amháin orcarr amháin one car

aon óstán amháin or óstán amháin one hotel

2 – 6A séimhiú is added to consonants that follow 2-6.

dhá charr two carscúig dheoch five drinks

trí óstán three hotelssé aiste six essays

7 – 10An urú is added to consonants (except s) and to vowels that follow 7-10.

seacht gcarr seven carsocht gcóta eight coatsdeich gcathaoirten chairs

naoi n-oíche nine nightsocht n-óstán eight hotelsdeich n-úrscéal ten novels

The nominative singular is usually used after numbers: dhá chat two cats seacht n-éan seven birds

The forms dhá and ceithre are used when counting things: a dó but dhá chupán two but two cups a ceathair but ceithre phláta four but four plates

Nouns with special plural forms

A special plural form is used in the case of the nouns below when they’re preceded by certain cardinal numbers:

1 2 3-6 7-10

bliain (a) year aon bhliain amháin bhliain bliana mbliana

ceann one of something aon cheann amháin cheann cinn gcinn

orlach (an) inch aon orlach amháin orlach horlaí n-orlaí

seachtain (a) week aon seachtain amháin sheachtain* seachtaine seachtaine

troigh (a) foot aon troigh amháin throigh troithe dtroithe

uair (an) hour/time aon uair amháin uair huaire n-uaire

*Dhá sheachtain isn’t said or written too often – the word coicís (fortnight) is usually used to translate two weeks.

Déag

A séimhiú is added to the word déag (-teen) when it’s preceded by a noun ending in a vowel: trí bhosca dhéag thirteen boxes seacht n-oíche dhéag seventeen nights but cúig chathaoir déag fifteen chairs ocht bhfoireann déag eighteen teams

This rule does not apply in the case of the nouns above which have special plural forms or in the case of nouns which follow ordinal numbers. The form déag is always used in those cases: ceithre bliana déag fourteen years an tríú lá déag the thirteenth day

Personal Numerals (Uimhreacha Pearsanta)As mentioned above, there are two separate systems for counting people and things in Irish. This is the system for counting people from 1-10: duine amháin one person beirt two people triúr three people ceathrar four people cúigear five people seisear six people seachtar seven people ochtar eight people naonúr nine people deichniúr ten people

The words duine/daoine (person/people) cannot be used with the personal numerals beirt –deichniúr.

The same system is used to count 11+ people as is used to count objects: aon duine dhéag eleven people dhá dhuine dhéag/dháréag twelve people trí dhuine dhéag thirteen people ceithre dhuine dhéag fourteen people cúig dhuine dhéag fifteen people sé dhuine dhéag sixteen people seacht nduine dhéag seventeen people ocht nduine dhéag eighteen people naoi nduine dhéag nineteen people fiche duine twenty people duine is fiche twenty-one people ceithre dhuine is tríocha thirty-four people sé dhuine is caoga fifty-six people céad duine a hundred people

Ordinal numbers (Orduimhreacha)

Nouns beginning with a vowel

Nouns beginning with a consonant (other than d, t, s)

Nouns beginning with d, t or s

1st an chéad áitthe first place

an chéad bhliain the first year

an chéad duine the first person

2nd an dara háit an dara bliain an dara teach the second house

3rd an tríú háit an tríú bliain an tríú seomrathe third room

4th an ceathrú háit an ceathrú bliain an ceathrú duine

5th an cúigiú háit an cúigiú bliain an cúigiú teach

6th an séú háit an séú bliain an séú seomra

7th an seachtú háit an seachtú bliain an seachtú duine

8th an t-ochtú háit an t-ochtú bliain an t-ochtú teach

9th an naoú háit an naoú bliain an naoú seomra

10th an deichiú háit an deichiú bliain an deichiú duine

11th an t-aonú háit déag an t-aonú bliain déag an t-aonú teach déag

12th an dara háit déag an dara bliain déag an dara seomra déag

13th an tríú háit déag an tríú bliain déag an tríú duine déag

14th an ceathrú háit déag an ceathrú bliain déag an ceathrú teach déag

15th an cúigiú háit déag an cúigiú bliain déag an cúigiú seomra déag

16th an séú háit déag an séú bliain déag an séú duine déag

17th an seachtú háit déag an seachtú bliain déag an seachtú teach déag

18th an t-ochtú háit déag an t-ochtú bliain déag an t-ochtú seomra déag

19th an naoú háit déag an naoú bliain déag an naoú duine déag

20th an fichiú háit an fichiú bliain an fichiú teach

21st an t-aonú háit is fiche an t-aonú bliain is fiche an t-aonú seomra is fiche

22nd an dara háit is fiche an dara bliain is fiche an dara duine is fiche

23rd an tríú háit is fiche an tríú bliain is fiche an tríú teach is fiche

30th an tríochadú háit an tríochadú bliain an tríochadú seomra

40th an daicheadú háit an daicheadú bliain an daicheadú duine

50th an caogadú háit an caogadú bliain an caogadú teach

60th an seascadú háit an seascadú bliain an seascadú seomra

70th an seachtódú háit an seachtódú bliain an seachtódú duine

80th an t-ochtódú háit an t-ochtódú bliain an t-ochtódú teach

90th an nóchadú háit an nóchadú bliain an nóchadú seomra

100th an céadú háit an céadú bliain an céadú duine

Adjectives are words used to describe nouns or pronouns, or to give more information about them. In Irish, they generally follow the noun and agree with it in gender, number and case.

A séimhiú is added to an adjective when it qualifies a feminine noun in the nominative, accusative and vocative cases singular.

A masculine noun + an adjective A feminine noun + an adjective

lá maith (a) good day oíche mhaith (a) good night

cúrsa deacair (a) difficult course obair dheacair difficult work

Adjectives in the Plural

If the noun is in the plural, the adjective which qualifies it must also be in the plural.

Singular Plural

ceist dheacair (a) difficult question ceisteanna deacra difficult questions

Information is given below about forming the plural of various types of adjectives.

Singular Plural

Add... -a to adjectives ending in a broad consonant in the singular

teach mór (a) big house

tithe móra big houses

Add... -e to adjectives ending in a slender consonant in the singular

guth binn (a) sweet voice

guthanna binne sweet voices

Change... -úil to -úladuine suimiúil (an) interesting person

daoine suimiúla interesting people

Change... -air to -ra lá deacair (a) difficult day

laethanta deacra difficult days

Don’t change...

Exceptions:

adjectives ending in a vowel in the singular

Te changes to teo in the plural.Breá changes to breátha in the plural.

cóta buí (a) yellow coat

oíche the (a) warm nightduine breá (a) fine person

cótaí buí yellow coats

oícheanta teo warm nightsdaoine breátha fine people

Séimhiú in the Plural

In the plural, a séimhiú is added to an adjective when it follows a noun which ends in a slender consonant (e.g. -igh, -in, -ir): na teaghlaigh bheaga the small families turais dheacra difficult journeys amhráin dheasa nice songs

Adjectives which are Syncopated in the Plural

Singular Pluralaoibhinn aoibhne lovelybodhar bodhra deafdaingean daingne securedeacair deacra difficultdomhain doimhne deepfolamh folmha emptyíseal ísle lowláidir láidre strongmilis milse sweetramhar ramhra fatrighin righne stubbornsaibhir saibhre richsleamhain sleamhna slipperysocair socra calmuasal uaisle noble

Adjectives which come before the Noun

In Irish most adjectives follow the noun. Sean- (old) and droch- (bad, poor, evil) are exceptions, however – they precede the noun. Vowels that follow them remain unchanged, but a séimhiú is added to most consonants.

Nouns beginning with a vowel remain unchanged

A séimhiú is added to nouns beginning with a consonant

seanéadaí old clothes seanfhear (an) old man

drochíde bad treatment drochdhuine (a) bad person

When sean- precedes a noun, a séimhiú is added to that noun if it begins with one of the consonants b, c, f, g, m or p:

cóta (a) coat seanchóta (an) old coat

mála (a) bag seanmhála (an) old bag

However, if sean- precedes a noun beginning with d, n, t, l or s, there is no séimhiú on that noun:

duine (a) person seanduine (an) old person

teach (a) house seanteach (an) old house

The Prefixes an- and ró-

A séimhiú is added to consonants (except d, t, s) after an- (very); vowels remain unchanged. There is always a hyphen after an-.

A séimhiú is added to the consonants (except d, t, s)

A séimhiú is not added to the consonants d, t, s

The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) remain unchanged

an-mhaith very good

an-deas/an-te/an-saibhir very nice/very hot/very rich

an-óg very young

A séimhiú is added to consonants which follow ró- (too); vowels remain unchanged.

There is always a hyphen between ró- and a vowel; there is usually no hyphen between ró- and a consonant.

A séimhiú is added to consonants The vowels (a, e, i, o, u) remain unchanged

rómhaith too good ró-óg too young

ródheas too nice ró-ard too tall

Comparative and Superlative Forms

Chomh is used when people or things are being compared: Tá Gearóid chomh sean le Bríd. Gearóid is as old as Bríd.

An h is prefixed to the initial vowel of an adjective which follows chomh and the initial vowel of a noun which follows le: Níl Dónall chomh hóg le hÉabha. Dónall is not as young as Éabha.

The words níos ... ná are used to make a comparison between two people or two things: Tá Siobhán níos sine ná Dónall. Siobhán is older than Dónall.

The word is is used before the superlative form of the adjective: Is í Andrea an duine is sine sa rang. Andrea is the eldest in the class.

Adjectives have the same form in the comparative and the superlative.

After níos / is:

There is no change to adjectives ending in a vowel:

buí yellow

Exceptions: breá fine

fada long

te warm

níos buí more yellowis buí most yellowExceptions: níos breátha finer is breátha finestníos faide longeris faide longestníos teo warmeris teo warmest

Adjectives ending in a broad consonant are made slender and -e is added to them:

daor expensive

bán white

níos daoire more expensiveis daoire most expensive

níos báine whiteris báine whitest

Other changes -úil to -úla:

-each to -í:

-ach to -aí:

-air to -ra:

-íoch to -íche:

suimiúil interesting

aisteach strange

tábhachtach important

deacair difficult

iomaíoch competitive

níos suimiúla more interesting is suimiúla most interestingníos aistí strangeris aistí strangestníos tábhachtaí more importantis tábhachtaí most importantníos deacra more difficultis deacra most difficultníos iomaíche more competitive is iomaíche most competitive

Irregular Adjectives

Comparative Superlativeálainn beautiful níos áille more beautiful is áille most beautiful beag small níos lú smaller is lú smallestbreá fine níos breátha finer is breátha finestdian strict níos déine stricter is déine strictestfada long níos faide longer is faide longestfliuch wet níos fliche wetter is fliche wettestfurasta easy níos fusa easier is fusa easiestgearr short níos giorra shorter is giorra shortestleathan wide níos leithne wider is leithne widestmaith good níos fearr better is fearr bestmór big níos mó bigger is mó biggestolc bad níos measa worse is measa worstramhar fat níos raimhre fatter is raimhre fattestsaibhir rich níos saibhre richer is saibhre richestte warm níos teo warmer is teo warmesttréan strong níos treise stronger is treise strongest

Pronunciation and Orthography • Months and Days • Location and Motion • Directions7Adjectives8Numbers9Personal Pronouns • Prepositional Pronouns • Possessive Adjectives 10Simple Prepositions

Sim

ple

Prep

ositi

ons

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Trí is used before nouns and with the plural form of the definite article:

trí fhuinneog an tí through the window of the house

Rith siad trí na páirceanna. They ran through the fields.

Tríd is used with the singular definite article - it’s incorrect to use it with the plural definite article (na).

Thiomáin mé tríd an mbaile. I drove through the town. but Thiomáin mé trí na sráideanna. I drove through the streets.

Lenition and Eclipsis (Séimhiú agus Urú)

The beginning of a word in Irish can often undergo a change in sound when it’s preceded by a certain word, such as a preposition (e.g. ar, do) or a possessive adjective (mo, do, etc.). One change is called lenition (séimhiú in Irish) and the other eclipsis (urú in Irish).

A séimhiú changes the sound of a consonant and this is shown in written Irish by placing an h after the consonant.

An urú also changes the sound of a letter to that of a different letter. The new sound is written in front of the one that it replaces or ‘eclipses’.

This table shows the changes undergone by consonants to which séimhiú and urú can be added.

Consonant With séimhiú With urúb bh mbc ch gcd dh ndf fh bhfg gh ngm mh no urúp ph bps sh no urút th dt

Short and Long Vowels

Short vowel Long vowelpaiste patch

páiste child

Broad and Slender Consonants (Consain Leathana agus Consain Chaola)

Every consonant in Irish can be either slender or broad.If either of the vowels e or i comes before or after a consonant, it is said to be a slender consonant. Fraincis The s is a slender consonant because it’s preceded by the letter i. líne The l is a slender consonant because it’s followed by the letter i. If one of the vowels a, o or u comes before or after a consonant, it’s said to be a broad consonant.

bóthar The r is a broad consonant because it’s preceded by the letter a. lón The l is a broad consonant because it’s followed by the letter o.

Broad consonant(preceded or followed by one of

the vowels a, o, u)

Slender consonant(preceded or followed by either

of the vowels i or e)airgead money

roinnt airgid some money

Slender with Slender and Broad with Broad (Caol le Caol agus Leathan le Leathan)

When a consonant comes between two vowels, both vowels will usually be either slender or broad. Broad and slender are not usually found together. If a slender vowel comes before a consonant, a slender vowel usually follows it; but if a broad vowel comes before a consonant, a broad vowel usually follows it. This rule is known as ‘caol le caol agus leathan le leathan’. feiceáil slender with slender fágáil broad with broad

Pronunciation and Orthography (Foghraíocht agus Litriú)

Months and Days (Míonna agus Laethanta)

This is how the months appear on the calendar:

This is how the months are referred to in everyday speech:

Eanáir January mí Eanáir the month of January

Feabhra February mí Feabhra the month of February

Márta March mí an Mhárta the month of March

Aibreán April mí Aibreáin the month of April

Bealtaine May mí na Bealtaine the month of May

Meitheamh June mí an Mheithimh the month of June

Iúil July mí Iúil the month of July

Lúnasa August mí Lúnasa the month of August

Meán Fómhair September mí Mheán Fómhair the month of September

Deireadh Fómhair October mí Dheireadh Fómhair the month of October

Samhain November mí na Samhna the month of November

Nollaig December mí na Nollag the month of December

Location and Motion (Suíomh agus Gluaiseacht)

The adverbs síos, thíos, aníos are normally used to refer to something that is below where the speaker is.The adverbs suas, thuas, anuas are normally used to refer to something that is above where the speaker is.

Movement away from the speaker Location, stationary Movement towards the speaker

síos downChuaigh sí síos. She went down.

thíos downBhí mé thíos san íoslach. I was down in the basement.

aníos up (from below) Tháinig sí aníos. She came up.

suas upChuaigh sé suas. He went up.

thuas upBhí sé thuas san áiléar. He was up in the attic.

anuas down (from above) Tháinig sé anuas. He came down.

sall/anonn over/to the far sideChuaigh mé sall/anonn. I went over/to the far side.

thall over/beyond Bhí mé thall. I was over.

anall over (from the far side)Tháinig siad anall. They came over.

abhus hereTá mé abhus anseo. I’m over here/on this side.

isteach in Chuaigh sé isteach. He went in.

istigh in/inside Bhí sé istigh. He was inside.

amach out Tháinig sé amach. He came out.

amach outChuaigh sí amach. She went out.

amuigh out/outsideBhí sí amuigh. She was outside.

isteach inTháinig sí isteach. She came in.

Directions (Na hAirde)Noun Movement Location Coming from a location

an tuaisceart the north ó thuaidh to the north/northwards thuaidh in the north aduaidh from the north

an deisceart the south ó dheas to the south/southwards theas in the south aneas from the south

an t-oirthear the east soir to the east/eastwards thoir in the east anoir from the east

an t-iarthar the west siar to the west/westwards thiar in the west aniar from the west

This is how the days of the week are named:

Dé* is used when a particular day is being referred to:

an Luan Monday Dé Luain on Monday

an Mháirt Tuesday Dé Máirt on Tuesday

an Chéadaoin Wednesday Dé Céadaoin on Wednesday

an Déardaoin Thursday Déardaoin** on Thursday

an Aoine Friday Dé hAoine on Friday

an Satharn Saturday Dé Sathairn on Saturday

an Domhnach Sunday Dé Domhnaigh on Sunday

Inniu an Aoine. Today is Friday. Feicfidh mé tú Dé hAoine. I’ll see you on Friday.

*Note that the nouns are in the genitive case following Dé.**Dé is already incorporated into Déardaoin.

adjectives, 8agreementplural formsséimhiú in the pluraladjectives which are syncopated in the pluraladjectives which come before the nounthe prefixes an- and ró-comparative and superlative formsirregular adjectives

adverbs, 7days of the weekof motion and positioncardinal directions

an- (very), 8

articles, 2lack of indefinite articleinitial changes after the articlecountries and languagessingular and plural forms

autonomous forms of the verb, 5, 6

bí, 5, 6present tense, affirmative and negative, 5, 6present habitual tense, affirmative and negative, 5

cardinal numbers, 9

cardinal numbers + nounsnouns with special plural formsdéag

comparisons, 8 conditional mood, 5, 6

regular verbs, 5autonomous forms, 5, 6questions and answers, 5, 6negative particle (ní), 5, 6negative interrogative particle (nach), 5irregular verbs, 6

consonants, 7broad and slender

copula, 4present tensequestions and answerspast tense and conditional mood

countries, 2preceded by the article

days of the week, 7

directions, 7movementlocation

droch- (bad, evil), 8

eclipsis (see urú)

future tense, 5, 6regular verbs, 5first conjugation, 5second conjugation, 5autonomous forms, 5, 6questions and answers, 5, 6negative particle (ní), 5, 6negative interrogative particle (nach), 5irregular verbs, 6

genitive case, 3, 4words which are followed by the genitive, 3changes to the beginning of masculine nouns, 3changes to the beginning of feminine nouns, 3genitive case plural (weak plurals), 3genitive case plural (strong plurals), 3urú in the genitive plural, 3noun endings in the genitive case, 4

imperative mood, 6singularpluralfirst conjugationsecond conjugationnegative formirregular verbs

lenition (see séimhiú)

location, 7

months, 7preceded by the noun mí

motion, 7nouns, 2, 3, 4

preceded by the article, 2masculine and feminine, 2countries, rivers and languages, 2initial consonants and vowels in the plural, 2vocative case, 2weak plurals and strong plurals, 3genitive case, 3, 4

numbers, 9cardinal numbersnouns after cardinal numbersnouns with special plural forms déagpersonal numeralsordinal numbers (first, second, etc.)

ordinal numbers, 9 past tense, 5, 6

regular verbs, 5first conjugation, 5second conjugation, 5

autonomous forms, 5, 6questions and answers, 5, 6negative particles (ní and níor), 5, 6negative interrogative particles (nach and nár), 5irregular verbs, 6

personal pronouns, (mé, tú, etc.), 10emphatic forms

position (see location)

possessive adjectives (mo, do, etc.), 10possessive adjectives and prepositionscónaí, suí and seasamh

prefixes, 8sean- droch-an-ró-

prepositional pronouns, 10

prepositions (see simple prepositions)

present tense, 5, 6bí, 5regular verbs, 5first conjugation, 5second conjugation, 5autonomous forms, 5, 6questions and answers, 5, 6negative particle (ní), 5, 6negative interrogative particle (nach), 5irregular verbs, 6

pronouns (see personal pronouns)

ró- (too), 8séimhiú, 7 simple prepositions, 11

before nouns beginning with a consonantbefore nouns beginning with a vowelsimple prepositions and the articlesimple prepositions and the plural article

úrú, 7 verbs, 5, 6

yes and no answers, 5conjugations, 5bí, 5past tense, 5, 6present tense, 5, 6present habitual tense, 5future tense, 5, 6conditional mood, 5, 6irregular verbs, 6imperative mood, 6

vocative case, 2

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