Lesson Four

Present of the verb “to be”

 

Tá is the most common and most versatile verb meaning is, are, to be. We saw it briefly in the first chapter but here we get into more complete array of forms.

notes/summaries

Present of the verb “Tá”
Notes on Myles Dillon: Chapter 4
page 5 of 12
These summaries are from notebooks I created in 1999 for my website on xoom.com. They are revised and reposted here, in hope that they will continue be useful. It is meant to used along with the original text. Consult that for more information.
Present of the verb “TÁ”
sg.1. Táim, Tá mé pl. 1. Táimíd
2. Táir, Taoi, Tá tú 2. Tá sibh
3. Tá sé/sí 3. Táid, Táid siad, Tá siad

return to top

Negative (NÍl)
sg.1. Nílim pl. 1. Nílimíd
2. Nílir 2. Níl sibh
3. Níl sé/sí 3. Nílid

return to top

Interrogative (An bhfuil)
sg.1. An bhfuilim? pl. 1. An bhfuilimíd?
2. An bhfuilir? 2. An bhfuil sibh?
3. An bhfuil sé/sí? 3. An bhfuilid?

return to top

Negative Interrogative (NÁ fuil)
sg.1. Ná fuilim? pl. 1. Ná fuilimíd?
2. Ná fuilir? 2. Ná fuil sibh?
3. Ná fuil sé/sí? 3. Ná fuilid?

sg.1. -im, (-- + me) pl. 1. -imíd
2. -ir, (-- + tú) 2. -- + sibh
3. -- + sé/sí 3. -id, (-- + siad)

return to top

2nd person colloquial forms
Tánn tú
Tánn sibh [from tá + -(e)ann]
Níleann tú
Níleann sibh

sé rhymes with the Italian sera
sí rhymes with she or free
sibh sounds like shiv in shiver
bhfuil is [vwɪl'] fuil is [fwɪl']

after san/insan t and d are not lenited

The common greeting is: Dia's Muire dhuit!
The reply is: Dia's Muire dhuit agus Pádraig!

return to top