If an action is happening at this very moment: I am going, we are talking, she is swimming, etc. This is called present progressive tense. This tense is very common, and it is uses a special verb form.
n English, a verb form that ends in -ing but has the purpose and position of an adjective is called the present participle.
This form is expressed by ag + a verbal noun. This pattern is similar to that used in the last chapter for the perfect tense.
| Tá sé ag teacht | he is coming. |
| Tá sé ag ól | he is drinking. |
The regular formation of the verbal noun is the verb stem + -(e)adh.
The suffix -(e)adh is ponounced a* as in about. If the verbal noun has an object, then it is put into the genitive.
Tá sé ag dúnadh an dorais.
Tá sé ag gearradh adhmaid.
Táid ag baint fhéir.
The objects of several common verbal noun phrases will be lenited.
| ag baint fhéir, ag baint mhóna | cutting hay, turf |
| ag cur phrátaí, ag cur choirce | sowing potatoes, oats |
briseadh
baint
In the present tense, Tá has an absolute and a dependent form. Tá, the absolute form is used in statements, while the dependent form fuil, is used after verbal particles in questions and negations.
The past tense also has two forms. The future tense, however has only one form.
| sg. | 1. | do bhíos | pl. | 1. | do bhíomair |
| 2. | do bhís | 2. | do bhíobhair, do bhí sibh | ||
| 3. | do bhí sé/sí | 3. | do bhíodar |
| sg. | 1. | rabhas | pl. | 1. | rabhamair |
| 2. | rabhais | 2. | rabhabhair, raibh sibh | ||
| 3. | raibh sé/sí | 3. | rabhadar |
| sg. | 1. | bead | pl. | 1. | beimíd |
| 2. | beir | 2. | beidh sibh | ||
| 3. | beidh sé/sí | 3. | beid, beid siad |
The verbal noun is bheith
