In Irish there are two verbs ‘to be’. One of them is tá, used to describe state or location of a person or thing (i.e. temporary qualities). This verb is normally used to join a noun with an adjective. The other verb ‘to be’ is a copula used when referring to permanent qualities. Its forms and useage will be discussed later on.
(1) In the affirmative:
tá mé (I am)Here are some examples with these forms:
tá tú (you are [singular])
tá sé (he is, it is)
tá sí (she is, it is)
tá muid (we are)
tá sibh (you are [plural])
tá siad (they are)
Tá muid fuar. (We are cold.)Remarks. (1) This verb has only one form for all persons: tá. However, in the South of Ireland, táim is used instead of ‘tá mé’ and táimid instead of ‘tá muid’. (2) The pronouns in Irish to be used with verbs are:
Tá sé buí. (It is yellow.)
Tá tú álainn. (You [singular] are beautiful.)
Tá siad deas. (They are nice.)
Tá sí maith. (She is good.)
Tá sibh óg. (You [plural] are young.)
Tá mé beag. (I am little.)
Tá Niall sona. (Neil is happy.) (cf. McEwan)
méRemark. Irish has special forms for the English ‘you’ when referring to one person or to several ones. They are: tú when speaking to one person and sibh when speaking to several people.
tú
sé [masc] / sí [fem.]
muid
sibh
siad
(2) The form to be used in the interrogative is an bhfuil. It contains the eclipsing question word an and aspecial form of the verb: bhfuil. The form of ‘tá’ in the negative is is níl. The interrogative-negative form is nach bhfuil, containing the eclipsing negative question word nach and the form bhfuil. These forms are common for all persons.
Here some examples with these forms.
An bhfuil tú tinn? (Are you ill?) - Níl mé tinn. (I'm not ill.)Since, in Irish there are no ‘yes’ or ‘no’ words, answering a question implies repeating the verb:
An bhfuil sibh sásta? (Are you [pl.] satisfied?) - Níl muid sásta. (We are not satisfied.)
Nach bhfuil sé fuar inniu? (Isn't it cold today?) - Níl, tá sé te. (No, it is warm.)
Nach nhfuil siad anseo? (Aren't they here?) - Níl, tá siad ansin (No, they are there.)
An bhfuil sé fuar innu? (Is it cold today?) - Tá. (Yes.) - Níl. (No.)Practice
Nach bhfuil sibh gnóthach? (Aren't you busy?) - Níl. (no.) - Tá. (Yes.)
Fill in the blanks below with the correct forms of the verb ‘tá’.
(1) ... [aff.] muid anseo gach lá. (2) ... [neg.] Máirtín ansin. (3) ... [int.] siad ansin anois? (4) ... [aff.] Cáit ansin freisin. (5) ... [neg.] sí ansin freisin. (6) ... [int. neg.] siad go maith? (7) ... [aff.] mé anseo. (8) ... [neg.] muid anseo. (9) ... [int. neg.] sí sa seomra? (10) ... [aff.] teach ansin. (11) ... [int.] duine ar bith ansin? (12) ... [neg.] duine ar bith ann anois. (13) Ach ... [int.] Cáit ann? (14) ... [neg.] Cáit ann anois. (15) ... [aff.] doras anseo. (16) ... [int. neg.] tú sa bhaile anocht? (17) ... [neg.]. ... [aff.] mé ag obair anocht.
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