Irish verb forms are constructed either synthetically or analytically.

Synthetic forms express the information about person and number in the ending: e.g., molaim "I praise", where the ending -aim stands for "1st person singular present". In this case, a pronoun is not allowed: *molaim mé is ungrammatical. Molann mé is allowed but using the -aim ending is more common.

Analytic forms are those whose endings contain no information about person and number, and a pronoun is necessary: e.g., molann sibh "you (pl.) praise", where the ending -ann expresses only the present tense, and the pronoun sibh "you" (pl.) must accompany it in order to express "2nd person plural".

In addition to the three persons, Irish also has an impersonal form (also called the "autonomous" form), which is used in forming the passive and can conveniently be translated with "one" or "someone" as the subject. Shown below are the distribution of synthetic and analytic forms in the standard language; in the dialects, other patterns may be found, although some of the most important distinctions made in certain dialects are pointed out in this article.

See Irish orthography for the pronunciation of verb endings.

Regular verbs

There are two conjugation classes of regular verbs, as illustrated below. Forms in italics are not part of the standard language. The suffixes shown change to agree with the word ending in a velarised ("broad") consonant or palatalised ("slender") consonant. In the examples below, verbs ending with "broad" consonants are shown above those ending with "slender" consonants.

In the imperfect, preterite, and conditional, a consonant-initial stem undergoes lenition (and dialectally is preceded by do), while a vowel-initial stem is prefixed by d’. A stem beginning with f + a vowel takes both, e.g. fan "wait", d'fhan sé "he waited". The preterite impersonal, e.g. fanadh "one waited", neither undergoes lenition nor receives d'. The -f- in future and conditional stems is pronounced /h/; except in the conditional 2nd person singular and the impersonal, where it remains /f/.

1st conjugation

Tense Particle Mutation Ending
Analytic Synthetic
Singular Plural Impersonal
1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd
Indicative Present -(e)ann -(a)im -(a)ir -(a)imid -(a)id -t(e)ar
Past Imperfect Lenition -(e)adh -(a)inn -t(e)á -(a)imis -(a)idís -t(a)í
Past Perfect Lenition -(e)as -(a)is -(e)amar -(e)abhar -(e)adar -(e)adh
Future -f(a)idh -f(e)ad -f(a)ir -f(a)imid -f(a)id -f(e)ar
Conditional Lenition -f(e)adh -f(a)inn -f(e)á -f(a)imis -f(a)idís -f(a)í
Imperative -(e)adh -(a)im -(a)imis -(a)igí/-(a)idh -(a)idís -t(e)ar
Subjunctive Present go Eclipsis -a/-e -(e)ad -(a)ir -(a)imid -(a)id -t(e)ar
Past Eclipsis -(e)adh -(a)inn -t(e)á -(a)imis -(a)idís -t(a)í
Past Participle -ta/-te
1st conjugation examples: mol "to praise" and tuig "to understand"
Tense Analytic Synthetic
Singular Plural Impersonal
1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd
Indicative Present molann
tuigeann
molaim
tuigim
molair
tuigir
molaimid
tuigimid
molaid
tuigid
moltar
tuigtear
Past
Imperfect
mholadh
thuigeadh
mholainn
thuiginn
mholtá
thuigteá
mholaimis
thuigimis
mholaidís
thuigidís
moltaí
tuigtí
Past
Perfect
mhol
thuig
mholas
thuigeas
mholais
thuigis
mholamar
thuigeamar
mholabhar
thuigeabhar
mholadar
thuigeadar
mholadh
thuigeadh
Future molfaidh
tuigfidh
molfad
tuigfead
molfair
tuigfir
molfaimid
tuigfimid
molfaid
tuigfid
molfar
tuigfear
Conditional mholfadh
thuigfeadh
mholfainn
thuigfinn
mholfá
thuigfeá
molfaimis
thuigfimis
mholfaidís
thuigfidís
mholfaí
thuigfí
Imperative moladh
tuigeadh
molaim
tuigim
mol
tuig
molaimis
tuigimis
molaigí / molaidh
tuigigí / tuigidh
molaidís
tuigidís
moltar
tuigtear
Subjunctive Present go mola
go dtuige
go molad
go dtuigead
go molair
go dtuigir
go molaimid
go dtuigimid
go molaid
go dtuigid
go moltar
go dtuigtear
Past dá moladh
dá dtuigeadh
dá molainn
dá dtuiginn
dá moltá
dá dtuigteá
dá molaimis
dá dtuigimis
dá molaidís
dá dtuigidís
dá moltaí
dá dtuigtí
Past Participle molta
tuigthe

2nd conjugation

Second stem verbs take the same base suffixes as first conjugation verbs, but add the infix in -(a)í- (most forms), or -eo, ó- (in the future and conditional).

Roots ending in a slender consonant undergo syncope before the addition of -í-.

Tense Particle Mutation Ending
Analytic Synthetic
Singular Plural Impersonal
1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd
Indicative Present -(a)íonn -(a)ím -(a)ír -(a)ímid -(a)íd -(a)ítear
Past Imperfect Lenition -(a)íodh -(a)ínn -(a)íteá -(a)ímis -(a)ídís -(a)ítí
Past Perfect Lenition -(a)íos -(a)ís -(a)íomar -(a)íobhar -(a)íodar -(a)íodh
Future -óidh/-eoidh -ód/-eod -óir/-eoir -óimid/-eoimid -óid/-eoid -ófar/-eofar
Conditional Lenition -ódh/-eodh -óinn/-eoinn -ófá/-eofá -óimis/-eoimis -óidís/-eoidís -ófaí/-eofaí
Imperative -(a)íodh -(a)ím -(a)ímis -(a)ígí/-(a)ídh -(a)ídís -(a)ítear
Subjunctive Present go Eclipsis -(a)í -(a)íod -(a)ír -(a)ímid -(a)íd -(a)ítear
Past Eclipsis -(a)íodh -(a)ínn -(a)íteá -(a)ímis -(a)ídís -(a)ítí
Past Participle -t(h)e
2nd conjugation examples: tosaigh "to begin” and inis "to tell"
Tense Analytic Synthetic
Singular Plural Impersonal
1st 2nd 1st 2nd 3rd
Indicative Present tosaíonn
insíonn
tosaím
insím
tosaír
insír
tosaímid
insímid
tosaíd
insíd
tosaítear
insítear
Past
Imperfect
thosaíodh
d'insíodh
thosaínn
d'insínn
thosaíteá
d'insíteá
thosaímis
d'insímis
thosaídís
d'insídís
thosaítí
d'insítí
Past
Perfect
thosaigh
d'inis
thosaíos
d'insíos
thosaís
d'insís
thosaíomar
d'insíomar
thosaíobhar
d'insíobhar
thosaíodar
d'insíodar
thosaíodh
d'insíodh
Future tosóidh
inseoidh
tosód
inseod
tosóir
inseoir
tosóimid
inseoimid
tosóid
inseoid
tosófar
inseofar
Conditional thosódh
d'inseodh
thosóinn
d'inseoinn
thosófa
d'inseofá
thosóimis
d'inseoimis
thosóidís
d'inseoidís
thosófaí
d'inseofaí
Imperative tosaíodh
insíodh
tosaím
insím
tosaigh
inis
tosaímis
insímis
tosaígí / tosaídh
insígí / insídh
tosaídís
insídís
tosaítear
insítear
Subjunctive Present go dtosaí
go n-insí
go dtosaíod
go n-insíod
go dtosaír
go n-insír
go dtosaímid
go n-insímid
go dtosaíd
go n-insíd
go dtosaítear
go n-insítear
Past dá dtosaíodh
dá n-insíodh
dá dtosaínn
dá n-insínn
dá dtosaíteá
dá n-insíteá
dá dtosaímis
dá n-insímis
dá dtosaídís
dá n-insídís
dá dtosaítí
dá n-insítí
Past participle tosaithe
inste

Irregular verbs

There are eleven irregular verbs in Standard Irish; individual dialects have a few more. Most of them are characterized by suppletion, that is, different roots are used to form different tenses. Analytic forms are indicated by the symbol +. The preterites of many irregular verbs take the nonpreterite forms of preverbal particles, i.e. an (interrogative particle) and (negative particle), instead of ar (pret. interrogative particle) and níor (pret. negative particle). Some verbs have different independent and dependent forms in certain tenses; the independent forms are used when no particle precedes the verb, and also after "if" (open conditional) and the direct relative particle a, while the dependent forms are used after all other particles.

Abair "to say"

The d- in this verb's independent forms is not lenited, and the dependent forms are slightly archaic.

Abair conjugation
Abair, "to say" Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present Independent deir deir-
Dependent abrann ab(a)r-
Past Imperfect Independent deireadh deir-
Dependent abradh ab(a)r-
Past Perfect dúirt dúr-
Future Independent déarfaidh déar-
Dependent abróidh abró-
Conditional Independent déarfadh déar-
Dependent abródh abró-
Imperative abradh abair, abraigí; abr-
Subjunctive Present Independent go ndeire go ndeir-
Dependent go n-abra go n-abr-
Past Independent dá ndeireadh dá ndeir-
Dependent dá n-abradh dá n-abr-
Verbal Noun
Past Participle ráite

Beir "to bear"

Beir conjugation
Beir, "to bear" Standard Munster
Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present beireann beir-
Past Imperfect bheireadh bheir
Past Perfect rug rug- riug riug-
Future béarfaidh béar-
Conditional béarfadh béar-
Imperative beireadh beir-
Subjunctive Present go mbeire go mbeir-
Past dá mbeireadh dá mbeir-
Verbal Noun breith
Past Participle beirthe

"to be"

If a noun phrase is in the predicate, then forms of the particle "is" are used rather than anything below.

conjugation
Bí, "to be" Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present Independent tá(nn) taoi (2pS), táthaoi (2pP), tádar (3pP); tái-
Dependent fuil fuil-
Negative níl níl-
Present Habitual bíonn bí-
Past Imperfect bhíodh bhí-
Past Perfect Independent bhí bhío-
Dependent raibh rabh-
Future beidh be-
Conditional bheadh bhei-
Imperative bíodh bí, bígí; bí-
Subjunctive Present go raibh go rabh-
Past dá mbeadh dá mbei-
Verbal Noun bheith
Past Participle (none)

Clois/Cluin "to hear"

Clois is used in southern and south-central Irish (Munster, Connemara, Aran Islands etc.), whereas cluin is used in northern and north-central varieties (Mayo, Ulster).

Clois/Cluin conjugation
Clois/ Cluin "to hear" Southern Irish Northern Irish
Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present cloiseann clois- cluineann cluin-
Past Imperfect chloiseadh chlois- chluineadh chluin-
Past Perfect chuala chual- chuala chual-
Future cloisfidh clois- cluinfidh cluin-
Conditional chloisfeadh chlois- chluinfeadh chluin-
Imperative cloiseadh clois, cloisigí; clois- cluineadh cluin, cluinigí; cluin-
Subjunctive Present go gcloise go gclois- go gcluine go gcluin-
Past dá gcloiseadh dá gclois- dá gcluineadh dá gcluin-
Verbal Noun cloisteáil cluinstin
Past Participle cloiste cluinte

Déan "to do, to make"

Déan conjugation
Déan, "to do, to make" Standard Munster Ulster, Aran (Connacht)
Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present Independent ghní(onn) ghní-
Dependent déanann déan- deineann dein-
Past Imperfect Independent (gh)níodh ghní- ghníodh ghní-
Dependent dhéanadh dhéan- dhein dhein-
Past Perfect Independent rinne rinn- dheineadh dhein- rinn rinn-
Dependent dearna dearn- dearn dearn-
Future Independent déanfaidh déan-
Dependent
Conditional Independent dhéanfadh dhéan-
Dependent
Imperative déanadh déan, déanaigí; déan- deineadh dein, deinigí; dein-
Subjunctive Present go ndéana go ndéan- go ndeina go ndein-
Past dá ndéanadh dá ndéan- dá ndeineadh dá ndein-
Verbal Noun déanamh
Past Participle déanta

Faigh "to find, to get"

The f- in forms of this verb is eclipsed rather than lenited after .

Faigh conjugation
Faigh, "to get" Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present Independent gheibheann gheibh-
Dependent faigheann faigh-
Past Imperfect Independent gheibheadh gheibh-
Dependent d'fhaigheadh d'faigh-
Past Perfect fuair fuair-
Future Independent gheobhaidh gheobh-
Dependent faighidh faigh-
Conditional Independent gheobhadh gheobh-
Dependent faigheadh faigh-
Imperative faigheadh faigh, faighigí; faigh-
Subjunctive Present go bhfaighe go bhfaigh-
Past dá bhfaigheadh dá bhfaigh-
Verbal Noun fáil
Past Participle faighte

Feic "to see"

Feic conjugation
Feic, "to see" Standard Munster Ulster
Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present Independent feiceann feic- c(h)íonn c(h)í- tchíonn tchí-
Dependent feiceann feic- feiceann feic-
Past Imperfect Independent d'fheiceadh fheic c(h)íodh c(h)í- tíodh tchí-
Dependent fheiceadh fheic-
Past Perfect Independent chonaic chonaic- chnaic chnaic- thain(a)ic thainic-
Dependent faca fac- feaca(igh) feaca- faca fac-
Future Independent feicfidh feic- c(h)ífidh c(h)í- tchífidh tchí-
Dependent gcífidh gcí-
Conditional Independent d'fheicfeadh d'fheic- c(h)ífeadh c(h)í tchífeadh tchí-
Dependent fheicfeadh fheic- gcífeadh gcí-
Imperative feiceadh feic, feicigí; feic-
Subjunctive Present go bhfeice go bhfeic-
Past dá bhfeiceadh dá bhfeic-
Verbal Noun feiceáil feiscint
Past Participle feicthe

Ith "to eat"

Ith conjugation
Ith, "to eat" Standard Cape Clear (Munster)
Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present itheann ith-
Past Imperfect d'itheadh d'ith-
Past Perfect d'ith d'ith- duaidh dua-
Future íosfaidh íosfai-
Conditional Independent d'íosfadh díos-
Dependent íosfadh íos-
Imperative itheadh ith, ithigí; ith-
Subjunctive Present go n-ithe go n-ith-
Past dá n-itheadh dá n-ith-
Verbal Noun ithe
Past Participle ite

Tabhair "to give, to bring, (to be named)"

Tabhair conjugation
Tabhair, "to give, to bring" Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present General tug tug-
Independent bheir bheir-
Dependent tabhrann tabh(a)r-
Past Imperfect General thugadh thug-
Independent bheirinn bheir-
Dependent tabhrainn tabh(a)r-
Past Perfect thug thug-
Future General tabharfaidh tabhar-
Independent bhéaraid bhéar-
Dependent tiubhraid tiubhr-
Conditional General thabharfadh thabhar-
Independent bhéarfadh bhéar-
Dependent tiubhradh tiubhr-
Imperative tugadh tabhair, tugaigí; tug-
Subjunctive Present go dtuga go dtug-
Past dá dtugadh dá dtug-
Verbal Noun tabhairt
Past Participle tugtha

The meaning "to be named" is often found in writings and can therefore be considered as strange for learners. When meaning "to be named" the verbform is usually followed by the preposition "ar", which is also inflected due to the person it is connected with. e.g.:

  • Bhí Seán, mar a thugtaí air, an-shásta. "Seán, as he was (usually) called, was very happy."
  • Tá Seán ag tabhairt an úill dom. "Seán is giving me the apple."

Tar "to come"

Tar conjugation
Tar, "to come" Standard Connacht (some) Munster (some) Ulster
Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present tagann (tig le) tag- teagann teag- tigeann tig- tig tig-
Past Imperfect thagadh thag-
Past Perfect tháinig tháng-
Future tiocfaidh tioc-
Conditional thiocfadh thioc-
Imperative tagadh tar, tagaigí; tag- tagadh teara, tagaigí; tag- tagadh tair, tagaigí; tag- tagadh gabh, tagaigí; tag-
Subjunctive Present go dtaga go dtag- go dtí go dtí- go dtí go dtí-
Past dá dtagadh dá dtag-
Verbal Noun teacht
Past Participle tagtha

Téigh "to go"

Téigh conjugation
Téigh, "to go" Standard Connemara (Connacht) Munster Ulster
Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic Analytic Synthetic
Indicative Present téann téi-
Past Imperfect théadh théi-
Past Perfect Independent chuaigh chu-
Dependent deachaigh deach-
Future rachaidh (raghfaidh) rach- (raghf-) gabhfaidh gabhf- raghaidh ragh-
Conditional rachadh (raghfadh) rach- (raghf-) ghabhfadh ghabhf- raghadh ragh-
Imperative téadh téi- téadh teire/ gabh; té- téadh teir, teiridh; té- téadh téithear; gabh-/té-
Subjunctive Present go dté go dté-
Past dá dtéadh dá dté-
Verbal Noun dul goil goil
Past Participle dulta goite goite

Preverbal particles

Irish uses a number of preverbal particles to modify the meaning of a sentence. In a positive statement, no particle is used and the verb comes first (except in Munster Irish where do is placed before verbs in the past, habitual past and conditional, leniting the verb that follows). This is still seen in the Standard Language in said tenses, prefixed to verbs beginning with vowels, e.g. d'ól mé (Munster Irish: d'ólas) "I drank":

  • Tuigeann Seán Gaeilge. "Seán understands Irish."
  • Thuig Seán Gaeilge. "Seán understood Irish."
  • Thuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge. "Seán would understand Irish."

Negative particles

To negate a statement, the particle is used, which causes lenition; a d’ before a vowel or lenited f is omitted:

  • thuigeann Seán Gaeilge. "Seán doesn't understand Irish."
  • thuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge. "Seán wouldn't understand Irish."
  • ólfadh Séamas an bainne. "Séamas would not drink the milk." (cf. D'ólfadh Séamas an bainne. "Séamas would drink the milk.")
  • fhanfadh Úna liom. "Úna would not wait for me." (cf. D'fhanfadh Úna liom. "Úna would wait for me.")

In the preterite, the particle níor is used . There is lenition but no d’.

  • Níor thuig Seán Gaeilge. "Seán didn't understand Irish."
  • Níor ól Séamas an bainne. "Séamas didn't drink the milk." (cf. D'ól Séamas an bainne. "Séamas drank the milk.")
  • Níor fhan Úna liom. "Úna didn't wait for me." (cf. D'fhan Úna liom. "Úna waited for me.")

(In Ulster, the negative particles cha(n), pret. char are also used)

Interrogative particles

To pose a simple yes/no question, the particle an is used, which causes eclipsis (no eclipsis of vowels, because an already ends with n). In the preterite ar (+ lenition) is used. The prefix d’ is omitted:

  • An dtuigeann Seán Gaeilge? "Does Seán understand Irish?"
  • An dtuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge? "Would Seán understand Irish?"
  • An ólann Séamas bainne? "Does Séamas drink milk?"
  • An bhfanfadh Úna liom? "Would Úna wait for me?"
  • Ar thuig Seán Gaeilge? "Did Seán understand Irish?"
  • Ar ól Séamas an bainne? "Did Séamas drink the milk?"
  • Ar fhan Úna liom? "Did Úna wait for me?"

These particles are also used to introduce an indirect question:

  • Níl a fhios agam an dtuigeann Seán Gaeilge. "I don't know if Seán understands Irish."
  • Ní mé ar ól Séamas an bainne. "I wonder if Séamas drank the milk."

Negative interrogative particles

To pose a negative yes/no question, the particle nach is used, which causes eclipsis (in preterite: nár + lenition):

  • Nach dtuigeann Seán Gaeilge? "Doesn't Seán understand Irish?"
  • Nach dtuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge? "Wouldn't Seán understand Irish?"
  • Nach n-ólfadh Séamas an bainne? "Wouldn't Séamas drink the milk?"
  • Nach bhfanfadh Úna liom? "Wouldn't Úna wait for me?"
  • Nár thuig Seán Gaeilge? "Didn't Seán understand Irish?"
  • Nár ól Séamas an bainne? "Didn't Séamas drink the milk?"
  • Nár fhan Úna liom? "Didn't Úna wait for me?"

(In Munster is used instead of nach.)

Wh-interrogative particles

To pose a wh-question, one of the interrogative particles , cad a/céard a, cathain a, cé a, conas a etc. is used.

  • gcuirfidh tú an litir? "Where will you put the letter?"
  • Cad/Céard a cheapfaidh na comharsana? "What will the neighbors think?"
  • Cathain a dhíolfaidh sibh bhur dteach? "When will you sell your house?"
  • Cé a sheasfaidh i m'aice? "Who will stand next to me?"
  • Conas a ghlanfaidh tú an gúna? "How will you clean the dress?"

Verbal nouns

Formation

Irish has no infinitive and uses instead the verbal noun. The verbal noun can be formed using different strategies (mostly suffixes). The most common of these are:

  • Suffix -adh, e.g., bog "soften": bogadh
  • Suffix -áil, e.g., fág "leave": fágáil
  • Suffix , e.g., ardaigh "lift": ardú
  • Suffix -amh, e.g., caith "spend": caitheamh
  • Suffix -t, e.g., cosain "defend": cosaint
  • Suffix -úint, e.g., lean "follow": leanúint
  • Slender consonant is made broad, e.g., coisc "prevent": cosc
  • Suffix -ach, e.g., ceannaigh "buy": ceannach
  • No change, e.g., ól "drink": ól
  • Suffix -cht, e.g., dúisigh "awake": dúiseacht
  • Suffix -e, e.g., rinc "dance": rince

Usage

The verbal noun is used as the infinitive would be used in English.

D'iarr sé orm imeacht. "He asked me to go."
B'fhearr liom fanacht. "I would rather stay."

A progressive can be expressed with the preposition ag and is equivalent to the English present participle.

Tá Seán ag obair. "Seán is working."
Bhí Máire ag caint. "Máire was speaking."

A perfect tense can be formed with either of the compound prepositions tar éis or i ndiaidh and the verbal noun.

Tá sí tar éis baint an fhéir. "She has (just) mowed the grass." (cf. Hiberno-English "She is after cutting the grass.")
Bhí sé i ndiaidh ní na gcupán. "He had (just) washed the cups." (cf. Hiberno-English "He was after washing the cups.")

The subjunctive

The subjunctive covers the idea of wishing something and so appears in some famous Irish proverbs and blessings. It is considered an old-fashioned tense for daily speech (except in set phrases) but still appears often in print. E.g.,

  • Go dté tú slán. "May you be well." (lit: May you go well.)
  • Go dtuga Dia ciall duit. "May God give you sense."
  • Go ndéana an Diabhal toirneach de d'anam in Ifreann. "May the Devil make thunder of your soul in Hell."

It is important to note that when the subjunctive is used in English, it may not be used in Irish, and another tense might be used instead:

  • mba (past/conditional of the copula) mise tusa, dhéanfainn (conditional) staidéar ar don scrúdú amárach. "If I were (past subjunctive) you, I would study for the exam tomorrow."
  • Tá sé tábhachtach go roghnaíonn (present indicative) sé ar an mbealach ceart. "It is important that he choose (present sub.) the right way."
  • Nuair a bheidh (future ind.) tú níos sine, beidh tú a thuiscint. "When you're (present ind.) older, you'll understand."
  • Is mian liom go raibh (present sub.) tú anseo. "I wish (that) you were (past sub.) here."

While the relative pronoun that can be omitted in English, the corresponding go is mandatory in Irish.

Bibliography

  • Hughes, A.J. (2008). Leabhar Mór Bhriathra na Gaeilge - The Great Irish Book (in Irish and English). Béal Feirste = Belfast: Clólann Bhean Mhadagáin = Ben Madigan Press. ISBN 0-9542834-2-2.

See also

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