1st conjugation

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⟩-.

Abair "to say"

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

Beir "to bear"

Bí "to be"

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

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).

Déan "to do, to make"

Faigh "to find, to get"

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

Feic "to see"

Ith "to eat"

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

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"

Téigh "to go"

Negative particles

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

• Ní thuigeann Seán Gaeilge. "Seán doesn't understand Irish."
• Ní thuigfeadh Seán Gaeilge. "Seán wouldn't understand Irish."
• Ní ólfadh Séamas an bainne. "Séamas would not drink the milk." (cf. D'ólfadh Séamas an bainne. "Séamas would drink the milk.")
• Ní 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 ná is used instead of nach.)

Wh-interrogative particles

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

• Cá 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?"

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 -ú, 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.")