#aidiacht bhriathartha

[toinghaeilge]

Forming Verbal Adjectives

A verbal adjective is an adjective that is created from a verb. For example, the verb cas (twist) becomes the adjective casta (twisted), so the ankle is described as being twisted.

Murnán casta Twisted ankle

Verbs with one syllable

Most verbs ending b, c, g, m, p, r ending mh and bh

Slender -te: bris → briste -the: tuig → tuigthe -fe: ibh → ife

Broad -ta: dún → dúnta -tha: fág → fágtha -fa: scríobh → scríofa

The verb scríobh (write) here becomes an adjective, describing the agreement as "written":

Comhaontú scríofa Written agreement

Verbs with more than one syllable

ending -igh ending -il ending -in ending -ir or -im ending -ing

Slender -the: ceannaigh → ceannaithe -te: ceangail → ceangailte -ta: cosain → cosanta -tha: imir → imeartha -the: tuirling → tuirlingthe

The verb tuirling (descend) here becomes an adjective, describing the light as (for) "landing":

Solas tuirlingthe Landing light

Notice that some of these verbs broaden as verbal adjectives.

Irregular Verbs

Aside from abair, tabhair and téigh, the irregular verbs generally follow the rules above.

Abair → ráite (from verbal noun) Beir → beirthe Clois/cluin → cloiste/cluinte Déan → déanta Faigh → faighte Feic → feicthe Ith → ite Tar → tagtha Tabhair → tugtha (from verbal noun) Téigh → dulta (from verbal noun)

Use

Because all of these conjugations end in vowels, they are all strong plurals: this means the plural form is the same (see: Introduction to Plural forms):

Ballaí péinteáilte Painted walls

When someone has done something:

Tá na páistí millte aici. The spoilt children are at her. She has spoilt the children.

Note: This has previously been covered before in What has Pól Done?, where this sentence structure was broken down.

For something recently done, we use after: tar éis.

Bhí muid tar éis béile mór a ithe.We are after a big meal eaten. We have (just) eaten a big meal.

Try it

Translate these:

1. I have a written letter 2. The broken window 3. He has sold the car

Hover below for answers

1. Tá litir scríofa agam 2. An fhuinneog bhriste 3. Tá an carr díolta aige

[toingaeilge]

Forming Verbal Adjectives

A verbal adjective is an adjective that is created from a verb. For example, the verb cas (twist) becomes the adjective casta (twisted), so the ankle is described as being twisted.

Murnán casta Twisted ankle

Verbs with one syllable

Most verbs ending b, c, g, m, p, r ending mh and bh

Slender -te: bris → briste -the: tuig → tuigthe -fe: ibh → ife

Broad -ta: dún → dúnta -tha: fág → fágtha -fa: scríobh → scríofa

The verb scríobh (write) here becomes an adjective, describing the agreement as "written":

Comhaontú scríofa Written agreement

Verbs with more than one syllable

ending -igh ending -il ending -in ending -ir or -im ending -ing

Slender -the: ceannaigh → ceannaithe -te: ceangail → ceangailte -ta: cosain → cosanta -tha: imir → imeartha -the: tuirling → tuirlingthe

The verb tuirling (descend) here becomes an adjective, describing the light as (for) "landing":

Solas tuirlingthe Landing light

Notice that some of these verbs broaden as verbal adjectives.

Irregular Verbs

Aside from abair, tabhair and téigh, the irregular verbs generally follow the rules above.

Abair → ráite (from verbal noun) Beir → beirthe Clois/cluin → cloiste/cluinte Déan → déanta Faigh → faighte Feic → feicthe Ith → ite Tar → tagtha Tabhair → tugtha (from verbal noun) Téigh → dulta (from verbal noun)

Use

Because all of these conjugations end in vowels, they are all strong plurals: this means the plural form is the same (see: Introduction to Plural forms):

Ballaí péinteáilte Painted walls

When someone has done something:

Tá na páistí millte aici. The spoilt children are at her. She has spoilt the children.

Note: This has previously been covered before in What has Pól Done?, where this sentence structure was broken down.

For something recently done, we use after: tar éis.

Bhí muid tar éis béile mór a ithe.We are after a big meal eaten. We have (just) eaten a big meal.

Try it

Translate these:

1. I have a written letter 2. The broken window 3. He has sold the car

Hover below for answers

1. Tá litir scríofa agam 2. An fhuinneog bhriste 3. Tá an carr díolta aige

[toinghaeilge]

Suffixes

This is the companion to prefixes. While prefixes add to or reverse the meanings of words, suffixes often change their type. Nouns to adjectives, nouns to verbs &c. 

Adjectives

-ach, -úil, -mhar, and -ta are added to nouns to create adjectives:

-ach freagra - freagrach

-ta réasún - réasúnta

-mhar greann - greannmhar

-úil suim - suimiúil

People

-óir, -dóir, -tóir, -aí, -ach and -aire are used for professions, just like bank takes the suffix -er to become banker:

-ach Éire - Éireannach

-dóir siopa - siopadóir

-aire spás - spásaire

-éir banc - bancéir

Places

-lann forms places:

-lann bia - bialann

-lann othar - otharlann

The Abstract

-as and -achar are used when forming words to and from abstract nouns (concepts):

-achar lag - lagachar

-as Béarla - Béarlachas

Modifying adjectives and nouns

-acht or -ocht (following a vowel) can be applied to adjectives and nouns:

-acht timpeall - timpeallacht

-acht scoláire - scoláireacht

-án smugach - smugachán

-ocht te - teocht

-ocht amhránaí - amhránaíocht

Diminutives

Finally, we have diminutive suffixes -ín, -óg, -án:

-án loch - lochán

-ín duilleog - duilleogín

Try it

What might these words mean?

1. Teachín 2. Salachar 3. Stairiúil

Hover below for answers

1. Cottage 2. Dirt 3. Historical

Prefixes The Suffix Án-

[toingaeilge]

Suffixes

This is the companion to prefixes. While prefixes add to or reverse the meanings of words, suffixes often change their type. Nouns to adjectives, nouns to verbs &c. 

Adjectives

-ach, -úil, -mhar, and -ta are added to nouns to create adjectives:

-ach freagra - freagrach

-ta réasún - réasúnta

-mhar greann - greannmhar

-úil suim - suimiúil

People

-óir, -dóir, -tóir, -aí, -ach and -aire are used for professions, just like bank takes the suffix -er to become banker:

-ach Éire - Éireannach

-dóir siopa - siopadóir

-aire spás - spásaire

-éir banc - bancéir

Places

-lann forms places:

-lann bia - bialann

-lann othar - otharlann

The Abstract

-as and -achar are used when forming words to and from abstract nouns (concepts):

-achar lag - lagachar

-as Béarla - Béarlachas

Modifying adjectives and nouns

-acht or -ocht (following a vowel) can be applied to adjectives and nouns:

-acht timpeall - timpeallacht

-acht scoláire - scoláireacht

-án smugach - smugachán

-ocht te - teocht

-ocht amhránaí - amhránaíocht

Diminutives

Finally, we have diminutive suffixes -ín, -óg, -án:

-án loch - lochán

-ín duilleog - duilleogín

Try it

What might these words mean?

1. Teachín 2. Salachar 3. Stairiúil

Hover below for answers

1. Cottage 2. Dirt 3. Historical

Prefixes The Suffix Án-

[toinghaeilge]

What Has Pól Done?

You'll need to reference this post:

Forming Verbal Adjectives

Here we know that Pól is in possession of the money

Tá an t-airgead ag Pól

Expanding on the form for possession, we can say what Pól has done to the money:

Tá an t-airgead ite ag Pól Tá an t-airgead caillte ag Pól

Ignoring the fact that Pól isn’t exactly the smartest man in the world, we have expressed that he has eaten or lost the money.

Try it

Translate this:

1. She was eating a full breakfast

Hover below for answers

1. Bhí bricfeasta iomlán ite aici

[toingaeilge]

What Has Pól Done?

You'll need to reference this post:

Forming Verbal Adjectives

Here we know that Pól is in possession of the money

Tá an t-airgead ag Pól

Expanding on the form for possession, we can say what Pól has done to the money:

Tá an t-airgead ite ag Pól Tá an t-airgead caillte ag Pól

Ignoring the fact that Pól isn’t exactly the smartest man in the world, we have expressed that he has eaten or lost the money.

Try it

Translate this:

1. She was eating a full breakfast

Hover below for answers

1. Bhí bricfeasta iomlán ite aici

[toinghaeilge]

The Summary of Summaries

It has been suggested several times that a master list of what each technical term means should be created, so here it is. I’ll also link for in-depth reading if I have posts for them.

Update! I made a search page version of this post:

Grammar Glossary

Basics

Adjectives Describey words. He is big. You are a smelly priest.

Tagged aidiachtaí (vocabulary)

Tagged aidiactaí gramadach (grammar)

Adverbs Adverbs answer how questions: it is moving slowly. I laugh often. He looks at her strangely.

Introduction

Tagged dobhriathar

Comparatives and Superlatives A comparative of X would be “more X” or “less X”. The superlative would be “most X” or “least X”.

Masterpost

Tagged comparáideach

Compound words Words that are made up of at least two words: e.g. keyboard.

Introduction

Tagged comhfhocal

Definite Articles This simply refers to the, or in Irish, an or na.

Simple tenses Simple past, present and future tenses: I walked. I walk. I will walk. There we go.

Tagged buneolas aimsir

Cases

Accusative Case The accusative case marks the direct object of a verb. i.e. I kicked the man. In this instance, "the man" should take the accusative case. In Irish, the acusative is identical to the dictionary form.

Dative Case The dative is used as the object (see subject and object forms) of most simple prepositions except gan and go dtí.

on the left hand side ar thaobh na láimhe deise

she's from Ireland Is as Éirinn di

In most cases, the dative form is identical to the the dictionary form, albeit with several exceptions. Here are the remaining dative forms in standard Irish: cois (cos), láimh (lámh), bróig (bróg), bois (bos), cluais (cluas), and Éirinn (Éire).

They are also found in certain fixed phrases, such as os cionn, where the dative of ceann is today rarely used outside of these fixed phrases. Some dialects still have special dative forms, which they will not differentiate from the dictionary form (they will use solely the dative).

Genitive Case The genitive case is most commonly used to show possession, in a place of “of”, or to modify a noun into an adjective.

Introduction

Tagged tuiseal ginideach

Nominative Case The most common case; it is used as the subject form (see below for definition). It is thedictionary version of a word.

Vocative Case The vocative is used when directly addressing someone, and is always preceded by a.

Introduction

Tagged an gairmeach

Tenses and Moods

Conditional Mood The conditional mood is related to the wishing mood and has mostly replaced the wishing past tense: “I wished I could’ve”. The conditional mood refers to a hypothetical state, an uncertain event, or one that depends on a specific set of circumstances. Think of it as could, would or should.

Would you help us? An dtabharfadh tú cúnamh dúinn?

Introduction

Tagged coinníollach

Habitual Tense The habitual aspect can be in the past and present tenses, the implication being that it is a regular occurrence, either in the past or present.

Introduction

Imperative Mood The imperative mood is basically an instruction or command mood, a way of saying things such that they are orders instead of statements. The imperative mood uses dictionary forms of verbs.

Introduction

Imperfect Tense This refers to the past habitual tense (see above). It refers to something that used to occur regularly in the past, i.e. I used to run.

Subjunctive Mood The subjunctive mood conveys the idea of wishing something. The subjunctive present is mostly used in proverbs, blessings and curses. It is considered archaic and has largely been replaced by the future tense.

For example, where in the past I might wish upon someone: "May the Devil eat your nose", I will now instead say "The Devil will eat your nose".

Introduction

Everything Else

The Copula The copula is used to to complete an idea about the subject. It can identify a subject, tell us about ownership and possession, be used for emphasis and with certain adjectives or ask certain kinds of questions.

Masterpost

Tagged copail

Dependent Forms The dependent form is a group of words that do not mean anything on their own and depends on another group of words to complete ideas. It is used in questions, negative sentences and and certain prepositions.

An bhfaighfidh tú é? Dá mbeadh sé ann Deir sí nach bhfuil (what?) An múinteoir a fheicim

Introduction

Tagged foirmeacha spleácha

Disjunctive Forms Disjunctive forms are pronouns unaccompanied by verbs. The object form is considered a disjunctive form. In basic sentence, there is usually an actor and the object or person being acted upon. This is the object form.

Labhraíonn Seán Gaeilge

In the above sentece, 'Seán' is the actor, and 'Gaeilge' is being acted upon. It is the object form and the disjunctive form: there is no verb connected to the word 'Gaeilge'.

Tá sé anseo...agus é ag troid.

In compound sentences like the above, where there are multiple parts, the second pronoun 'é', despite being the actor, is not directly connected to a verb.

Emphatic Forms Emphatic form describes when emphasis is placed on the word. The equivalent in English would be stressing words.

Introduction

Tagged foirm threise

First and Second conjugations A conjugated verb is a verb that has been altered from its base form. How a verb's ending changes depends on two things: the first being the tense or mood it is in, and the second being the number of syllables in the dictionary form of the verb.

When a single-syllable verb is altered, it is referred to as the first conjugation. For example, in the present tense:

Feic becomes feiceann in the first conjugation because 'feic' is one syllable

When a two-or-more-syllable verb is altered, it is called the second conjugation. For example, in the present tense:

Ceannaigh becomes ceannaíonn in the second conjugation because it is two syllables

Impersonal Forms The impersonal form, also referred to as the autonomous or passive form, is used when there is no specific actor mentioned in a sentence.

Cars are made here (who makes the cars?) Déantar gluaistáin anseo

Introduction

Tagged an saorbhriathar

Indirect Speech Indirect speech is almost always used to talk about something that has happened in the past. Like questions and negative statements, it also takes the dependent form.

Introduction

Tagged claoninsint

Irregular Verbs Irregular verbs are verbs that often conjugate differently than most. They often take completely different forms when the tenses are changed.

Tagged briathar neamhrialta

My summary table for all irregular verbs (Google Drive)

Relative Clauseswho, that, which, whose, where, and when. For example,

The man whom I see. An fearr a fheiceim

Introduction

Tagged clásal coibhneasta

Subjective and Objective Forms The subject refers to the actor or action party in a sentence. The object is the person or item who is being acted upon. In the sentence I like you, ‘I’ is the subject and ‘you’ is the object.

Introduction

Tagged ainmneach agus cuspóireach

Verbal Adjectives A verbal adjective is an adjective that is created from a verb. For example, the verb cas (twist) becomes the adjective casta (twisted), so the ankle is described as being twisted.

Introduction

Tagged aidiacht bhriathartha

Verbal Nouns The verbal noun, in its use, can be literally translated to “at X” for “ag X” and “at its X” for “a X”.

Masterpost

Tagged ainm briathartha

[toingaeilge]

The Summary of Summaries

It has been suggested several times that a master list of what each technical term means should be created, so here it is. I’ll also link for in-depth reading if I have posts for them.

Update! Searchable version of this

Basics

Adjectives Describey words. He is big. You are a smelly priest.

Tagged aidiachtaí (vocabulary)

Tagged aidiactaí gramadach (grammar)

Adverbs Adverbs answer how questions: it is moving slowly. I laugh often. He looks at her strangely.

Introduction

Tagged dobhriathar

Comparatives and Superlatives A comparative of X would be “more X” or “less X”. The superlative would be “most X” or “least X”.

Masterpost

Tagged comparáideach

Compound words Words that are made up of at least two words: e.g. keyboard.

Introduction

Tagged comhfhocal

Definite Articles This simply refers to the, or in Irish, an or na.

Simple tenses Simple past, present and future tenses: I walked. I walk. I will walk. There we go.

Tagged buneolas aimsir

Cases

Accusative Case The accusative case marks the direct object of a verb. i.e. I kicked the man. In this instance, "the man" should take the accusative case. In Irish, the acusative is identical to the dictionary form.

Dative Case The dative is used as the object (see subject and object forms) of most simple prepositions except gan and go dtí.

on the left hand side ar thaobh na láimhe deise

she's from Ireland Is as Éirinn di

In most cases, the dative form is identical to the the dictionary form, albeit with several exceptions. Here are the remaining dative forms in standard Irish: cois (cos), láimh (lámh), bróig (bróg), bois (bos), cluais (cluas), and Éirinn (Éire).

They are also found in certain fixed phrases, such as os cionn, where the dative of ceann is today rarely used outside of these fixed phrases. Some dialects still have special dative forms, which they will not differentiate from the dictionary form (they will use solely the dative).

Genitive Case The genitive case is most commonly used to show possession, in a place of “of”, or to modify a noun into an adjective.

Introduction

Tagged tuiseal ginideach

Nominative Case The most common case; it is used as the subject form (see below for definition). It is thedictionary version of a word.

Vocative Case The vocative is used when directly addressing someone, and is always preceded by a.

Introduction

Tagged an gairmeach

Tenses and Moods

Conditional Mood The conditional mood is related to the wishing mood and has mostly replaced the wishing past tense: “I wished I could’ve”. The conditional mood refers to a hypothetical state, an uncertain event, or one that depends on a specific set of circumstances. Think of it as could, would or should.

Would you help us? An dtabharfadh tú cúnamh dúinn?

Introduction

Tagged coinníollach

Habitual Tense The habitual aspect can be in the past and present tenses, the implication being that it is a regular occurrence, either in the past or present.

Introduction

Imperative Mood The imperative mood is basically an instruction or command mood, a way of saying things such that they are orders instead of statements. The imperative mood uses dictionary forms of verbs.

Introduction

Imperfect Tense This refers to the past habitual tense (see above). It refers to something that used to occur regularly in the past, i.e. I used to run.

Subjunctive Mood The subjunctive mood conveys the idea of wishing something. The subjunctive present is mostly used in proverbs, blessings and curses. It is considered archaic and has largely been replaced by the future tense.

For example, where in the past I might wish upon someone: "May the Devil eat your nose", I will now instead say "The Devil will eat your nose".

Introduction

Everything Else

The Copula The copula is used to to complete an idea about the subject. It can identify a subject, tell us about ownership and possession, be used for emphasis and with certain adjectives or ask certain kinds of questions.

Masterpost

Tagged copail

Dependent Forms The dependent form is a group of words that do not mean anything on their own and depends on another group of words to complete ideas. It is used in questions, negative sentences and and certain prepositions.

An bhfaighfidh tú é? Dá mbeadh sé ann Deir sí nach bhfuil (what?) An múinteoir a fheicim

Introduction

Tagged foirmeacha spleácha

Disjunctive Forms Disjunctive forms are pronouns unaccompanied by verbs. The object form is considered a disjunctive form. In basic sentence, there is usually an actor and the object or person being acted upon. This is the object form.

Labhraíonn Seán Gaeilge

In the above sentece, 'Seán' is the actor, and 'Gaeilge' is being acted upon. It is the object form and the disjunctive form: there is no verb connected to the word 'Gaeilge'.

Tá sé anseo...agus é ag troid.

In compound sentences like the above, where there are multiple parts, the second pronoun 'é', despite being the actor, is not directly connected to a verb.

Emphatic Forms Emphatic form describes when emphasis is placed on the word. The equivalent in English would be stressing words.

Introduction

Tagged foirm threise

First and Second conjugations A conjugated verb is a verb that has been altered from its base form. How a verb's ending changes depends on two things: the first being the tense or mood it is in, and the second being the number of syllables in the dictionary form of the verb.

When a single-syllable verb is altered, it is referred to as the first conjugation. For example, in the present tense:

Feic becomes feiceann in the first conjugation because 'feic' is one syllable

When a two-or-more-syllable verb is altered, it is called the second conjugation. For example, in the present tense:

Ceannaigh becomes ceannaíonn in the second conjugation because it is two syllables

Impersonal Forms The impersonal form, also referred to as the autonomous or passive form, is used when there is no specific actor mentioned in a sentence.

Cars are made here (who makes the cars?) Déantar gluaistáin anseo

Introduction

Tagged an saorbhriathar

Indirect Speech Indirect speech is almost always used to talk about something that has happened in the past. Like questions and negative statements, it also takes the dependent form.

Introduction

Tagged claoninsint

Irregular Verbs Irregular verbs are verbs that often conjugate differently than most. They often take completely different forms when the tenses are changed.

Tagged briathar neamhrialta

My summary table for all irregular verbs (Google Drive)

Relative Clauseswho, that, which, whose, where, and when. For example,

The man whom I see. An fearr a fheiceim

Introduction

Tagged clásal coibhneasta

Subjective and Objective Forms The subject refers to the actor or action party in a sentence. The object is the person or item who is being acted upon. In the sentence I like you, ‘I’ is the subject and ‘you’ is the object.

Introduction

Tagged ainmneach agus cuspóireach

Verbal Adjectives A verbal adjective is an adjective that is created from a verb. For example, the verb cas (twist) becomes the adjective casta (twisted), so the ankle is described as being twisted.

Introduction

Tagged aidiacht bhriathartha

Verbal Nouns The verbal noun, in its use, can be literally translated to “at X” for “ag X” and “at its X” for “a X”.

Masterpost

Tagged ainm briathartha