Conjunctions and Verbal Particles
Má
Má is used most often with the aimsir láithreach and aimsir chaite. When a future tense is needed following má, the present tense form is used.
| Sampla Gaeilge | Aistriúchán Béarla |
|---|---|
| Má thagann sé amárach | If he comes tomorrow |
If the future tense of the substantive verb bí is required following má, the form in the aimsir ghnáthláithreach is used.
| Sampla Gaeilge | Aistriúchán Béarla |
|---|---|
| Má bhíonn sé i láthair amárach | If he is present tomorrow |
The verb that follows má takes a séimhiú, except in the following cases:
(a) If the verb is tá: Má tá an ceart aige => If he has the right
(b) If the verb is one of the forms of the irregular verb abair that starts with a d: Má deir / deireadh / dúirt sé
(c) If the verb is the aimsir chaite of faigh: Má fuair mé => If I got
(d) If the verb is regular and in the autonomous form of the aimsir chaite: Má cuireadh, Má moladh, Má fágadh, Má tugadh
The independent form of the verb follows má, and in the case of verbs starting with a vowel or with f - where a d' usually precedes the verb in the aimsir chaite and ghnáthchaite - there is no change to the d'.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Má d'ól / d'óladh sé |
| Má d'fhan / d'fhanadh sé |
| Má chuireann / chuireadh / chuir sé |
| Má dhúnann / dhúnadh / dhún sí |
Má combines with the copula is to form más: Más maith leat => If you like it; Más fíor é => If it's true; Más é do thoil é => Please
Dá
Dá is used with the modh coinníollach and the aimsir foshuiteach caite only. An úrú is put on the first letter of the verb that follows dá, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí Gaeilge | Aistriúcháin Béarla |
|---|---|
| Dá mbeadh sé | If he were |
| Dá gceannódh sé | If he bought / were to buy |
| Dá n-ólfadh sé | If he drank / were to drink |
| Dá bhfagadh sé | If he left / were to leave |
Mar, nó, óir
Mar / nó / óir are commonly used conjunctions that mean for.
| Samplaí Gaeilge | Aistriúcháin Béarla |
|---|---|
| Óir is tú a rinne é | For it is you who did it |
| Nó tiocfaidh an lá sa deireadh | For the day will finally come |
| Mar dá bhfeicfinn é | For if I had seen him |
Affirmative Verb Particles
An
Used with every verb, in every tense, except:
(a) An modh ordaitheach and foshuiteach láithreach
(b) Regular verbs in the aimsir chaite , as well as the irregular verbs beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
An puts an úrú on the first letter of the verb and the dependent form of the verb is required.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| An gcuireann / gcuirfidh / gcuireadh / gcuirfeadh sé? |
| An ndéanann / ndéanfaidh / ndéanadh / ndéanfadh / ndearna sé? |
| An bhfágann / bhfágfaidh / bhfágadh / bhfágfadh sé? |
| An ólann / ólfaidh / óladh / ólfadh sé? |
NOTE: no úrú is put on the verb if it starts with a vowel.
Ar
Used only in the aimsir chaite with every regular verb and the irregular verbs beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It puts a séimhiú on the verb, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Ar chuir sí? |
| Ar fhág sí? |
| Ar ól sí? |
| Ar ith sí? |
NOTE: no séimhiú is put on the verb in the case of the autonomous form of the aimsir chaite, as well as for the verb tabhair.
Go
Used with every verb in every tense, except:
(a) an modh ordaitheach
(b) Regular verbs in the aimsir chaite, as well as the irregular verbs beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It puts an úrú on the first letter of the verb, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Go gcuireann / gcuirfidh / gcuireadh / gcuirfeadh / gcuire sé |
| Go ndéanann / ndéanfaidh / ndéanadh / ndéanfadh / ndearna / ndéana sé |
| Go bhfágann / bhfágfaidh / bhfágadh / bhfágfadh / bhfága sé |
| Go n-ólann / n-ólfaidh / n-óladh / n-ólfadh / n-óla sé |
Gur
Essentially just go + ar = gur. Used with aimsir chaite regular verbs as well as beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It takes a séimhiú, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Gur chuir sí |
| Gur fhág sí |
| Gur ól sí |
| Gur ith sí |
NOTE: no séimhiú on the aimsir chaite autonomous form, nor in the case of tabhair
Sula
Means before. Used with every verb in every tense, except:
(a) an modh ordaitheach
(b) Regular verbs in the aimsir chaite, as well as the irregular verbs beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It puts an úrú on the first letter of the verb, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Sula gcuireann / gcuirfidh / gcuireadh / gcuirfeadh / gcuire sé |
| Sula ndéanann / ndéanfaidh / ndéanadh / ndéanfadh / ndearna / ndéana sé |
| Sula bhfágann / bhfágfaidh / bhfágadh / bhfágfadh / bhfága sé |
| Sula n-ólann / n-ólfaidh / n-óladh / n-ólfadh / n-óla sé |
Sular
Essentially just sula + ar = sular. Used with aimsir chaite regular verbs as well as beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It takes a séimhiú, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Sular chuir sí |
| Sular fhág sí |
| Sular ól sí |
| Sular ith sí |
NOTE: no séimhiú on the aimsir chaite autonomous form, nor in the case of tabhair
Mura
Means if not/unless. Used with every verb in every tense, except:
(a) an modh ordaitheach
(b) Regular verbs in the aimsir chaite, as well as the irregular verbs beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It puts an úrú on the first letter of the verb, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Mura gcuireann / gcuirfidh / gcuireadh / gcuirfeadh / gcuire sé |
| Mura ndéanann / ndéanfaidh / ndéanadh / ndéanfadh / ndearna / ndéana sé |
| Mura bhfágann / bhfágfaidh / bhfágadh / bhfágfadh / bhfága sé |
| Mura n-ólann / n-ólfaidh / n-óladh / n-ólfadh / n-óla sé |
Mura combines with the copula to form mura (murab before vowel) in the aimsir láithreach and fháistineach, and murar (murarbh before vowel) in the aimsir chaite and modh coinníollach.
Murar
Essentially just mura + ar = murar. Used with aimsir chaite regular verbs as well as beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It takes a séimhiú, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Murar chuir sí |
| Murar fhág sí |
| Murar ól sí |
| Murar ith sí |
NOTE: no séimhiú on the aimsir chaite autonomous form, nor in the case of tabhair
Cá
Means where. Used with every verb, in every tense, except:
(a) An modh ordaitheach and foshuiteach láithreach
(b) Regular verbs in the aimsir chaite , as well as the irregular verbs beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It puts an úrú on the first letter of the verb and the dependent form of the verb is required.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Cá gcuireann / gcuirfidh / gcuireadh / gcuirfeadh sé? |
| Cá ndéanann / ndéanfaidh / ndéanadh / ndéanfadh / ndearna sé? |
| Cá bhfágann / bhfágfaidh / bhfágadh / bhfágfadh sé? |
| Cá ólann / ólfaidh / óladh / ólfadh sé? |
NOTE: no úrú is put on the verb if it starts with a vowel.
Cár
Essentially just cá + ar = cár. Used with aimsir chaite regular verbs as well as beir, clois/cluin, ith, tabhair, tar
It takes a séimhiú, and the dependent form of the verb is used.
| Samplaí |
|---|
| Cár chuir sí |
| Cár fhág sí |
| Cár ól sí |
| Cár ith sí |
NOTE: no séimhiú on the aimsir chaite autonomous form, nor in the case of tabhair