An tAinm Briathartha (Verbal noun)
Irish verbs have no inifinitives, thus the role of an infinitive can be filled with a verbal noun. It can be used in the progressive tense along with the preposition ag, e.g. doing, going, eating, etc.
It is used with and without a direct or indirect object to express an infinitive (in English, this would be to followed by the infinitive of the verb), e.g. I have to run, I need to go home, you are happy to eat apples.
It can be used in the intentional form, to say that you are going to do something, e.g. He is going to buy a car, I am going to learn Irish, etc.
There are plenty of other uses.
Form
As usual with Irish verbs, forming the verbal noun isn't straightforward. How to form the verbal noun depends on the conjugation group of the verb, and the ending.
First conjugation
Group 1: the most common way is to just add -(e)adh to the verb root.
| Broad root | Verbal noun | Slender root | Verbal noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| mol (to praise) | moladh | bris (to break) | briseadh |
| dún (to close) | dúnadh | cáin (to fine) | cáineadh |
| pós (to marry) | pósadh | doirt (to pour) | doirteadh |
| buail (to beat) | bualadh** | ||
| loisc (to burn) | loscadh** |
** Sometimes the consonant at the end broadens!
Group 2: Just use the verb root, e.g. ól, díol, troid, rith. Sometimes the last consonant broadens, e.g. cuir -> cur, siúil -> siúl
Group 3: Add -t to the verb root
| Root | Verbal noun |
|---|---|
| bain (to dig/extract) | baint |
| roinn (to divide/separate) | roinnt |
Group 4: add -(e)amh to the verb root
| Root | Verbal noun |
|---|---|
| caith (to throw) | caitheamh |
| seas (to stand) | seasamh |
| léigh (to read) | léamh |
Group 5: Add -(e)an to the verb root
| Root | Verbal noun |
|---|---|
| lig (to let) | ligean |
| leag (to knock down) | leagan |
Group 6: Add -(i)úint to the verb root
| Root | Verbal noun |
|---|---|
| creid (to believe) | creidiúnt |
| lean (to follow) | leanúint |
Group 7: ALL OTHER ENDINGS (told you it was irregular)
| Root | Verbal noun |
|---|---|
| fág (to leave) | fágáil |
| féach (to look) | féachaint |
| fan (to stay) | fanacht |
Second conjugation
Group 1: Drop the -(a)igh from the verb root and add -(i)ú
| Broad Root | Verbal Noun | Slender Root | Verbal Noun |
|---|---|---|---|
| maraigh (to kill) | marú | cruinnigh (to gather) | cruinniú |
| athraigh (to change) | athrú | bailigh (to gather/collect) | bailiú |
| tosaigh (to start) | tosú | suimigh (to add) | suimiú |
Group 2: Drop the -(a)igh from the verb root and add -(e)ach(t)
| Root | Verbal Noun |
|---|---|
| ceannaigh (to buy) | ceannach |
| imigh (to leave/go) | imeacht |
Usage
Progressive actions
The verbal noun can be used with the preposition ag to express continuous or progressive actions.
| Samplaí Gaeilge | Aistriúcháin Béarla |
|---|---|
| ag caint | talking |
| ag ól | drinking |
| ag díol | selling |
| ag éisteacht | listening |
| ag ceannach | buying |
| ag siúl | walking |
When a noun is the direct object of the verbal noun in the progressive sense, it is usually in the genentive case.
| Samplaí Gaeilge | Aistriúcháin Béarla |
|---|---|
| ag déanamh na hoibre | doing the work |
| ag ithe an dinnéir | eating the dinner |
| ag scríobh na litreach | writing the letter |
When a pronoun is the direct object of the verbal noun in the progressive sense, we use the following form:
ag + <possessive adjective> + <verbal noun + séimhiú/úrú if appropriate>
| Samplaí Gaeilge | Aistriúcháin Béarla |
|---|---|
| ag mo mholadh | praising me |
| ag do mholadh | praising you |
Infinitive constructs
The infinitive construct can be formed using the verbal noun to express to + infinitive.
If the verb is intransitive (i.e. takes no direct object), then the infinitive is formed by simply using the verbal noun.
| Samplaí Gaeilge | Aistriúcháin Béarla |
|---|---|
| Caithfidh mé imeacht anois | I have to go now |
| Tá orm fanacht | I have to wait |
| Ní mór dó dul amach | He has to go out |
| B'éigean dóibh snámh | They had to swim |
| An bhfuil tú ag iarraidh fanacht? | Do you want to wait? |
| Ba bhreá liom bualadh leis | I would love to meet him |
If the verb is transitive, the form changes slightly:
<rest of sentence> + <direct object> + a + <verbal noun with séimhiú>
| Samplaí Gaeilge | Aistriúcháin Béarla |
|---|---|
| Tá sé ar tí an obair a dhéanamh | He is about to do the work |
| Ba mhaith liom an fear a fheiceáil | I would like to see the man |
| Is breá liom é a fheiceáil gach lá | I love to see him every day |
| Caithfidh sí an carr a thiomáint | She had to drive the car |
| Tá ort an chistin a ghlanadh | You have to clean the kitchen |
| Ní mór dúinn an siopa a dhúnadh | We have to close the shop |
| B'éigean di an cat a bhualadh | She had _to beat _the cat |
| Dúirt sé liom an t-airgead a chaitheamh | He told me to spend the money |
| Bhí mé ar tí an leabhar a léamh | I was about to read the book |