We began on the verb “tá” in Lesson 2, and we will continue with it now. Here is the entire present tense:
Tá mé (TAW* may*), I am Tá tú (TAW* too), you (singular) are Tá sé (TAW* shay*), he, (it) is Tá sí (TAW* shee), she is Táimid (TAW* mid), we are Tá sibh (TAW* shiv), you (plural) are Tá siad (taw* SHEE-uhd), they are Níl mé (NEEL may*), I am not Níl tú (NEEL too), you (singular) are not Níl sé (NEEL shay*), he is not Níl sí (NEEL shee), she is not Nílimid (NEEL-i-mid), we are not Níl sibh (NEEL shiv), you (plural) are not Níl siad (neel SHEE-uhd), they are not An bhfuil mé? (un VWIL may*), am I? An bhfuil tú? (un VWIL too), are you? (singular) An bhfuil sé? (un VWIL shay*), is he? An bhfuil sí? (un VWIL shee), is she? An bhfuilimid? (un VWIL-i-mid), are we? An bhfuil sibh? (un VWIL shiv), are you? (plural) An bhfuil siad? (un vwil shee-uhd), are they? To give you fluency and practice in pronunciation, we now introduce a progressive drill. Repeat the drill several times when the lessons call for it. Each time you repeat it, it becomes easier. The drill takes you through a verb or grammar form progressively, changing from question to negative to declarative and back to the question form. Remember to form a mental picture for each sentence. Here is the basic form: An bhfuil mé sa ghairdín? (un VWIL may* suh gahr-DEEN), Am I in the garden? Níl mé sa ghairdín (NEEL may* suh gahr-DEEN), I am not in the garden. Tá tú sa ghairdín (TAW* too suh gahr-DEEN), You are in the garden. An bhfuil tú sa ghairdín? (un VWIL too suh gahr-DEEN), Are you in the garden? Níl tú sa ghairdín (NEEL too suh gahr-DEEN), You are not in the garden. Tá sé sa ghairdín (TAW* shay* suh gahr-DEEN), He is in the garden. An bhfuil sé sa ghairdín? (un VWIL shay* suh ghar-DEEN), Is he in the garden? Go on from here. Your last sentence will be: Tá mé sa ghairdín (TAW* may* suh gahr-DEEN), I am in the garden.
The Irish word for “the” is “an”. Irish nouns can be either masculine or feminine, and “an” before a feminine noun aspirates most of the initial consonants that can be aspirated. Exceptions are “d”, “t”, and sometimes “s”. “An” does not aspirate the initial consonant of a masculine noun. Learn this vocabulary: Masculine Nouns lá (law*), day clog (kluhg), clock bus (bus), bus Feminine Nouns bean, an bhean (ban, un VAN), woman cos, an chos (kuhs, un K*UHS), foot duais, an duais (DOO-ish, un DOO-ish), prize grian, an ghrian (GREE-uhn, un YREE-uhn), sun fuinneog, an fhuinneog (fwin-YOHG, un in-YOHG), window teanga, an teanga (TANG-uh, un TANG-uh), language tír, an tír (teer, un TEER), country Other Words and Phrases ag dul abhaile (uh duhl uh-VWAHL-e), going home breá (bir-RAW*), fine fliuch (flyuk*), wet tirim (TIR-im), dry álainn (AW*-lin), beautiful fuar (FOO-uhr), cold
Bríd (breed): Dia duit, a Sheáin (DEE-uh git, uh HYAW*in). Hello John. Seán (shaw*n): Dia’s Muire duit, a Bhríd (DEE-uhs MWIR-uh git, uh VREED). Conas tá sibh go léir? (KUN-uhs TAW* shiv goh lay*r); Hello, Bridget. How are you all? Bríd: Táimid go maith (TAW*-mid goh MAH), agus conas tá tú féin? (AH-guhs KUN-uhs TAW* too fay*n). We are well, and how are you yourself? Seán: Ó, ar fheabhas (oh er OUS). Nach breá an lá é? (nahk* bir-RAW un LAW* ay*). Oh, excellent. Isn’t it a fine day? Bríd: Is breá, go deimhin (is bir-RAW*, goh DEYE-in). Tá an ghrian ag soilsiú (taw* un YREE-uhn uh SEYEL-shoo), agus tá an aimsir go hálainn (taw* un EYEM-sheer goh HAW*-lin). It is fine, certainly. The sun is shining and the weather is beautiful. Seán: Níl an aimsir chomh fuar agus a bhí sé inné (neel un EYEM-sheer hoh FOO-uhr AH-guhs uh vee shay* in-YAY). The weather is not as cold as it was yesterday. Bríd: Agus níl an lá chomh fliuch agus a bhí sé inné (AH-guhs neel an LAW* hoh flyuk* AH-guhs uh vee shay* in-YAY). And the day is not as wet as it was yesterday. Seán: Tá orm dul abhaile anois, a Bhríd (TAW* OH-ruhm duhl uh-VWAHL-e uh-NISH, uh VREED). Féach, tá sé a cúig a chlog beagnach (FAY*-uhk*, TAW* shay* un KOO-ig uh K*LUHG BYUHG-nahk*). I must go home now, Bridget. Look, it is almost five o’clock. Bríd: Slán leat (slaw*n lat). Good-bye. Seán: Slán agat, a Bhríd (slaw*n uh-GUHT, uh VREED). Good-bye, Bridget. Note: “Slán agat” (health be at you) is said to someone staying behind. “Slán leat” (health be with you) is said to someone going away.
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