Language/Irish/Grammar/Irregular-Verbs

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Irish → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Irregular Verbs

Welcome to today's lesson on Irregular Verbs in the Irish language! Understanding irregular verbs is crucial for mastering Irish, as they often appear in daily conversations and written texts. Unlike regular verbs, which follow predictable patterns, irregular verbs can be a bit tricky, but don't worry! We will break them down together, making the learning process enjoyable and manageable.

In this lesson, we'll cover the following points:

• An overview of what irregular verbs are and why they matter.

• A detailed look at 20 common irregular verbs, including their conjugations in the present tense.

• Practical exercises to reinforce your learning and help you apply what you've learned in real-life situations.

So, get ready to dive into the fascinating world of Irish irregular verbs!

What are Irregular Verbs?

Irregular verbs are verbs that do not follow the standard rules of conjugation. In most languages, including Irish, regular verbs follow a specific pattern, but irregular verbs change forms in unpredictable ways. These verbs are essential in everyday communication, and mastering them is a key step on your journey to fluency in Irish.

Why are Irregular Verbs Important?

• Common Usage: Irregular verbs are frequently used in conversations. Knowing them will help you understand and participate in everyday discussions.

• Writing Skills: Irregular verbs are also prevalent in written Irish, so recognizing their forms is vital for reading comprehension.

• Cultural Insight: Understanding these verbs can deepen your appreciation of Irish literature, songs, and folklore, where these forms often appear.

Overview of Common Irregular Verbs

Let’s explore 20 common irregular verbs in Irish. Below is a table that includes their present tense conjugation.

Irish	Pronunciation	English
bí	bee	to be
téigh	tay	to go
faigh	fye	to get
déan	dyan	to do/make
teigh	tye	to go
tabhair	tawir	to give
clois	klosh	to hear
feic	feyk	to see
ith	ih	to eat
scríobh	skreev	to write
tar	tar	to come
cuimhnigh	kwihn-ih	to remember
bris	brish	to break
séim	shaym	to sing
lean	lyan	to follow
faigh	fye	to find
shéan	shan	to shine
tóg	toe-g	to take
gníomhaigh	gnee-vee	to act
dún	doon	to close
rith	rih	to run

Conjugation in Present Tense

Now that we've introduced these verbs, let's delve into how they are conjugated in the present tense.

1. Bí (to be):

• Mé: táim (I am)

• Tú: tá tú (You are)

• Sé/Sí: tá sé/sí (He/She is)

• Sinn: táimid (We are)

• Sibh: tá sibh (You all are)

• Siad: tá siad (They are)

2. Téigh (to go):

• Mé: téim (I go)

• Tú: téann tú (You go)

• Sé/Sí: téann sé/sí (He/She goes)

• Sinn: téimid (We go)

• Sibh: téann sibh (You all go)

• Siad: téann siad (They go)

3. Faigh (to get):

• Mé: faighim (I get)

• Tú: faigheann tú (You get)

• Sé/Sí: faigheann sé/sí (He/She gets)

• Sinn: faighimid (We get)

• Sibh: faigheann sibh (You all get)

• Siad: faigheann siad (They get)

4. Déan (to do/make):

• Mé: déanann mé (I do/make)

• Tú: déanann tú (You do/make)

• Sé/Sí: déanann sé/sí (He/She does/makes)

• Sinn: déanann sinn (We do/make)

• Sibh: déanann sibh (You all do/make)

• Siad: déanann siad (They do/make)

5. Tabhair (to give):

• Mé: tugaim (I give)

• Tú: tugann tú (You give)

• Sé/Sí: tugann sé/sí (He/She gives)

• Sinn: tugaimid (We give)

• Sibh: tugann sibh (You all give)

• Siad: tugann siad (They give)

6. Clois (to hear):

• Mé: cloisim (I hear)

• Tú: cloiseann tú (You hear)

• Sé/Sí: cloiseann sé/sí (He/She hears)

• Sinn: cloisimid (We hear)

• Sibh: cloiseann sibh (You all hear)

• Siad: cloiseann siad (They hear)

7. Feic (to see):

• Mé: feicim (I see)

• Tú: feiceann tú (You see)

• Sé/Sí: feiceann sé/sí (He/She sees)

• Sinn: feicimid (We see)

• Sibh: feiceann sibh (You all see)

• Siad: feiceann siad (They see)

8. Ith (to eat):

• Mé: itheann mé (I eat)

• Tú: itheann tú (You eat)

• Sé/Sí: itheann sé/sí (He/She eats)

• Sinn: itheann sinn (We eat)

• Sibh: itheann sibh (You all eat)

• Siad: itheann siad (They eat)

9. Scríobh (to write):

• Mé: scríobhaim (I write)

• Tú: scríobhann tú (You write)

• Sé/Sí: scríobhann sé/sí (He/She writes)

• Sinn: scríobhaimid (We write)

• Sibh: scríobhann sibh (You all write)

• Siad: scríobhann siad (They write)

10. Tar (to come):

• Mé: tagaim (I come)

• Tú: tagann tú (You come)

• Sé/Sí: tagann sé/sí (He/She comes)

• Sinn: tagaimid (We come)

• Sibh: tagann sibh (You all come)

• Siad: tagann siad (They come)

11. Cuimhnigh (to remember):

• Mé: cuimhním (I remember)

• Tú: cuimhníonn tú (You remember)

• Sé/Sí: cuimhníonn sé/sí (He/She remembers)

• Sinn: cuimhnímid (We remember)

• Sibh: cuimhníonn sibh (You all remember)

• Siad: cuimhníonn siad (They remember)

12. Bris (to break):

• Mé: brisim (I break)

• Tú: briseann tú (You break)

• Sé/Sí: briseann sé/sí (He/She breaks)

• Sinn: brisimid (We break)

• Sibh: briseann sibh (You all break)

• Siad: briseann siad (They break)

13. Séim (to sing):

• Mé: seímim (I sing)

• Tú: seímann tú (You sing)

• Sé/Sí: seímann sé/sí (He/She sings)

• Sinn: seímimid (We sing)

• Sibh: seímann sibh (You all sing)

• Siad: seímann siad (They sing)

14. Lean (to follow):

• Mé: leanfaidh mé (I follow)

• Tú: leanfaidh tú (You follow)

• Sé/Sí: leanfaidh sé/sí (He/She follows)

• Sinn: leanfaidh sinn (We follow)

• Sibh: leanfaidh sibh (You all follow)

• Siad: leanfaidh siad (They follow)

15. Shéan (to shine):

• Mé: shéanfaidh mé (I shine)

• Tú: shéanfaidh tú (You shine)

• Sé/Sí: shéanfaidh sé/sí (He/She shines)

• Sinn: shéanfaidh sinn (We shine)

• Sibh: shéanfaidh sibh (You all shine)

• Siad: shéanfaidh siad (They shine)

16. Tóg (to take):

• Mé: tógfaidh mé (I take)

• Tú: tógfaidh tú (You take)

• Sé/Sí: tógfaidh sé/sí (He/She takes)

• Sinn: tógfaidh sinn (We take)

• Sibh: tógfaidh sibh (You all take)

• Siad: tógfaidh siad (They take)

17. Gníomhaigh (to act):

• Mé: gníomhaím (I act)

• Tú: gníomhaíonn tú (You act)

• Sé/Sí: gníomhaíonn sé/sí (He/She acts)

• Sinn: gníomhaímid (We act)

• Sibh: gníomhaíonn sibh (You all act)

• Siad: gníomhaíonn siad (They act)

18. Dún (to close):

• Mé: dúnfaidh mé (I close)

• Tú: dúnfaidh tú (You close)

• Sé/Sí: dúnfaidh sé/sí (He/She closes)

• Sinn: dúnfaidh sinn (We close)

• Sibh: dúnfaidh sibh (You all close)

• Siad: dúnfaidh siad (They close)

19. Rith (to run):

• Mé: rithim (I run)

• Tú: rithíonn tú (You run)

• Sé/Sí: rithíonn sé/sí (He/She runs)

• Sinn: rithimid (We run)

• Sibh: rithíonn sibh (You all run)

• Siad: rithíonn siad (They run)

20. Gníomh (to act):

• Mé: gníomhaím (I act)

• Tú: gníomhaíonn tú (You act)

• Sé/Sí: gníomhaíonn sé/sí (He/She acts)

• Sinn: gníomhaímid (We act)

• Sibh: gníomhaíonn sibh (You all act)

• Siad: gníomhaíonn siad (They act)

Exercises

Now that you've learned about irregular verbs and their conjugations, it's time to put your knowledge to the test! Below are exercises designed to help you practice.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in parentheses.

1. (bí) Mé ________ sásta. (I am happy)

2. (téigh) Tú ________ go dtí an siopa. (You go to the shop)

3. (faigh) Sé ________ an leabhar. (He gets the book)

4. (déan) Sí ________ a cuid obair. (She does her work)

5. (tabhair) Sinn ________ cuireadh. (We give an invitation)

Solutions:

1. táim

2. téann tú

3. faigheann sé

4. déanann sí

5. tugaimid

Exercise 2: Match the Verbs

Match the Irish verbs to their English equivalents.

1. Tóg

2. Ith

3. Clois

4. Bris

5. Feic

A. To break

B. To eat

C. To see

D. To take

E. To hear

Solutions:

1-D (Tóg - To take)

2-B (Ith - To eat)

3-E (Clois - To hear)

4-A (Bris - To break)

5-C (Feic - To see)

Exercise 3: Conjugate the Verb

Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense for all pronouns.

1. Déan

2. Clois

Solutions:

1.

• Mé: déanann mé

• Tú: déanann tú

• Sé/Sí: déanann sé/sí

• Sinn: déanann sinn

• Sibh: déanann sibh

• Siad: déanann siad

2.

• Mé: cloisim

• Tú: cloiseann tú

• Sé/Sí: cloiseann sé/sí

• Sinn: cloisimid

• Sibh: cloiseann sibh

• Siad: cloiseann siad

Exercise 4: Complete the Sentences

Complete the following sentences using the appropriate verb form.

1. (tar) ________ liom chuig an cóisir. (I come to the party)

2. (gníomh) ________ tú go maith. (You act well)

3. (lean) ________ sinn an cosán. (We follow the path)

Solutions:

1. Tagaim

2. Gníomhaíonn

3. Leanfaidh

Exercise 5: Translate to Irish

Translate the following sentences into Irish.

1. I see the stars.

2. They eat pizza.

3. You are happy.

Solutions:

1. Feicim na réaltaí.

2. Itheann siad pizza.

3. Tá tú sásta.

Exercise 6: Verb Conjugation Challenge

Choose one irregular verb and conjugate it for all pronouns, then create a sentence using that verb.

Example Solution:

Verb: Tóg

Conjugation:

• Mé: tógfaidh mé

• Tú: tógfaidh tú

• Sé/Sí: tógfaidh sé/sí

• Sinn: tógfaidh sinn

• Sibh: tógfaidh sibh

• Siad: tógfaidh siad

Sentence: Tógfaidh mé an leabhar seo. (I will take this book.)

Exercise 7: Fill in the Correct Verb

Choose the correct irregular verb to complete the sentence.

1. ________ (to go) go dtí an trá. (to the beach)

2. ________ (to hear) an ceol. (the music)

Solutions:

1. Téigh

2. Clois

Exercise 8: Identify the Verb

Identify the irregular verb in the following sentences.

1. Tá sé ag rith.

2. Ithim an t-úll.

Solutions:

1. Rith (to run)

2. Ith (to eat)

Exercise 9: Create Your Own Sentences

Create sentences using at least five different irregular verbs from today’s lesson.

Example Solution:

• Déanaim mo chuid obair.

• Feicim an gairdín.

• Ithim bricfeasta.

• Cloisim an scéal.

• Tarlaíonn sé go minic.

Exercise 10: Classify the Verbs

Classify the following verbs into regular and irregular verbs.

1. Bris

2. Dún

3. Scríobh

4. Téigh

5. Ith

Solutions:

• Irregular: Bris, Dún, Téigh, Ith

• Regular: Scríobh

As you work through these exercises, you'll find that practice is key to mastering irregular verbs. Take your time, and don't hesitate to revisit the conjugations as needed. Remember, learning a language is a journey, and each step counts!

In conclusion, while irregular verbs may seem intimidating at first, with practice and engagement, you'll find yourself using them with confidence in no time. Keep practicing, and soon enough, you'll be able to express a wide range of ideas and actions in Irish.

Table of Contents - Irish Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object
• Negation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Answers

• Question Words
• Answering Questions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Possession and Pronouns

• Possessive Pronouns
• Object Pronouns

  ---

Food and Drink

• Common Foods
• Drinks and Beverages

  ---

Verb Conjugation

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Hobbies and Activities

• Sports and Fitness
• Arts and Entertainment

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Prepositions

• Common Prepositions
• Prepositional Pronouns

  ---

Weather and Seasons

• Weather Vocabulary
• Seasons and Months

  ---

Irish History and Culture

• Overview of Irish History
• Irish Music and Dance

  ---

Irish Literature and Folklore

• Famous Irish Authors
• Irish Myths and Legends

Sources

• Irregular Verbs in Irish - Nualéargais
• Appendix:Irish irregular verbs - Wiktionary
• Irish Irregular Verbs - by SayounaraMinato - Memrise

Other Lessons

• Adjectives
• Question Words
• Negation
• Personal pronouns
• Pronouns
• Questions
• Subject Verb Object
• Plurals
• Comparative and Superlative

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