Book 3:
Lessons
Menu

Preface
Phonetics

exercise CXXVI

AtÁim and bidhim after particles

§ 721. A sentence may be either affirmative or negative. The negative particle in Irish is ní, not, causing ASPIRATION; as, ní ḃiḋim, ní ḟuilid, ní raḃadar, ní ḃéiḋeaḋ, ní ḃéidís, etc. In Ulster, ċán (CHaun) is much used, also causing aspiration; as, ċán ḟuil. Before consontants the n is omitted, as ċá ḃéiḋeaḋ, ċá ḃiḋeann.

§ 722. A sentence may be interrogative. The particle interrogative is an, causing ECLIPSIS; as, an ḃfuilis? Areyou? An mbéimís? Should we be? An interrogative sentence may also be a negative; as, "are you not here?" The word not in such sentences is translated by naċ, causing eclipsis' as, naċ ḃfuilir annso? naċ mbéiḋeaḋ fearg air? would he not be angry? Naċ mbiḋeann an fear óg 'na ċoṁnuiḋeannsin? Does not the young man reside there?

In Munster, ná is used for naċ when a verb follows, as ná fuilis, ná beiḋeaḋ ná bíonn. Note that ná does not change the following consonant.

§ 723. A sentence may be conditional. In that case the verb will be preceded by either dá, if, causing ECLIPSIS, or má, if, causing ASPIRATION. If a conditional sentence be also negative, the particle muna (mun'-ă), in S.L. mara is used = if not, or unless

§ 724. The words sul, before (Munster fé, féiḃ); an uair, or 'nuair, when; mar, as; agus when used meaning as; ioná, than; cause aspiration of the following verb.

§ 725. For relative sentences (as, I saw the man who is sick, etc) see below— article on relative sentences.

§ 726. For dependent sentences (as, he said that I was not there) introduced by the word that, after verbs meaning to say, think, etc. see below.

§ 727. The word ar (er) is ued for says, said; as, "cad 'tá ort?" ar an ḃean, "what's the matter with you?" said the woman. In the S.L. the word arsa (ersă) is usually heard. Notice the irregular pronuncation; the older forms were for, or.

§ 728. Annsin, besides meaning there, also means then. Míle, besides meaning 1,000, also means a mile.

Chuaidh an rí a bhaile annsin, agus ní raibh sé san mbaile acht oichdhe agus lá, nuair do bhí aithmheula air "Cad 'tá ort?" ar an rí óg. "Ní fhuil dada orm." ar an sean-rí, acht ba mhaith líom dul síos go Dún Mór aris. "An bhfaca do mhac rud ar bith aréir?" arr' an trean bhean. "Ní fhaca," arr' an bean eile.

"Agus dá mbéidheadh rud ar bith ann, go deimhin atá súil mhaith in a cheann." Chuaidh sé amach ar maidin, agus ní raibh sé acht míle ó'n dtígh 'nuair chonnaic sé an duine bocht 'na sheasamh ar an mbóthar. "Cia thú féin?", ar seisean. "Nach cuma dhuit?" arr' an duine bocht.

§ 729. Translate into Irish

• Then the young lad went in, and he found a man sitting on a chair at the fire. "God save you kindly" says the man, "sit down; hav eyou any news?"
• "I have no news, " says he; "But I have a good horse outside on the road. Do you want a horse?"
• "I do not." says the man, "I have twenty horses already. But what do you wnat for your horse?"
• "I don't want much".

note that
phonetic
symbols
are not
necessarily pronounced
as in English

See § 13-16