“Tá”
Vs
“Is”
Gaeilge has two forms of the verb “To Be” which can be represented as follows. An bhfuil sé fuar? Is it cold? An scannán é? Is it a film?
Tá / Níl It is / It isn’t Is ea / Ní hea It is / It isn’t
“Tá” is used to describe or express conditions/ actions / locations / emotions i.e. Tá mé go maith / Tá mé ag léamh / Tá me anseo / Tá áthas orm. While “Is” is used to identify / define and associate one thing with another i.e. Is mise an té / Is cóta atá ann / Is imreoir maith é.
Note: There isn’t an equivalent to the yes / no answer as is in English. Instead the verb is always repeated in the answer. Tá = “It is”
not “Yes”
Níl = “It isn’t”
Is ea (‘Sea) = “It is”
not “Yes”
Ní hea = “It isn’t”
not “No”
not “No”
Tá & Is - two ways of expressing the English verb “to be”. Tá is used to associate a noun with an adjective – Tá an teach mór Tá is the positive present tense form of the irregular verb “Bí” (to be) The positive answer “Tá” applies only as an answer to the question “An bhfuil .....?” – it translates as “I am” or “it is”. Tá = ‘I am’ or ‘It is’
Tá = Yes
Níl is the negative present tense form of the irregular verb “Bí” (to be) The negative answer “Níl” applies only as an answer to the question “An bhfuil .....?” – it translates as “I’m not” or “It’s not”. Níl = ‘I’m not or ‘It’s not’
Níl = No
The verb tá is used to describe actions, conditions, locations and emotions
Chun gníomhartha a chur in iúl - Actions: An bhfuil tú ag éisteacht? - Tá / Níl mé ....... An bhfuil tú ag dul amach? - Tá / Níl mé ....... An bhfuil tú ag smaoineamh? - Tá / Níl mé .......
Chun staideanna a chur in iúl - Conditions: An bhfuil sé ag báisteach? - Tá / Níl sé ....... An bhfuil an praghas ceart? - Tá / Níl sé ....... An bhfuil an cúrsa go maith? - Tá / Níl sé .......
Chun suímh a chur in iúl - Locations An bhfuil sé ann? - Tá / Níl sé ....... An bhfuil sé thuas? - Tá / Níl sé ....... An bhfuil sé ag an scoil? - Tá / Níl sé .......
Chun mothúcháin a chur in iúl - Emotions: An bhfuil ocras ort? - Tá / Níl ocras orm. An bhfuil tart ort? - Tá / Níl tart orm. An bhfuil tuirse ort? - Tá / Níl tuirse orm.
Tá & Is - two ways of expressing the English verb “to be”. The copula “Is” is not quite a complete verb. It is used to identify / define things, to associate one thing with another thing. An múinteoir é?
Is he a teacher?
Is / Ní múinteoir é.
He is / isn’t a teacher.
An cóta atá ann? Is it a coat?
Is / Ní cóta atá ann. It is / isn’t a coat.
An lá breá é?
Is / Ní lá breá é.
Is it a fine day?
It is / isn’t a fine day
Questions constructed with the copula can be answered with Is ea (‘sea) or Ní hea. ‘Sea translates as “It is” not “Yes”. Ní hea translates as “It isn’t” not “No”. ‘Sea = ‘It is’
‘Sea = Yes
Ní hea = ‘It’s not’
Ní hea = No
Céard é? Céard atá ann? An madra é? An leon atá ann?
Is leon é. Is leon atá ann. Ní hea. Ní madra é, is leon é. Is ea (‘sea*). Is leon atá ann.
Céard iad? Céard iad seo? An fataí iad? An cnónna iad?
Is cnónna iad. Is cnónna iad. Ní hea. Ní fataí iad, is cnónna iad. Is ea (‘sea*) is cnónna iad.
An garda é? Céard é fhéin? An múínteoir é? An garda é?
Is garda é Is garda é. Ní hea. Ní múinteoir é, is garda é. Is ea (‘sea*), is garda é.
Céard é fhéin? Is Sasanach é. Cé as é? Is as Sasana é. An Francach é? Ní hea. Ní Francach é, is Sasanach é. An Sasanach é? Is ea (‘sea*), is Sasanach é.
Tá & Is - two ways of expressing the English verb “to be”. Here are some common idiomatic phrases that use the verb An bhfuil tú in ann ....? An bhfuil a fhios agat ....?
Tá / Níl
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú réidh?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú cinnte faoi? An bhfuil tú sásta leis?
Tá / Níl Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú ag dul ann?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú ag teacht abhaile?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú ag iarraidh ceann?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú ceart go leor?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil sé ag báisteach ?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú i ndáiríre ?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú in ainm é a dhéanamh?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú ar tí imeacht?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil tú i do sheasamh?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil sé ina shuí?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil sé ina chodladh?
Tá / Níl
An bhfuil sé ina dhúiseacht?
Tá / Níl
Tá & Is - two ways of expressing the English verb “to be”. Here are some common idiomatic phrases that use the verb An maith leat …. ?
Is / Ní maith liom ….
An cuimhin leat …. ?
Is / Ní cuimhin liom ….
An fearr leat …. ?
Is / Ní fearr liom ….
An féidir leat …. ?
Is / Ní féidir liom ….
An cuma leat …. ?
Is / Ní cuma liom ….
An miste leat …. ?
Is / Ní miste liom ….
An mian leat …. ?
Is / Ní mian liom ….
An dóigh leat …. ?
Is / Ní dóigh liom ….
An breá leat …. ?
Is / Ní breá liom ….
An fada leat …. ?
Is / Ní fada liom ….
An eol d(h)uit*…….
Is / Ní heol d(h)om ……
An fiú d(h)uit*…….
Is / Ní fiú d(h)om ……
Nach fíor d(h)uit*……. Is / Ní fíor d(h)om …… Nach méanar d(h)uit*…
An ea? (Ab ea?*)
An é sin é? (Ab ‘in é?*)
Is / Ní méanar d(h)om ……
Is ea (‘Sea*) / Ní hea Sin é / Ní shin é
An iad sin iad? (Ab ‘in iad?*) Sin iad (‘siad*) / Ní shin iad (Ní hiad). An é seo é? ( Ab ‘eod é?*)
Seo é é ( ‘s ‘eod é*) Ní hé seo é (Ní h’eod é*)
* Spoken Gaeilge in Conamara differs in some instances from the standard form. AbairLeat! highlights the most frequently used discrepancies.
BRIATHA- ABAIRLEAT!
Ainm:
Rang:
Are you happy with it? Are you standing? Is he awake? Are you about to leave? Do you know....? Are you serious? Are you sure about it? Are you going there? Can you ....? Are you all right? Is it raining? Are you supposed to do it? Do you want one? Are you ready? Are you sitting? Is he asleep? Are you staying at home?
An bhfuil tú in ann ....?
An bhfuil sé ag báisteach ?
An bhfuil a fhios agat ....?
An bhfuil tú i ndáiríre ?
An bhfuil tú réidh?
An bhfuil tú in ainm é a dhéanamh?
An bhfuil tú cinnte faoi?
An bhfuil tú ar tí imeacht?
An bhfuil tú sásta leis?
An bhfuil tú i do sheasamh?
An bhfuil tú ag dul ann?
An bhfuil sé ina shuí?
An bhfuil tú ag teacht abhaile?
An bhfuil sé ina chodladh?
An bhfuil tú ag iarraidh ceann?
An bhfuil sé ina dhúiseacht?
An bhfuil tú ceart go leor?
Do you really like .....? Do you know .....? Is it? Do you not mind .....? Do you mind .....? Am I not right? Is that it / him? Do you remember .....? Do you like .....? Is it worth your while? Is that them? Isn’t it well for you! Do you wish .....? Is this it / him? Do you prefer .....? Do you think .....? Can you ....?
An maith leat...?
An eol d(h)uit...?
An cuimhin leat...?
An fiú d(h)uit...?
An fearr leat...?
Nach fíór d(h)om...?
An féidir leat...?
Nach méanar d(h)uit...?
An cuma leat...? An miste leat...? An mian leat...? An dóigh leat...? An breá leat...?
An ea? (Ab ea?) An é sin é? (Ab ‘in é?) An iad sin iad? (Ab ‘in iad?) An é seo é? ( Ab ‘eod é?)