b�m -- I am ... (not b�onn m�)
b�onn s� -- he is
b�mid -- we are ... or ... b�onn muid

Remember that the third-person form (b�onn) is used for ALL other persons -- b�onn t� {you are}, b�onn siad {they are}, etc.
Examples:
B�onn t� ar scoil D� M�irt -- You are at school on Tuesdays
B�onn Se�n anseo -- Se�n is (usually) here

The helper word n� forms the negative with lenition of the verb. Because the habitual present tense is regular, the verb root doesn't change.
ni bh�m -- I am not
n� bh�onn s� -- he is not
n� bh�mid -- we are not

Examples:
N� bh�m ansin ar maidin -- I'm not there in the morning
N� bh�onn na laethanta grianmhar -- Tha days are not (usually) sunny

The helper word an forms the question with eclipsis of the verb.
The helper word nach forms the negative question with eclipsis of the verb.

An mb�m? -- Am I?
An mb�onn s�? -- Is he?
An mb�mid? -- Are we?
Nach mb�m? -- Am I not?
Nach mb�onn s�? -- Isn't he?
Nach mb�mid? -- Are we?

Examples:
An mb�onn siad tuirseach go minic? -- Are they often tired?
Nach mb�onn t� tuirseach tar �is obair? -- Aren't you tired after work?

The Past Tense - An Aimsir Chaite
There a few things to notice about the past tense of b�.

1 the past tense is simply the command form (b�) lenited -- this is the general rule for all verbs
2 there is an alternate form for the third-person plural; otherwise the same form is used for all persons
3 when a helper word is used, the root changes from bh� to raibh -- as with the present change from t� to fuil
4 helper words n�, an & nach are used, instead of the normal past tense helpers n�or, ar & n�r

bh� m� -- I was
bh� s� -- he was
bh� muid -- we were ... or ... bh�omar
ni raibh m� -- I wasn't
n� raibh s� -- he wasn't
n� raibh muid -- we weren't ... or ... n� rabhamar
an raibh m�? -- was I
an raibh s�? -- was he?
an raibh muid? -- were we? ... or ... an rabhamar?
nach raibh m�? -- wasn't I?
nach raibh s�? -- wasn't he?
nach raibh muid? -- weren't we? ... or ... nach rabhamar?

The Future Tense - An Aimsir Fh�istineach
The future tense is completely regular.

beidh m� -- I will be
beidh s� -- he will be
beidh muid -- we will be
ni bheidh m� -- I won't be
n� bheidh s� -- he won't be
ni bheidh muid -- we won't be
an mbeidh m�? -- will I be?
an mbeidh s�? -- will he be?
an mbeidh muid? -- will we be?
nach mbeidh m�? -- won't I be?
nach mbeidh s�? -- won't he be?
nach mbeidh muid? -- won't we be?

The Habitual Past Tense - An Aimsir Ghn�thchaite
This tense indicates a habitual, recurring state in the past. Note that there are many unique forms for this tense -- only the third-person singular and first- and second-person plural share the bh�odh form.

bh�nn -- I used to be ... (not bh�odh m�)
bh�te� -- you used to be ... (not bh�odh t�)
bh�odh s� -- he used to be
bh�odh s� -- she used to be
bh�odh muid -- we used to be ... or ... bh�mis
bh�odh sibh -- y'all used to be
bh�d�s -- they used to be ... (not bh�odh siad)

I will only show the third-person form (bh�odh) with the helper words. Realize that the pattern applies to ALL persons.

n� bh�odh s� -- he didn't used to be
an mb�odh s�? -- did he used to be?
nach mb�odh s�? -- didn't he used to be?

The Conditional Mode - An Modh Coinn�ollach
This tense is correctly called a "mode", because there is no certainty that the action ever happened or will ever happen, unlike the tenses which describe actions which have happened, will happen, or are happening now. Note that, like the habitual past tense, only the third-person singular and first- and second-person plural share the bheadh form.

bheinn -- I would be ... (not bheadh m�)
bheife� -- you would be ... (not bheadh t�)
bheadh s� -- he would be
bheadh s� -- she would be
bheadh muid -- we would be ... or ... bheimis
bheadh sibh -- y all would be
bheid�s -- they would be ... (not bheadh siad)

I will only show the third-person form (bheadh) with the helper words. Realize that the pattern applies to ALL persons.
n� bheadh s� -- he wouldn't be
an mbeadh s�? -- would he be?
nach mbeadh s�? -- wouldn't he be?

The Command Form - An Modh Ordaitheach
The command form is b�
B� ci�in = Be quiet; B� c�ramach = Be careful.

The plural command form is b�g�
B�g� ci�in, a ph�ist� = Be quiet, children.

The 3rd person command form is b�odh
B�odh imn� ort = Be worried -- literally (Let) Worry be on you.

The other command forms needn't trouble you at this point.
Remember, n� makes the negative command

N� b� anseo am�rach = Don't be here tomorrow. The Irregular Verbs - Na Briathra Neamhrialta
You've already seen one irregular verb -- b� -- which you'll recall is only irregular in 2 tenses, being fully regular in the others. This is the case with most of the irregular verbs -- either the verb stem changes within a tense when a helper word is used, or the verb stem changes from one tense to another. Where the verb behaves regularly within a tense, only the verb stem and a few examples will be listed. Please refer to Lessons 6-8 for further rules.

Come - Tar
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem tag- (tagaim, tagann t�, etc)
The Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem th�inig (th�inig m�, th�inig t�, etc)
The Future Tense - fully regular with verb stem tioc- (tiocfaidh m�, tiocfaidh t�, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem tag- (thagainn, thagt�, etc)
The Conditional Mode - fully regular with verb stem tioc- (thiocfainn, thiocf�, etc)

Hear - Clois / Cluin
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem clois- or cluin- (cloisim, cloiseann t�, etc)
The Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem chuala (chuala m�, chuala t�, etc)
The Future Tense - fully regular with verb stem clois- or cluin- (cloisfidhm�, cloisfidh t�, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem clois- or cluin- (chloisinn, chloiste�, etc)
The Conditional Mode - fully regular with verb stem clois- or cluin- (chloisfinn, chloisfe�, etc)

Feic - See
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem feic- (feicim, feiceann t�, etc)
The Past Tense verb stem chonaic (chonaic m�, etc)
verb stem faca with helper words n� / an / nach (n� fhaca m�, an bhfaca t�?, etc)
The Future Tense - fully regular with verb stem feic- (feicfidh m�, feicfidh t�, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem feic- (d'fheicinn, d'fheicte�, etc)
The Conditional Mode - fully regular with verb stem feic- (d'fheicfinn, d'fheicfe�, etc)

Go - T�igh
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem t�- (t�im, t�ann t�, etc)
The Past Tense
verb stem chuaigh (chuaigh m�, chuaigh t�, etc)
verb stem deachaidh with helper words n� / an / nach (n� dheachaidh m�, an ndeachaidh t�?, etc)

The Future Tense
fully regular with verb stem rach- but no f in the verb ending (rachaidh m�, rachaidh t�, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem t�- (th�inn, th�ite�, etc)
The Conditional Mode
fully regular with verb stem rach- but no f in the verb ending except 'you' (rachainn, rachf�, etc)

Say - Abair
The Present Tense
verb stem deir with NO verb ending (deirim, deir t�, etc)
no lenition with n� (n� deir s�, etc)
eclipsis with an / nach (an ndeir s�?, etc)
The Past Tense
verb stem d�irt with no lenition (d�irt m�, duirt t�, etc)
no lenition with n� (n� d�irt s�, etc)
eclipsis with an / nach (an nd�irt s�?, etc)
The Future Tense
verb stem d�ar- (d�arfaidh m�, d�arfaidh t�, etc)
no lenition with n� (n� d�arfaidh s�, etc)
eclipsis with an / nach (an nd�arfaidh s�?, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense
verb stem deir- with no lenition (deirinn, deirte�, etc)
no lenition with n� (n� deireadh s�, etc)
eclipsis with an / nach (an ndeireadh s�?, etc)
The Conditional Mode
verb stem d�ar- (d�arfainn m�, d�arf�, etc)
no lenition with n� (n� d�arfadh s�, etc)
eclipsis with an / nach (an nd�arfadh s�?, etc)

Give, Bring - Tabhair
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem tug- (tugaim, tugann t�, etc)
The Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem thug (thug m�, thug t�, etc)
The Future Tense - fully regular with verb stem tabhar- (tabharfaidh m�, tabharfaidh t�, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem tug- (thugainn, thugt�, etc)
The Conditional Mode - fully regular with verb stem tabhar- (thabharfainn, thabharf�, etc)

Eat - Ith
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem ith- (ithim, itheann t�, etc)
The Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem ith (d'ith m�, d'ith t�, etc)
The Future Tense - fully regular with verb stem �os- (�osfaidh m�, �osfaidh t�, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem ith- (d'ithinn, d'ite�, etc)
The Conditional Mode - fully regular with verb stem �os- (d'�osfainn, d'�osf�, etc)

Do, Make - D�an
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem d�an- (d�anaim, d�anann t�, etc)
The Past Tense
verb stem rinne (rinne m�, rinne t�, etc)
verb stem dearna with helper words n� / an / nach (n� dhearna m�, an ndearna t�?, etc)
The Future Tense - fully regular with verb stem d�an- (d�anfaidh m�, d�anfaidh t�, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem d�an- (dh�anainn, dh�ant�, etc)
The Conditional Mode - fully regular with verb stem d�an- (dh�anfainn, dh�anf�, etc)

Get - Faigh
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem faigh- (faighim, faigheann t�, etc)
The Past Tense
verb stem fuair with no lenition (fuair m�, fuair t�, etc) ECLIPSIS with n� / an / nach (n� bhfuair m�, an bhfuair t�?, etc)
The Future Tense
verb stem gheobh- with no f in verb ending (gheobhaidh m�, gheobhaidh t�, etc)
verb stem faigh-, no f in verb ending & ECLIPSIS with n� / an / nach (n� bhfaighidh m�, an bhfaighidh t�?, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem faigh- (d'fhaighinn, d'fhaighte�, etc)
The Conditional Mode
verb stem gheobh- with no f in verb ending (gheobhainn, gheof�, etc)
verb stem faigh-, no f in verb ending except 'you' & ECLIPSIS with n� / an / nach (n� bhfaighinn, an bhfaighfe�?, etc)

Catch, Bear - Beir
The Present Tense - fully regular with verb stem beir- (beirim, beireann t�, etc)
The Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem rug (rug m�, rug t�, etc)
The Future Tense - fully regular with verb stem b�ar- (b�arfaidh m�, b�arfaidh t�, etc)
The Habitual Past Tense - fully regular with verb stem beir- (bheirinn, bheirte�, etc)
The Conditional Mode - fully regular with verb stem b�ar- (bh�arfainn, bh�arf�, etc)

Notice that in general, where verb stems differ from tense to tense, the Present & Habitual Past have the same verb stem, while the Future & Conditional have the same stem.

Proverb a h-aon
N� h� an bhre�thacht a chuireann an croc�n ag fiuchadh----Beauty will not make the pot boil

Proverb a do N� Th�ann urraim thar dhoirteadh fola----Reverence ceases once blood is spilt

Proverb a tri N�l aon dl� ar an riachtanas----Necessity knows no law

Proverb a ceathair Is maith an scathan suil carad----A friend's eye is a good mirror

Proverb a cuig Buann an fhoighne ar an chinniuint----Patience conquers destiny

Proverb a se Ceileann searc ainimh is locht----Love is blind to blemishes and faults

Proverb a seacht Buan fear ina dh�iche----A man lives long in his native place Have you ever wondered how some people are able to show the fadas over long vowels in Irish words? It's really very simple, and we are pleased to be able to show you how here. The instructions for writing the fada on both the Mac and the PC are shown below!

For the Macintosh
Creating the long vowels used in writing Irish is actually very easy to do on a Macintosh. It may seem a bit tricky at first, but don't get discouraged.
For any long vowel, all you have to do is:

1.) Hold down the "option" key at the bottom of the keyboard;
2.) Press the "e" key;
3.) Release the "option" key at the bottom of the keyboard;
4.) Press the letter desired vowel (a,e,i,o, or u) key.

Most people get confused because to create the fada over *any* vowel, you must press the letter "e" key before you press the desired vowel key. For example, to create an "�":

1.) Hold down the "option" key at the bottom of the keyboard;
2.) Press the letter "e" key;
3.) Release the "option" key at the bottom of the keyboard;
4.) Press the letter "o" key.
And so forth for each vowel.

On the PC
Long vowels in Irish words are indicated in writing by putting an accent mark above the vowel. Generally, the accepted way of showing this online is to put a slash before the long vowel, as in sl/an agat (good-bye)or o/iche mhaith (goodnight). But that's messy. The attractive way of showing long vowels requires a bit of intricate typing. The trick is to hold down the ALT key while at the same time typing a sequence of four numbers on the numeric keypad (the numeric keys on the top row don't work for this). The number codes are as follows:

To create � use ALT + 0225 � use ALT + 0193
� use ALT + 0233 � use ALT + 0201
� use ALT + 0237 � use ALT + 0205
� use ALT + 0243 � use ALT + 0211
� use ALT + 0250 � use ALT + 0218

There is an alternative, which is much preferable for 'power' typists ... Windows Control Panel (in the Main folder) has 2 selections under the International icon:

Language: select English (International)
Keyboard Layout: select US-International

The accents are made by typing the ' (single quote) followed by the vowel. It will work in any Windows program (including AOL) because it is a Windows function. There are several other accent marks available this way for other languages, but the single acute accent is the only one we're interested in for Irish.