Irish Language Lesson 4, "Present Tense"

This is just an introduction to the Present Tense, I'll do more in the next lesson.

The endings for the present tense are:
1st person singular: -(a)im
2nd person singular: -(e)ann tú / -(a)ir
3rd person singular: -(eann) sé/sí
1st person plural: -(a)imíd
2nd person plural: -(e)ann sibh
3rd person plural: -(e)ann siad / (a)id

Examples:
Ól = Drink,
Ólaim = I drink
Ólann tú / Ólair = You drink
Ólann sé/sí = He/She/It drinks
Ólaimíd = We drink
Ólann sibh = Ye drink
Ólann siad / Ólaid = They drink
Óltar = ____ is/are drank

Ith = Eat
Ithim = I eat
Itheann tú / Ithir = You eat
Itheann sé/sí = He/She/It eats
Ithimíd: We eat
Itheann sibh = Ye eat
Itheann siad / Ithid = They eat
Ithtear = ____ is/are eaten
(Ithtear is spelled Itear is modern Irish spelling. Can't be certain with modern spelling)

For verbs ending in "-igh", just add on the endings as you normally would. This will give you the old spelling, although the pronunciation for both old and new are the same. Then to get the new spelling change:
"-(a)igheann" to " (a)íonn" (both pronounced ee-uhn)

I have my own recommendations for a Irish spelling reform and I still use the old spelling when talking to friends. They ruined the language. It was the equivalent of making "English text language" the official English spelling, destroying etymological links with other words. Anyway...

One of the very few irregular verbs in Irish is
"Téigh = Go"
In the present tense in the old spelling (O.S.) the spelling is regular;
In the present tense in the new spelling (N.S.) it is irregular.
(Pssst, spell it the old way!)

Téim = I go (formerly Téighim)
Téann tú = You go (formerly Teigheann tú )
Téann sé/sí = He/She/It goes (formerly Téigheann sé/sí)
Téimíd = We go (formerly Téighimíd)
Téann sibh = Ye go (formerly Téigheann sibh)
Téann siad / Téid = They go (formerly Teigheann siad / Téighid)

GENERALLY, in a verb of MORE than one syllable, a verb which ends in:
-(a)il changes to -l(a)íonn, e.g. Codail: Codlaíonn sé = He sleeps
-(a)in changes to -n(a)íonn, e.g. Cosain: Cosnaíonn sé = It costs
-(a)ir changes to -r(a)íonn, e.g. Labhair: Labhraíonn sé = He speaks
-(a)is changes to -s(a)íonn, e.g. Inis: Insíonn sé = He tells
This isn't always the case however. It's a bit complicated so I'll come back to it in later lessons.

Now try to conjugate (put into the different persons) the verb "Ceannaigh : Buy". Don't forget about the spelling reform when doing it. Or if you want to be a spelling reform rebel, use the old spelling, yahoo!
Also try to conjugate the verb "Cuir = Put, Place, Bury"

Don't forget that to say "I don't (verb)" just add "Ní + séimhiú (h on consonants)" to the positive.
e.g. (O.S.) Téighim = I go, Ní theighim = I don't go. (N.S.) Téim = I go, Ní theim = I don't go
Also don't forget that to say "Do I (verb)?" just add "An + urú (letter before)" to the postive.
e.g. (O.S.) Téighim = I go, An dtéighim = Do I go? (N.S.) Téim = I go, An dtéim = Do I go?

Contact me if you've any questions.

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[tenneral]

This is great.  I have just started to learn Irish: years ago I spoke Scottish Gaelic fluently and we used the old spelling there too. I shall follow your example, with many thanks.

[lilacprincess03]

@wendylady818 to turn ceannaigh to present tense for tu se si sibh and siad (sorry my alt gr key isn't working) it is ceannaionn and for me it is ceannim and for sinn it is ceannaimid sorry there is supposed to be a fada on the first i anyway i hope that helped

[wendylady818]

go raith maite agat for posting these videos. I have a question about how to conjugate "Ceannaigh" as it is more that 1 syllable and a bit confused about old/new spelling. Does this follow same form as others even though it is more than 1 syllable? Thanks for your help! I'm just starting to learn and Irish is so beautiful and fascinating! I think you are a great teacher. You explain things very clearly! Slán

[animalunaris]

Go maith, GRMA!