21: Giving invitations
Chapter 21 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
GIVING INVITATIONS
Ar mhaith leat ... Would you like ...- a dhul chuig dráma liom? to go to a play with me?
- a dhul ag rith? to go running?
- cluiche gailf a mirt? to play a game of golf?
- a theacht ag siopadóireacht liom? to come shopping with me?
- a theacht isteach? to come in?
- suí síos? to sit down?
ACCEPTING AND REFUSING INVITATIONS
Ba mhaith. I would.Níor mhaith. I wouldn't.
Ba bhreá liom. I'd love to.
Cinnte. Níl mé gnóthach innui. Certainly. I'm not busy today.
Tá brón orm - ní thig liom. I'm sorry - I can't.
GIVING EXCUSES
Tá mé ag tabhairt aire do na páistí. I'm looking after the children.Tá mé ag cóiriú an chairr. I'm repairing the car.
Tá mé ag péinteáil an tí. I'm painting the house.
Tá mé róthuirseach. I'm too tired.
Tá mé an-gnóthach. I'm very busy.
We already looked at the genitive case in Aonad 18. The genitive also comes after verbal nouns- that is, the Irish equivalents of those words that end in -ing in English:
| an carr | the carr |
| ag cóiriú an chairr | repairing the car |
| an teach | the house |
| ag glanadh an tí | cleaning the house |
Look out for more examples of the genitive case in other units.
ASKING SOMEONE WHAT THEY'LL BE DOING
Before inviting someone to do something, you might ask first whether they will be free.Cad é atá a dhéanamh ... What are you doing ...
tráthnóna? this evening?
san oíche amárach? tomorrow night?
anocht? tonight?
SAYING YOU ARE DOING NOTHING.
Dadaí. Nothing.FINDING OUT IF SOMEONE WILL BE FREE
An mbeidh tú saor maidin Dé Domhnaigh? Will you be free on Sunday morning?An mbeidh tú gnóthach oíche Shathairn? Will you be busy on Saturday night?
ARRANGING TO MEET SOMEONE
Cá háit mbuailfidh muid le chéile? Where will we meet?Fan go bhfeicfidh mé ... Wait till I see ...
ARRANGING A PLACE TO MEET
Buailfidh mé leat ... I'll meet you ...in aice ... beside ...
in aice leis an bhanc. beside the bank.
taobh amuigh ... outside ...
taobh amuigh den óstán outside the hotel.
sa bhialann in the restaurant.
Note how in aice leis an and taobh amuigh den add a séimhiú to words beginning with a consonant (except d, l, n, r, or s):
an banc
in aice leis an bhanc
an caife
taobh amuigh den chaife
ARRANGING A TIME
Cad é an t-am? What time?You already know how to say 1 to 12 o'clock, quarter past, half past, and a quarter to.
Buailfaidh mé ... I'll meet you at ...
- ceathrú i ndiaidh a haon. a quarter past one.
- leath i ndiaidh a do. half past two.
- ceathrú go dtí a trí. a quarter to three.
cúig bhomaite i ndiaidh ... five past ...
deich mbomaite i ndiaidh ... ten past ...
cúig bhomaite is fiche go dtí ... twenty-five to ...
fiche bomaite go dtí ... twenty to ...
thart fá... about ...
22: Illness and injuries
Chapter 22 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
ASKING SOMEONE HOW THEY FEEL
Cad é mar a bhraitheann tú? How do you feel?The phrase Cad é mar atá tú? (How are you?) is generally used as a greeting, but it can also be used to find out how someone is feeling.
You learnt in Aonad 19 how to ask what's wrong with someone:
Cad é atá ort? What's wrong with you?
Cad é atá air? What's wrong with him?
Cad é atá uirthi? What's wrong with her?
SAYING HOW YOU FEEL
Tá mé go breá. I'm fine.Níl mé ach go measartha. I'm only middling.
Ní bhraithim go maith. I don't feel well.
Tá mé tinn. I'm sick.
NAMING ILLNESSES
Tá tinneas cinn orm. I have a headache.Tá droim nimhneach air. He has a sore back.
Tá bólg nimhneach uirthi. She has a stomach-ache.
or
Tá pian ina bólg. She has a pain in her stomach.
Tá slaghdán orthu. They have a cold.
Tá droch-chasachtach orm. I have a bad cough.
Tá sceadamán nimhneach uirthi. She has a sore throat.
DESCRIBING AND DISCUSSING INJURIES
Ghortaigh mé ... I hurt ...mo chos. my foot.
Ghortaigh sé a chos. He hurt his leg.
Bhris sí a cos. She broke her leg.
Tá sí briste. It's broken.
An bhfuil sí briste? Is it broken?
| mo cheann | my head |
| mo bholg | my stomach |
| mo dhroim | my back |
| mo sceadamán | my neck |
| mo chos | my leg or foot |
| mo ghlúin | my knee |
| mo sciathán | my arm |
| mo lámh | my hand |
| mo mhéar | my finger |
| mo chluas | my ear |
| mo shúil | my eye |
| mo ghaosán | my nose |
| mo bhéal | my mouth |
| m'aighaidh | my face |
| mo chuid gruaige | my hair |
CANCELING ARRANGEMENTS
Sometimes it's necessary to cancel arrangements because of illness or some injury. Here are a few useful phrases that can be used in such a situation.Ní bheidh mé ábalta a dhul amach anocht. I won't be able to go out tonight.
Ní bheidh mé ag an chruinniú anocht. I won't be at the meeting tonight.
If you're asked the question
An mbeidh tú ansin anocht?. Will you be there tonight?
You can reply
Beidh. I will.
or
Ní bheidh. I won't.
If you feel it necessary to appologize you can use the following:
Tá brón orm. I'm sorry.
In Aonad 10 we looked at how the Irish equivalents of words like 'my' and 'your' that denote possession affect the words that follow them. Here are some more examples:
| mo (my) | mo chos | m'aghaidh |
| do (your) | do ghlúin | d'aghaidh |
| a (his) | a shúil | a aghaidh |
| a (her) | a béal | a haghaidh |
TELLING SOMEONE TO TAKE CARE
Tabhair aire duit féin. Take care of yourself.SAYING YOU ARE BETTER OR WORSE
Tá mé ag teacht chugam féin. I'm recovering.Tá mé níos fearr. I'm better.
Níl mé níos fearr - tá mé níos measa. I'm not better - I'm worse.
The word níos is used when comparing things in Irish. Words that follow níos are generally changed.
| deas | nice |
| níos deise | nicer |
| fuar | cold |
| níos fuaire | colder |
Adjectives that are irregular change completely:
| maith | good |
| níos fearr | better |
| olc | bad |
| níos measa | worse |
23: Asking for permission and favor
Information Text from the Workbook
ASKING FOR PERMISSION
An dtig liom ... May I ...- an fón a úsáid? use the phone?
- caitheamh? smoke?
- an fhuinneog a oscailt? open the window?
- a dhul chuig an scannán anocht? go to the film tonight?
GIVING AND REFUSING PERMISSION
Thig. You may.Thig, cinnte. You may indeed.
Ní thig. You may not.
If you want to add emphasis to this and say a very definite 'no' you can use leat, or libh if your addressing more than one person.
Ní thig leat! You may not!
Pay special attention to word order in the phrases you've learnt so far in this unit. In some instances it differs from English.
[An dtig liom] [an fhuinneog] [a oscailt?] [May I] [the window] [open?]
ASKING FOR FAVOURS AND MAKING REQUESTS
In units 9 and 19 you learnt how to ask children and friends to do various things, such as to open a door or to hurry up. Let's look at more polite ways of asking for favours and making requests.An dtiocfadh leat ... Could you ...
- an doras a dhruid? close the door?
- scairtigh ar Bríd? call Bríd?
- an litir seo a chur sa phost domh? post this letter for me?
- na soithí a ní? wash the dishes?
MORE POLITE FORMS
Ar mhiste leat... Would you mind ...- páipéar nuachta a fháil domh? getting a paper for me?
- an chistin a ghlanadh? cleaning the kitchen?
- cuidiú liom an tábla seo a bhogadh? helping me to move this table?
ASKING TO SEE OR SPEAK TO SOMEONE
An dtig liom labhairt le ...? May I speak to ...?An dtig liom labhairt le Séamas? May I speak to Séamas?
An dtig liom labhairt le an bhainisteoir? May I speak to the manager?
An dtig liom ... a fheiceáil? May I see ...?
An dtig liom an dochtúir a fheiceáil? May I see the doctor?
Again you can say Thig or Ní thig in answer to these questions.
GIVING SOMEONE A REASON WHY THEY CAN'T SEE OR SPEAK TO SOMEONE
Tá sé/sí ... He/She is ...- as baile. away.
- ar shiúl go dtí an banc. gone to the bank.
- san oifig. in the office.
- anseo faoi láthair. here at the moment.
- ag obair inniú. at work today.
24: Exchanging news
Chapter 24 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY HAVE ANY NEWS
An bhfuil nuacht ar bith agat? Have you any news?Here is a common response:
Muise, níl. Indeed I haven't.
ASKING SOMEONE IF THERE'S ANYTHING HAPPENING
An bhfuil an dhath ag dhul? Is there anything happening?Ní mórán. Not much.
TELLING GOOD NEWS
Fuair m'fhear céile post úr. My husband got a new job.Cheannaigh mé carr úr Dé Luain. I bought a new car on Monday.
Bhí leanbh ag Bríd arú aréir. Bríd had a baby the night before last.
REACTING TO GOOD NEWS
Sin dea-scéala! That's good news!Tá lúcháir orm sin a chloisteáil. I'm glad to hear that.
Is maith sin. That's good.
Comhghairdeachas! Congratulations!
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS IN THE PAST
We've already looked at how the past tense is formed. We'll now turn our attention to asking and answering questions in that tense.REGULAR VERBS
With regular verbs, you place Ar before the past tense form:
| Cheannaigh mé ... | I bought ... |
| Ar cheannaigh tú ...? | Did you buy ...? |
| Cheannaigh. / Níor cheannaigh. | I did (buy). / I didn't (buy). |
| Ar bhuail tú le Laura? | Did you meet Laura? |
| Bhuail. / Níor bhuail. | I did (meet). / I didn't (meet). |
IRREGULAR VERBS
These are commonly used verbs, so it's worth learning the correct forms.
| An raibh tú ...? | Were you ...? |
| Bhí. / Ní raibh. | |
| An ndearna tú ...? | Did you do/make ...? |
| Rinne. / Ní dhearna. | |
| Ar chuala tú ...? | Did you hear ...? |
| Chuala. / Níor chuala. | |
| An bhfuair tú ...? | Did you get ...? |
| Fuair. / Ní bhfuair. | |
| Ar thug tú ...? | Did you give ...? |
| Thug. / Níor thug. | |
| An ndeachaigh tú ...? | Did you go ...? |
| Chuaigh. / Ní dheachaigh. | |
| Ar tháinig tú ...? | Did you come ...? |
| Tháinig. / Níor tháinig. |
An is usually not pronounced if it preceds the verb. We will be returning to the past tense in Aonad 29.
REACTING TO BAD NEWS
Sin drochscéala. That's bad news.Tá brón orm sin a chloisteáil.
or
Tá mé buartha sin a chloisteáil. I'm sorry to hear that.
25: Location and movement part 2
Chapter 25 Audio File as MP3
Information Text from the Workbook
ASKING WHERE SOMETHING IS
You learnt the folllowing in Aonad 15:Cá bhfuil ...? Where is ...?
Here is a longer more polite version of the question:
An bhfuil a fhios agat cá bhfuil ..?
or
An bhfuil a fhios agat cá háit a bhfuil ..? Do you know where ... is/are?
GIVING DIRECTIONS
Téigh síos an bóthar. Go down the road.Téigh suas an tsráid. Go up the street.
Tóg an chéad tiontú ar chlé. Take the first turn on the left.
Tóg an dara tiontú ar dheis. Take the second turn on the right.
Téigh díreach ar aghaidh. Go straight on.
Téigh trasna an droichid. Go across the bridge.
Téigh síos go dtí an crosbhóthar. Go down to the crossroads.
In Irish, two words rather than one are often used to describe location:
| os comhair | opposite |
| os cionn | above |
| ar chúl | behind |
Nouns coming after these are put in the genitive case:
| an siopa | the shop |
| os comhair an tsiopa | opposite the shop |
| an leabharlann | the library |
| ar chúl na leabharlainne | behind the library |
DESCRIBING LOCATION
Tá sé ansin ar thaobh na láimhe clé. It's there on the left-hand side.Tá sé anseo ar thaobh na láimhe deise. It's here on the right-hand side.
ar an choirnéal on the corner
os comhair an chaife opposite the café
ar chúl na leabharlainne behind the library
GIVING REASONS FOR NOT BEING ABLE TO HELP
Tá brón orm. Níl a fhios agam. I'm sorry, I don't know.Níl barúil agam (cá bhfuil sé). I have no idea (where it is).
Ní as an cheantar seo mé. I'm not from this area.
LOCATION OR DIRECTION?
We've already come across some of the single words used in Irish to describe location:| thuas | up |
| thíos | down |
| thall | yonder/over there |
| amuigh | outside |
The single words that describe direction can be divided into two groups:
(1)Words that describe movement away from the speaker:
| Chuaigh sé ... | He went ... |
| suas | up |
| síos | down |
| anonn | over |
| amach | out |
| isteach | in |
(2)Words that describe movement towards the speaker:
| Tháinig sí ... | She came ... |
| aníos | up |
| anuas | down |
| anall | over |
| amach | out |
| isteach | in |
When we last looked at directions, we came across the ordinal numbers an chéad (the first) and an deichiú (the tenth). Nouns beginning with a consonant (except d, n, t, l, or s) take a séimhiú after an chéad:
| an chéad chrosbhóthar | the first crossroads |
| but | |
| an chéad tiontú | the first turn |
Words beginning with a consonant don't change after the numbers an dara (the second) to an deichiú (the tenth):
| an dara crosbhóthar |
the second crossroads |
| Vowels that follow an dara to an deichiú, however, are preceded by h: |
|
| an dara háit | the second place |
| an séú háit | the sixth place |
CEANN
As we saw in Aonad 22, the word ceann means 'head', but in certain contexts it can also mean 'one'.
an chéad cheann ar chlé the first one on the left
DÁTAÍ DATES
The ordinal numbers are also used when talking about dates.
an chéad lá de mhí Eanáir the first of January
(Literally the first day of the month of January)
Here is a complete list of the months of the year:
| Eanaír | January |
| Feabhra | February |
| Márta | March |
| Aibreán | April |
| Bealtaine | May |
| Meitheamh | June |
| Iúil | July |
| Lúnasa | August |
| Meán Fómhair | September |
| Deireadh Fómhair | October |
| Samhain | November |
| Nollaig* | December |
*The word Nollaig also means 'Christmas'.
The months in Irish are usualy preceded by the word mí (month), or by de mí (of the month) when a specific date is being mentioned:
| mí Feabhra | February |
| an ceathrú lá de mhí feabhra | the fourth of February |
This shorter version is also acceptable but it is less widely used:
| an ceathrú lá d'fheabhra | the fourth of February |
| an chéad lá d'Aibreán | the first of April |
Note how the following months change slightly after the word mí (month), or de mí:
An tríú lá de mhí an Mhárta
An ceathrú lá de mhí an Aibreáin
An cúigiú lá de mhí na Bealtaine
An séú lá de mhí an Mheithimh
An seachtú lá de mhí an Mheán Fómhair
An t-ochtú lá de mhí an Dheireadh Fómhair
An naoú lá de mhí na Samhna
An deichiú lá de mhí na Nollag
To save bandwidth and improve load times for mobile devices. Only 5 lessons are presented on a page (which is the same way the old cassette tapes were arranged).