26: More about background and dates
Chapter 26 Audio File as MP3
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ASKING WHERE SOMEONE WAS BORN
Cá háit a rugadh tú? Where were you born?Cá háit a rugadh é? Where was he born?
Cá háit a rugadh í? Where was she born?
When replying to this question, you can simply use i(n) and the place-name:
I nGaoth Dobhair. In Gaoth Dobhair.
In Ard Mhaca. In Armagh.
SAYING WHERE YOU WERE BORN AND REARED
Rugadh i(n) ... mé. I was born in ...Rugadh agus tógadh i(n) ... mé. I was born and reared in ...
COUNTIES OF ULSTER
| Contae Aontroma | Country Antrim |
| Contae Ard Mhaca | Country Armagh |
| Contae an Chabháin | Country Cavan |
| Contae Dhoire | Country Derry |
| Contae an Dúin | Country Down |
| Contae Dhún na nGall | Country Donegal |
| Contae Fhear Manach | Country Fermanagh |
| Contae Mhuineacháin | Country Monaghan |
| Contae Thír Eoghain | Country Tyrone |
ASKING PEOPLE WHEN THEY MET
Cá huair a casadh ar chéile sibh? When did you meet?Cá huair a casadh ar chéile iad? When did they meet?
Cá huair a chas tú le Mark ar dtús? When did you first meet Mark?
BLIANTA
| bliain | 1 year |
| dhá bhliain | 2 years |
| ... bliana | 3-6 years |
| ... mbliana | 7-10 years |
Let's now look at counting between 11 and 109 years: |
|
| aon bhliain déag | 11 years |
| dhá bhliain déag | 12 years |
| trí...sé bliana déag | 13-16 years |
| seacht...naoi mbliana déag | 17-19 years |
| fiche bliain | 20 years |
| fiche is a haon bliain | 21 years |
| tríocha bliain | 30 years |
| tríocha is a dó bliain | 32 years |
| ceathracha/daichead bliain | 40 years |
| ceathracha is a trí bliain | 43 years |
| caoga bliain | 50 years |
| caoga is a ceathair bliain | 54 years |
| seasca bliain | 60 years |
| seasca is a cúig bliain | 65 years |
| seachtó bliain | 70 years |
| seachtó is a sé bliain | 76 years |
| ochtó bliain | 80 years |
| ochtó is a seacht bliain | 87 years |
| nócha bliain | 90 years |
| nócha is a hocht bliain | 98 years |
| céad bliain | 100 years |
| céad is a naoi bliain | 109 years |
SAYING WHEN YOU MET SOMEONE
Casadh ar chéile muid ... We met ...... chóir a bheith fiche bliain ó shin. ... almost twenty years ago.
... níos mó ná tríocha bliain ó shin anois. ... more than thirty years ago now.
Chas mé le Sinéad ar dtús deich mbliana ó shin. I first met Sinéad ten years ago.
FINDING OUT HOW LONG PEOPLE HAVE BEEN TOGETHER OR SEPARATED
Cá mhéad bliain atá sibh ... How many years are you ...- pósta? married?
- le chéile? together?
- scartha? separated?
- colscartha? divorced?
le cúig bliana for five years
le chóir a bheith fiche bliain for nearly twenty years
ASKING SOMEONE HOW MANY CHILDREN THEY HAVE
In Aonad 10 you learnt how to ask someone how many children they have:Cá mhéad páiste atá agat?
Another way of asking this question is:
Cá mhéad duine clainne atá agat?
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY ARE RELATED TO A PARTICULAR PERSON
An bhfuil tú muinteartha do ...? Are you related to...?An bhfuil tú muinteartha do Mháire? Are you related to Máire?
An bhfuil tú muinteartha di? Are you related to her?
An bhfuil tú muinteartha dó? Are you related to him?
An bhfuil tú muinteartha dóibh? Are you related to them?
SAYING HOW YOU ARE RELATED TO SOMEONE
Is deartháir liom é. He's a brother of mine.Is deifiúr liom í. She's a sister of mine.
Is col ceathracha muid. We are cousins.
Níl muid muinteartha ar chóir ar bith. We are not realated at all.
In Aonad 25, we looked at the months of the year and at the dates from the first to the tenth. Let's now look at the other dates.
DÁTAÍ DATES
| an t-aonú lá déag | the eleventh |
| an dara lá déag | the twelfth |
| an tríú lá déag | the thirteenth |
| an ceathrú lá déag | the fourteenth |
| an cúigiú lá déag | the fifteeth |
| an séú lá déag | the sixteenth |
| an seachtú lá déag | the seventeenth |
| an t-ochtú lá déag | the eighteenth |
| an naoú lá déag | the nineteenth |
| an fichiú lá | the twentieth |
For the twenty-first to the twenty -ninth you simply add fichead instead of déag to the above:
an t-aonú lá fichead
an séú lá fichead
Here are the remaining dates:
| an tríochadú lá | the thirtieth |
| an tríocha is a haonú lá | the thirty-first |
ASKING ON WHAT DATE SOMETING IS HAPPPENING
Cad é an dáta atá ...?or
Cén dáta atá ...? What date is...?
Cén dáta atá an chóisir ar siúl? What date is the party on?
27: Going to the restaurant
Chapter 27 Audio File as MP3
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FINDING OUT IF SOMEONE WANTS TO GO FOR A MEAL
Ar mhaith leat a dhul amach fá choinne béile? Would you like to go out for a meal?Ar mhaith leat rud éigin a ithe? Would you like to eat something?
A more indirect way of finding out if someone wants to go and get something to eat is:
An bhfuil ocras ort? Are you hungry?
OFFERING SOMEONE A DRINK
You are already familiar with the phrase:Ar mhaith leat deoch? Would you like a drink?
Another way of asking the same question is:
An mbeidh deoch agat? Will you have a drink?
ASKING FOR A MENU
An dtiocfadh liom an biachlár a fheiceáil, le do thoil? Could I see the menu, please?An dtiocfadh linn an biachlár a fheiceáil, le do thoil? Could we see the menu, please?
ASKING IF SOMEONE IS READY TO ORDER
An bhfuil tú réidh le hordú?or
An bhfuil sibh réidh le hordú? Are you ready to order?
ORDERING A STARTER
Ba mhaith liom sú glasraí agus arán bán don chéad chúrsa, le do thoil. I would like vegetable soup and white bread for starters, please.Beidh na diúilicíní agamsa, le do thoil. I'll have the mussels, please.
ASKING WHAT SOMEONE WOULD LIKE FOR THE MAIN COURSE
Cad é ba mhaith leat don phríomhchúrsa?or
Cad é ba mhaith libh don phríomhchúrsa? What would you like for the main course?
Cad é na glasraí a ba mhaith leat? What vegetables would you like?
ASKING FOR THE WINE LIST
Gabh mo leithscéal - an clár fíona, le do thoil. Excuse me - the wine list, please.FINDING OUT WHAT SOMEONE WOULD LIKE TO DRINK
You're often asked the following question after you have ordered your food:Cad é a ólfaidh tú?
or
Cad é a ólfaidh sibh? What will you drink?
Sometimes you're asked to make a choice:
Cé acu ba fhearr leat, fíon bán nó fíon dearg? Which would you prefer, red or white wine?
ASKING IF SOMEONE WOULD LIKE DESSERT
Ar mhaith leat milseog?or
Ar mhaith libh milseog? Would you like dessert?
ORDERING DESSERT
Cad é na milseogaí atá agat? What desserts do you have?Ba mhaith liom pióg úll le huachtar, le do thoil. I'd like apple pie with cream, please.
Beidh uachtar reoite agamsa, le do thoil. I'll have ice cream, please.
FINDING OUT WHAT SOMEONE THINKS OF THEIR MEAL
Cad é mar atá do bhéile? How is your meal?COMMENTING ON FOOD
Tá sé ... It's ....- galánta lovely
- an-bhlasta very tasty
- an-mhilis very sweet
- an-te very hot
- fuar cold
Níl an t-iasc seo úr. This fish is not fresh.
Tá na glasraí róbhruite. The vegetables are overdone.
Níl sé ródheas. It's not very nice.
28: Pastimes and talents
Chapter 28 Audio File as MP3
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FINDING OUT WHAT SOMEONE DOES IN THEIR SPARE TIME
Cad é a caitheamh aimsire atá agat? What pastime have you?SAYING WHAT PASTIMES YOU HAVE
Imrím ... I play ...- leadóg tennis
- peil football
- cispheil basketball
- eitpheil volleyball
Téim ag iascaireacht anois is arís. I go fishing now and again.
Téim ag snámh sa samhradh. I go swimming in the summer.
Téim ag sciáil sa gheimhreadh. I go skiing in the winter.
SAYING WHAT YOU LIKE DOING
Is maith liom ... I like ...- a dhul ag siúl sna sléibhte to go hill-walking
- éisteacht le ceol listening to music
- a bheith ag léamh reading
- a bheith ag scríobh writing
- a bheith ag péinteáil painting
- a bheith ag taisteal traveling
ASKING IF SOMEONE IS INTERESTED IN A PARTICULAR THING
An bhfuil suim agat i ...or
An bhfuil suim agat sa ... Are you interested in ...
stair? history?
tseandálaíocht? archeology?
litríoch? literature?
Here are some possible answers:
Tá. Yes, I am.
Níl. No, I am.
Tá suim mhór agam ann. I have a great interest in it.
Níl suim ar laghad agam ann. I haven't the slightest interest in it.
Sílim go bhfuil sé ceart go leor. I think it's all right.
Sílim go bhfuil sé an-leadránach. I think it's very boring.
When asking if someone is interested in something, you can use:
An bhfuil suim agat i ... Are you interested in ...
An bhfuil suim agat i gceol? Are you interested in music?
or
An bhfuil suim agat sa ... Are you interested in ... (literally, Are you interested in the ...)
An bhfuil suim agat sa gceol?
Both forms are commonly used, and both are equally correct.
ASKING IF SOMEONE IS ABLE TO DO SOMETHING
An bhfuil snámh agat? Can you swim?An bhfuil ceol agat? Are you musical?
An bhfuil tú ábalta carr a thiomáint? Can you drive a car?
An bhfuil tú ábalta ríomhaire a úsáid? Can you use a computer?
An bhfuil tú ábalta gléas ceoil a sheinm? Can you play a musical instrument?
GIVING YOUR REPLY
In reply to all the above questions you can use:Tá. Yes.
or
Níl. No.
Other useful phrases are:
Níl mé rómhaith. I'm not very good.
Tá mé ag foghlaim. I'm learning.
Ba mhaith liom foghlaim. I'm would like to learn.
SAYING HOW EASY OR DIFFICULT SOMETHING IS
Tá sé deacair. It's difficult.Tá sé furasta go leor. It's easy enough.
Tá sé an-fhurasta. It's very easy.
Tá sé iontach deacair. It's very difficult.
Tá sé ródheacair. It's too difficult.
ASKING HOW LONG SOMEONE HAS BEEN DOING SOMETHING
Cá fhad atá tú ag tiomáint leoraí? How long have you been driving a lorry?Cá fhad atá tú ag seinm na fidle? How long have you been playing the fiddle?
Cá fhad atá tú ag péinteáil? How long have you been painting?
SAYING HOW LONG YOU HAVE BEEN DOING SOMETHING
le cúig bliana anuas for the past five yearsle deich mbliana nó níos mó for the ten years or more
le sé seachtainí nó mar sin for the past six weeks or thereabouts
le coicís for the past fortnight
le deich lá anuas for the past ten days
ASKING HOW OFTEN SOMEONE DOES SOMETHING
Cad é chomh minic ... How often ...... is a bhíonn ceacht agat? ... do you have a lesson?
... is a bhíonn tú ag cleachtadh? ... do you practise?
... is a bhíonn rang agat? ... do you have a class?
... is a bhíonn tú ag imirt? ... do you play?(sport)
... is a bhíonn tú ag seinm? ... do you play?(music)
SAYING HOW OFTEN YOU DO SOMETHING
Bíonn rang agam uair sa tseachtain. I have class once a week.Bím ag cleachtadh trí huaire sa tseachtain. I practise three times a week.
Bím ag seinm cúpla uair sa mhí. I play(music) a couple times a month.
Bím ag imirt achan deireadh seachtaine. I play(sport) every weekend.
Bíonn ceacht agam ceithre huaire sa tseachtain. I have a lesson four times a week.
ASKING SOMEONE HOW THEY ARE GETTING ON
If someone is learning a new skill of if they're in the middle of some work or project, you might like to ask:Cad é mar atá ag éirí leat?
or
Cad é mar atá ag éirí libh? How are you getting on?
SAYING HOW YOU ARE GETTING ON
Tá ag éirí go maith liom. I'm doing fine.Tá ag éirí go hiontach liom. I'm doing really well.
Níl ag éirí go rómhaith liom. I'm not doing very well.
Tá eagla orm nach bhfuil ag éirí go rómhaith liom. I'm afraid I'm not doing very well.
29: Living and working abroad
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GREETING SOMEONE YOU HAVEN'T SEEN FOR A WHILE
Cad é an dóigh atá ort? How are you keeping?Ní fhaca mé le fada tú. I haven't seen you in a long time.
Ní fhaca mé le tamall tú. I haven't seen you for a while.
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY HAVE BEEN ABROAD
An raibh tú thar lear? Were you abroad? or Have you been abroad?SAYING WHERE YOU HAVE BEEN
Bhí mé thar lear. I was abroad.SAYING WHAT COUNTRY YOU'VE BEEN TO
You learnt the names of various countries in Aonad 18. Let's look now at how you say you've been in a particular country.Bhí mé ... I was ...
- sa Spáinn in Spain
- sa Ghearmáin in Germany
- san Iodáil in Italy
- san Astráil in Australia
- i Meiriceá in America
- i Sasana in England
- in Albain in Scotland
There are different ways of saying 'in' a country in Irish, depending on whether or not the name of the country is preceded by the article, an.
If it is, you use sa before a consonant and san before a vowel:
an Fhrainc France
sa Fhrainc in France
an Iodáil Italy
san Iodáil in Italy
If the name of the country is not preceded by an,
you use i before a consonant and in before a vowel:
Meiriceá America
i Meiriceá in America
Albain Scotland
in Albain in Scotland
Where the name is preceded by the plural article, sna is used:
na Stáit Aontaithe the United States
sna Stáit Aontaithe in the United States
SAYING HOW LONG YOU WERE ABROAD
Bhí mé ansin ... I was there ...- ar feadh míosa for a month
- ar feadh dhá mhí for two months
- ar feadh seacht mí for seven months
- ar feadh bliana for a year
As you saw in Aonad 18, nouns that directly follow ar feadh are in the genitive case, and most undergo some change:
mí - ar feadh míosa
bliain - ar feadh bliana
However, if a number is placed between ar feadh and the noun, there is no change other than that caused by the number:
ar feadh dhá mhí
ar feadh ocht mí
ar feadh dhá bhliain
You can use ar feadh to refer to a period in the past that is finished:
Bhí mé ansin ar feadh bliana I was there for a year.
Le, which we came across in Aonad 26, is used to refer to something that is continuing:
Tá mé i mo chónaí anseo le cúig bliana. I am living here for five years.
ASKING SOMEONE WHEN THEY CAME BACK
Cá huair a tháinig tú ar ais? When did you come back?ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY WERE WORKING THERE
An raibh tú ag obair ansin? Were you working there?SAYING WHAT WORK YOU DID
Bhí mé ag múineadh Bearla. I was teaching English.Bhí mé ag tabhairt aire do pháistí. I was taking care of children.
Bhí mé ag staidéar. I was studying.
Bhí mé ag déanamh cúrsa Fraincise. I was doing a French course.
Bhí mé ag obair mar thógálaí. I was working as a builder.
SAYING THAT SOMETHING WAS GREAT
Bhí sé go hiontach. It was great.Bbí sé go hiontach ar fad. It was really great.
SAYING WHY YOU DIDN'T ENJOY BEING SOMEWHERE
Bhí sé an-fhuar ansin. It was very cold there.Bhí sé i bhfad róthe. It was far too hot.
Bhí cumha orm. I was homesick.
Bhí an obair róchrua. The work was too hard.
NÁISIÚNTACHTAÍ Nationalities
| Éireannach | an Irish person |
| Éireannaigh | Irish people |
| Francach | a French person |
| Francaigh | French people |
| Spáinneach | a Spaniard |
| Spáinnigh | Spainish people |
| Gearmánach | a German |
| Gearmánaigh | German people |
| Iodálach | an Italian |
| Iodálaigh | Italian people |
| Astrálach | an Australian |
| Astrálaigh | Australian people |
| Meiriceánach | an American |
| Meiriceánaigh | American people |
| Sasanach | an English person |
| Sasanaigh | English people |
| Albanach | a Scot |
| Albanaigh | Scottish people |
Very often the plural article, na, is placed before the above words:
Chaith na Gearmánaigh go maith liom.
The Germans treated me well.
The nouns you have just learnt can also be used as adjectives:
| Francach | a French person |
| bia Francach | French food |
| Spáinneach | a Spaniard |
| ceol Spáinneach | Spanish music |
ASKING FOR AN OPINION ON A NATIONALITY
Cad é a shíleann tú de na hIodálaigh? What do you think of the Italians?GIVING AN OPINION
Tá siad iontach* cineálta. They are very kind.Tá siad an-díograiseach mar dhaoine. They are very dilligent people.
Tá siad lách mar dhaoine. They are pleasant people.
*In the Ulster dialect, iontach is often used instead of an-.
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY WENT BY THEMSELVES
An ndeachaigh tú leat féin? Did you go by yourself?In reply you can say:
Chuaigh./Ni dheachaigh. Yes, I did./No, I didn't.
SAYING WHO ACCOMPANIED YOU
Chuaigh mo chara Siobhán in éineacht liom. My friend Siobhán went with me.Chuaigh mo chairde Dónall agus Niall liom. My friends Dónall and Niall went with me.
ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY LIVED ALONE OR WITH OTHER PEOPLE
An raibh tú i do chónaí leat féin? Did you live alone?An raibh tú i do chónaí le daoine eile? Did you live with other people?
GIVING YOUR REPLY
Bhí./Ní raibh. Yes, I did./No, I didn't.Two other phrases that you might use are:
Bhí ar dtús ... I was at first ...
ach ansin bhóg mé isteach le daoine eile. but then I moved in with other people.
or
ach ansin fuair mé áit domh féin. but then I got my own place.
30: Speaking about the future
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USING THE PRESENT TENSE TO TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE
You can use the present tense followed by a verbal noun to talk about things that are going to happen in the future, in the same way that you can in English. Here are some examples:Tá mé ag bualadh le Mark ag a naoi. I am meeting Mark at nine.
Tá Fíona ag teacht ar ais óna saoire amárach. Fíona is coming back from her holidays tomorrow.
Tá mé ag imeacht arís amárach. I am leaving again tomorrow.
THE FUTURE TENSE
Verbs that end in -ann or -eann in the present tense:
You replace the present tense endings with -faidh (after the broad vowels a, o, and u)
or -fidh (after the slender vowels i and e).
| ólann sé | he drinks |
| ólfaidh sé | he will drink |
| cuireann sí | she puts |
| cuirfaidh sí | she will put |
Verbs that end in -aíonn or -íonn in the present tense:
You replace the present tense endings with -óidh (after the broad vowels a, o, and u)
or -eoidh (after the slender vowels e, and i).
| ceannaíonn sí | she buys |
| ceannóidh sí | she will buy |
| imíonn siad | they go/leave |
| imeoidh siad | they will go/leave |
THE IRREGULAR VERBS
Here are the future tense forms of some of the irregular verbs:
| An rachaidh tú ...? | Will you go ...? |
| Rachaidh./Ní rachaidh. | Yes I will./ No, I won't. |
| An mbeidh tú ...? | Will you be ...? |
| Beidh./Ní bheidh. | Yes, I will./ No, I won't. |
| An dtabharfaidh tú ...? | Will you give ...? |
| Tabharfaidh./Ní thabharfaidh. | Yes, I will./ No, I won't. |
| An bhfaighidh tú ...? | Will you get ...? |
| Gheobhaidh./Ní bhfaighidh. | Yes I will./ No, I won't. |
| An bhfeicfidh tú ...? | Will you see ...? |
| Chífidh./Ní fheicfidh. | Yes, I will./ No, I won't. |
| An ndéanfaidh tú ...? | Will you do/make ...? |
| Déanfaidh./Ní dhéanfaidh. | Yes, I will./ No, I won't. |
| An ndéarfaidh tú ...? | Will you say/tell ...? |
| Déarfaidh./Ní dhéarfaidh. | Yes, I will./ No, I won't. |
It is not Necessary to use personl pronouns - mé, tú, sé, sí, etc. - when answering a question:
| An rachaidh Bríd leat? | Will Bríd go with you? |
| Rachaidh./Ní rachaidh. | Yes, she will./ No, she won't. |
OFFERING TO DO SOMEONE A FAVOUR
The future tense is used when offering to do someone a favour.An gcuirfidh mé an t-im sa chuisneoir duit? Will I put the butter in the fridge for you?
An rachaidh mé go dtí an otharlann leat? Will I go to the hospital with you?
An dtabhairfaidh mé síob duit? Will I give you a lift?
ASKING SOMEONE TO DO YOU A FAVOUR
An bhfaighidh tú páipéar nuachta domh? Will you get a newspaper for me?An ndéarfaidh tú léi go raibh mé ag cur a tuairisce? Will you tell her that I was asking for her?
An ndéanfaidh tú gar domh? Will you do me a favour?
ASKING ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS
| An mbeidh tú sa bhaile amárach? | Will you you be at home tomorrow? |
| Beidh./Ní bheidh. | I will./I won't. |
| An bhfeicfidh mé amárach tú? | Will I see you tomorrow? |
| Chífidh./Ní fheicfidh. | You will./You won't. |
| An bhfaighidh tú seans a dhul chuig an dráma? | Will you get a chance to go to the play? |
| Gheobhaidh./Ní bhfaighidh. | I will./I won't. |
SAYING WHEN SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN
We came across i gceann in Units 7 and 12. Here are some more examples.i gceann cúpla lá in a few days' time
i gceann seachtaine in a weeks' time
i gceann coicíse in a fortnight's time
If you want to be less specific you can use:
amach anseo sometime in the future
USING THE WORD MÁ TO TALK ABOUT FUTURE EVENTS
The probablility of future events happening sometimes depends on other factors.má bhíonn am agam if I have time
má bhíonn an lá go deas if it's a nice day
má théann tú ... if you go ...
má bhíonn lá saor agam if I have a day off
má bhím saor if I'm free
ASKING WHAT THE WEATHER WILL BE LIKE
Cad é an cinéal aimsire a bheidh ann amárach? What will the weather be like tomorrow?SAYING WHAT THE WEATHER WILL BE LIKE
Beidh sé gaofar. It'll be windy.Beidh sé fliuch. It'll be wet.
Beidh sé tirim. It'll be dry.
Beidh clocha sneachta ann. There will be hailstones.
Beidh tintreach agus toirneach ann. There will be thunder and lightning.
You can use the word déarfainn (I'd say) if you're not sure what the weather will be like.
Beidh fearthainn throm ann, déarfainn. It'll rain heavily, I'd say. (Literally, There will be heavy rain in it, I'd say.)
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).