Difference between revisions of "Abair (irregular verb)"

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The irregular verb ''Abair'' means "to say". ''Abair'' is one of 11 [[:Category:Irregular Verb|irregular verbs]] in Gaelic.
 +
 +
==Uses==
 +
A common idiomatic usage: when used by itself, it means something along the line "what a...!" or "Say, look!".
 +
 +
''Abair latha math!''
 +
 +
'What a good day!'
 +
 +
 +
''Abair duine laghach!''
 +
 +
'What a nice man'
  
−
The irregular verb ''Abair'' means "to say". ''Abair'' is one of 11 [[:Category:Irregular Verb|irregular verbs]] in Gaelic. I
 
  
−
==Uses==
+
''Abair car breagha!''
−
A common idiomatic usage: when used by itself, it means something along the line "what a" or "Say, look"
 
  
−
*Abair latha math 'what a good day'
+
'What a beautiful car!'
−
*Abair duine laghach "what a nice man'
 
−
*Abair car breagha 'what a beautiful car'
 
  
 
==Summary  of forms==
 
==Summary  of forms==
Line 17: Line 26:
  
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"  
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"  
−
!colspan="3"|context!!independent!!After Cha(n)||Dependent
+
!colspan="3"|context!!independent!!Dependent
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!rowspan="6"|basic forms!!rowspan="3"|active!!past
 
!rowspan="6"|basic forms!!rowspan="3"|active!!past
 
|thuirt (or thubhairt)
 
|thuirt (or thubhairt)
−
|colspan="2"|tuirt  
+
|tuirt  
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!Future
 
!Future
 
|their  
 
|their  
−
|colspan="2"|abair
+
|abair<sup>3</sup>
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!Relative Future
 
!Relative Future
−
|colspan="2"|---||their
+
| ---
 +
|their
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!rowspan="3"|impersonal<sup>1</sup>!!past
 
!rowspan="3"|impersonal<sup>1</sup>!!past
 
|thuirteadh  
 
|thuirteadh  
−
|colspan="2"|tuirteadh  
+
|tuirteadh  
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!future
 
!future
 
|theirear
 
|theirear
−
|colspan="2"|abrar
+
|abrar<sup>3</sup>
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!relative future
 
!relative future
−
|colspan="2"|---
+
| ---
 
|theirear
 
|theirear
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!rowspan="2"|Conditional Mood!!colspan="2"|active
 
!rowspan="2"|Conditional Mood!!colspan="2"|active
−
|colspan="2"|chluinneadh  (chluinninn<sup>2</sup> in 1st singular)
+
|theireadh<sup>2</sup> <br> (theirinn<sup>1</sup> in 1st singular)
−
|cluinneadh (cluinninn<sup>2</sup> in 1st sing)
+
|colspan="2"|abradh<sup>2,3</sup><br> (abrainn<sup>1,3</sup> in 1st sing)
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!colspan="2"|impersonal
 
!colspan="2"|impersonal
−
|colspan="2"|chluinnte (chluinnist in Lewis)
+
|theirte
−
|cluinnte (cluinnist in Lewis)
+
|colspan="2"|abairte
−
|-align=center
 
−
!rowspan="5"|Imperative Mood!!rowspan="2"|1st person!!singular
 
−
|cluinneam<sup>1</sup>||colspan="2" rowspan="8"|---
 
−
|-align=center
 
−
!plural
 
−
|cluinneamaid<sup>1</sup>
 
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
−
!rowspan="2"|2nd person!!singular
+
!rowspan="2"|Imperative Mood!!rowspan="2"|2nd person!!singular
−
|cluinn<sup>1</sup>
+
|abair<sup>1,3</sup>||colspan="2" rowspan="8"|---
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!plural
 
!plural
−
|cluinnibh<sup>1</sup>
+
|abraibh<sup>1,3</sup>
−
|-align=center
 
−
!colspan="1"|3rd person
 
−
|cluinneadh
 
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
−
!colspan="1"|verbal noun
+
!colspan="3"|verbal noun
−
|cluinntinn (sometimes cluinnteil)
+
|ràdh
 
|}
 
|}
 
Notes:
 
Notes:
 
*<sup>1</sup> these forms are not used with any subject, they contain the subject in the inflection of the verb ([[Pro-Drop]])
 
*<sup>1</sup> these forms are not used with any subject, they contain the subject in the inflection of the verb ([[Pro-Drop]])
 +
*<sup>2</sup> takes tu rather than thu in the 2nd person.
 +
*<sup>3</sup> Abair is rarely used to mean "Say" in the imperative and dependent forms in the future and conditional, instead the regular verb ''can'' is more often used.
  
 
==Non Conditional Moods (indicative, interrogative, negative)==
 
==Non Conditional Moods (indicative, interrogative, negative)==
Line 79: Line 82:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
|chuala mi ||an cuala mi ||cha chuala mi||nach cuala mi||gun cuala mi
+
|thuirt mi ||an tuirt mi ||cha tuirt mi||nach tuirt mi||gun tuirt mi
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|chuala tu<sup>1</sup> ||an cuala tu ||cha chuala tu||nach cuala tu||gun cuala tu
+
|thuirt thu ||an tuirt thu ||cha tuirt thu||nach tuirt thu||gun tuirt thu
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|chuala e||an cuala e||cha chuala e||nach cuala e||gun cuala e
+
|thuirt e||an tuirt e||cha tuirt e||nach tuirt e||gun tuirt e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|chuala i||an cuala i||cha chuala i||nach cuala i||gun cuala i
+
|thuirt i||an tuirt i||cha tuirt i||nach tuirt i||gun tuirt i
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|chuala sinn ||an cuala sinn ||cha chuala sinn||nach cuala sinn||gun cuala sinn
+
|thuirt sinn ||an tuirt sinn ||cha tuirt sinn||nach tuirt sinn||gun tuirt sinn
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2 pl
 
!2 pl
−
|chuala sibh ||an cuala sibh ||cha chuala sibh||nach cuala sibh||gun cuala sibh
+
|thuirt sibh ||an tuirt sibh ||cha tuirt sibh||nach tuirt sibh||gun tuirt sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|chuala iad||an cuala iad||cha chuala iad||nach cuala iad||gun cuala iAd
+
|thuirt iad||an tuirt iad||cha tuirt iad||nach tuirt iad||gun tuirt iad
 
|}
 
|}
−
#Irregularly, the 2nd person pronoun shows up as ''tu'' instead of ''thu'' in the past, impersonal, and relative future forms of this verb.
+
<br>
  
 
====Present tense====
 
====Present tense====
  
−
As is common in Gaelic, there is no present tense form of the verb. When a simple present meaning  ("I hear something") or a progressive meaning (I am hearing something is intended,  the [[Periphrastic (definition)|periphrastic construction]] is used with the present tense of the verb ''bi'' (be), i.e., tha, along with the verbal noun.
+
As is common in Gaelic, there is no present tense form of the verb. When a simple present meaning  ("I say something") or a progressive meaning (I am saying something) is intended,  the [[Periphrastic (definition)|periphrastic construction]] is used with the present tense of the verb ''bi'' (be), i.e., ''tha'', along with the verbal noun.
  
 
:{|
 
:{|
−
|Tha||mi||a' ||cluinntinn
+
|Tha||mi||ag ||ràdh
 
|-
 
|-
−
|be.pres||1s||prog||hear.vn
+
|be.pres||1s||prog||say.vn
 
|-
 
|-
−
|I'm hearing/I hear
+
|I'm saying/I say
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
+
<br>
  
 
====Future tense====
 
====Future tense====
  
−
The [[Future tense (definition)|future tense]] in Gaelic is used to express the idea that an event will happen sometime after the speech time. Unlike English, the future tense can also be used with a present tense meaning, to express the idea that an action is [[habitual]].
+
The [[Future Tense (definition)|future tense]] in Gaelic is used to express the idea that an event will happen sometime after the speech time. Unlike English, the future tense can also be used with a present tense meaning, to express the idea that an action is [[Habitual Aspect (definition)|habitual]].
  
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
Line 122: Line 125:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
|cluinnidh mi ||an cluinn mi ||cha chluinn mi||nach cluinn mi||a chluinneas mi  
+
|their mi ||an abair mi ||chan abair mi||nach abair mi||a their mi  
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|cluinnidh thu ||an cluinn thu ||cha chluinn thu||nach cluinn thu||a chluinneas tu<sup>2</sup>
+
|their thu ||an abair thu ||chan abair thu||nach abair thu||a their thu
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|cluinnidh e||an cluinn e||cha chluinn e||nach cluinn e||a chluinneas e
+
|their e||an abair e||chan abair e||nach abair e||a their e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|cluinnidh i||an cluinn i||cha chluinn i||nach cluinn i ||a chluinneas i
+
|their i||an abair i||chan abair i||nach abair i ||a their i
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|cluinnidh sinn ||an cluinn sinn ||cha chluinn sinn||nach cluinn sinn||a chluinneas sinn
+
|their sinn ||an abair sinn ||chan abair sinn||nach abair sinn||a their sinn
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2 pl
 
!2 pl
−
|cluinnidh sibh ||an cluinn sibh ||cha chluinn sibh||nach cluinn sibh||a chluinneas sibh
+
|their sibh ||an abair sibh ||chan abair sibh||nach abair sibh||a their sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|cluinnidh iad||an cluinn iad||cha chluinn iad||nach cluinn iad||a chluinneas iad
+
|their iad||an abair iad||chan abair iad||nach abair iad||a their iad
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
Note:
 
Note:
 
# the relative future is  used after certain particles such as ''ma'' or the particle used with questions ''a''.
 
# the relative future is  used after certain particles such as ''ma'' or the particle used with questions ''a''.
−
# Note that in the relative future the pronoun ''tu'' is used in lieu of ''thu''.
 
  
  
Line 152: Line 154:
 
===Impersonal/Passive Voice===
 
===Impersonal/Passive Voice===
  
−
Gaelic verbs don't technically have a [[Passive (definition)|Passive]] verb form. Instead the passive is typically represented through a [[Periphrastic (definition)|periphrastic]] construction using the verbs ''Rach'' or ''Tha'' + the passive marker ''air''. It does, however, have an [[Impersonal (definition)|impersonal]] form. The '''Impersonal''' is used to indicate an indeterminate subject. ''Chualas''  can be best translated as "someone heard". Use of a pronoun is completely optional. So "Chualas" is a completely well-formed sentence. When used with a pronoun, the pronoun represents the logical object of the verb. So "chualas mi" means "Someone heard me".  This is often translated as "I was heard", hence the typical "passive" label.  
+
Gaelic verbs don't technically have a [[Passive (definition)|Passive]] verb form. Instead the passive is typically represented through a [[Periphrastic (definition)|periphrastic]] construction using the verbs ''Rach'' or ''Tha'' + the passive marker ''air''. It does, however, have an [[Impersonal (definition)|impersonal]] form. The '''Impersonal''' is used to indicate an indeterminate subject. ''thuirteadh''  can be best translated as "someone said". When used with a pronoun, the pronoun represents the logical object of the verb. So "thuirteadh e" means "Someone said it".  This is often translated as "it was said", hence the typical "passive" label.  
  
−
Since Gaelic doesn't distinguish between subject and object pronouns (unlike it's sibling [[Modern Irish]]), it is very difficult to determine if these pronouns are subjects or objects. We list them here as if they were subjects, with the understanding that the pronouns in the following tables represent the logical objects of the verb (the person who was heard, not the hearer).
+
Since Gaelic doesn't distinguish between subject and object pronouns (unlike it's sibling [[Modern Irish]]), it is very difficult to determine if these pronouns are subjects or objects. We list them here as if they were subjects, with the understanding that the pronouns in the following tables represent the logical objects of the verb (the thing that was said, not the sayer).
  
 
====Past tense====
 
====Past tense====
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{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
! !!Declarative!!Question!!Negative!!Negative Question
 
! !!Declarative!!Question!!Negative!!Negative Question
−
|-
 
−
! 1
 
−
|chualas mi ||an cualas mi ||cha chualas mi||nach cualas mi
 
−
|-
 
−
!2
 
−
|chualas tu<sup>1</sup> ||an cualas tu ||cha chualas tu||nach cualas tu
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|chualas e||an cualas e||cha chualas e||nach cualas e
+
|thuirteadh e||an tuirteadh e||cha tuirteadh e||nach tuirteadh e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|chualas i||an cualas i||cha chualas i||nach cualas i  
+
|thuirteadh i||an tuirteadh i||cha tuirteadh i||nach tuirteadh i  
−
|-
 
−
! 1 pl
 
−
|chualas sinn ||an cualas sinn ||cha chualas sinn||nach cualas sinn
 
−
|-
 
−
!2 pl
 
−
|chualas sibh ||an cualas sibh ||cha chualas sibh||nach cualas sibh
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|chualas iad||an cualas iad||cha chualas iad||nach cualas iad
+
|thuirteadh iad||an tuirteadh iad||cha tuirteadh iad||nach tuirteadh iad
 
|}
 
|}
−
Notes:
+
<br>
−
#The pronoun ''tu'' is used here instead of ''thu''
 
  
 
====Present tense====
 
====Present tense====
  
−
The use of a passive in the present tense is odd, even in English. But if forced, one would use a passive periphrastic construction using the present tense of the verb ''bi'' followed by the derived subject followed by ''air'' and finally the verb in verbal noun form:
+
The use of a passive in the present tense is odd, even in English. We leave this blank here.
−
 
 
−
:{|
 
−
|Tha||mi||air||cluinntinn
 
−
|-
 
−
|be.pres||1s||passive||hear.vn
 
−
|-
 
−
|colspan="4"|"I am heard"
 
−
|}
 
  
  
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{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
! !!Declarative!!Question!!Negative!!Negative Question||Relative Future<sup>1</sup>
 
! !!Declarative!!Question!!Negative!!Negative Question||Relative Future<sup>1</sup>
−
|-
 
−
! 1
 
−
|cluinnear mi ||an cluinnear mi ||cha chluinnear mi||nach cluinnear mi||a chluinnear mi
 
−
|-
 
−
!2
 
−
|cluinnear thu ||an cluinnear thu ||cha chluinnear thu||nach cluinnear thu||a chluinnear thu
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|cluinnear e||an cluinnear e||cha chluinnear e||nach cluinnear e||a chluinnear e
+
|theirear e||an abrar e||chan abrar e||nach abrar e||a theirear e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|cluinnear i||an cluinnear i||cha chluinnear i||nach cluinnear i ||a chluinnear i
+
|theirear i||an abrar i||chan abrar i||nach abrar i ||a theirear i
−
|-
 
−
! 1 pl
 
−
|cluinnear sinn ||an cluinnear sinn ||cha chluinnear sinn||nach cluinnear sinn||a chluinnear sinn
 
−
|-
 
−
!2
 
−
|cluinnear sibh ||an cluinnear sibh ||cha chluinnear sibh||nach cluinnear sibh||a chluinnear sibh
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|cluinnear iad||an cluinnear iad||cha chluinnear iad||nach cluinnear iad||a chluinnear iad
+
|theirear iad||an abrar iad||chan abrar iad||nach abrar iad||a theirear iad
 
|}
 
|}
 
Notes
 
Notes
 
# the relative future is  used after certain particles such as ''a'' the particle used with questions, or ''ma'' "if".
 
# the relative future is  used after certain particles such as ''a'' the particle used with questions, or ''ma'' "if".
 +
<br>
  
 
==Conditional Mood==
 
==Conditional Mood==
Line 234: Line 204:
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
| chluinninn<sup>1</sup> ||an cluinninn ||cha chluinninn||nach cluinninn
+
| theirinn<sup>1</sup> ||an abrainn ||chan abrainn||nach abrainn
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|chluinneadh tu<sup>2</sup>||an cluinneadh tu ||cha chluinneadh tu||nach cluinneadh tu
+
|theireadh tu<sup>2</sup>||an abradh tu ||chan abradh tu||nach abradh tu
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|chluinneadh e||an cluinneadh e||cha chluinneadh e||nach cluinneadh e
+
|theireadh e||an abradh e||chan abradh e||nach abradh e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|chluinneadh i||an cluinneadh i||cha chluinneadh i||nach cluinneadh i  
+
|theireadh i||an abradh i||chan abradh i||nach abradh i  
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|chluinneadh sinn (chluinneamaid<sup>3</sup>)||an cluinneadh sinn (an cluinneamaid<sup>3</sup>)||cha chluinneadh sinn (cha chluinneamaid<sup>3</sup>)||nach cluinneadh sinn (nach cluinneamaid<sup>3</sup>)
+
|theireadh sinn (theireamaid<sup>3</sup>)||an abradh sinn (an abramaid<sup>3</sup>)||chan abradh sinn (chan abramaid<sup>3</sup>)||nach abradh sinn (nach abramaid<sup>3</sup>)
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2 pl
 
!2 pl
−
|chluinneadh sibh ||an cluinneadh sibh ||cha chluinneadh sibh||nach cluinneadh sibh
+
|theireadh sibh ||an abradh sibh ||chan abradh sibh||nach abradh sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|chluinneadh iad||an cluinneadh iad||cha chluinneadh iad||nach cluinneadh iad
+
|theireadh iad||an abradh iad||chan abradh iad||nach abradh iad
 
|}
 
|}
 
Notes:
 
Notes:
Line 258: Line 228:
 
#The pronoun ''tu'' is used here instead of ''thu''
 
#The pronoun ''tu'' is used here instead of ''thu''
 
#The 1st person plural has a special inflected form, which like the first person singular is never used with a pronoun. This 1st person plural form is rarely used anymore.
 
#The 1st person plural has a special inflected form, which like the first person singular is never used with a pronoun. This 1st person plural form is rarely used anymore.
−
 
+
<br>
  
 
====passive====
 
====passive====
Line 264: Line 234:
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
! !!Declarative!!Question!!Negative!!Negative Question
 
! !!Declarative!!Question!!Negative!!Negative Question
−
|-
 
−
! 1
 
−
| chluinnte mi||an cluinnte mi ||cha chluinnte mi||nach cluinnte mi
 
−
|-
 
−
!2
 
−
|chluinnte thu||an cluinnte thu ||cha chluinnte thu||nach cluinnte thu
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|chluinnte e||an cluinnte e||cha chluinnte e||nach cluinnte e
+
|theirte e||an abairte e||chan abairte e||nach abairte e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|chluinnte i||an cluinnte i||cha chluinnte i||nach cluinnte i  
+
|theirte i||an abairte i||chan abairte i||nach abairte i  
−
|-
 
−
! 1 pl
 
−
|chluinnte sinn ||an cluinnte sinn ||cha chluinnte sinn||nach cluinnte sinn
 
−
|-
 
−
!2 pl
 
−
|chluinnte sibh ||an cluinnte sibh ||cha chluinnte sibh||nach cluinnte sibh
 
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|chluinnte iad||an cluinnte iad||cha chluinnte iad||nach cluinnte iad
+
|theirte iad||an abairte iad||chan abairte iad||nach abairte iad
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
−
 
  
 
==Imperative Mood==
 
==Imperative Mood==
  
−
The Imperative mood is used when giving a command. 2nd person imperatives are the most common. In English these are translated with by just the verb "Hear!". 1st and 3rd person imperatives translated loosely as "Let me hear", "let us hear", "let he/she/them hear". The 1st person plural and third person imperatives are the same as the conditional forms except without [[Lenition|lenition]]
+
The imperative of ''abair'' is rarely used to mean "say!". Instead it often has the meaning of "What an X" Abair an duine ''What a guy!".  
−
 
 
−
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
−
!colspan="2"|person
 
−
!form
 
−
|-
 
−
!rowspan="4"|singular
 
−
!1
 
−
|cluinneam<sup>1</sup>
 
−
|-
 
−
!2
 
−
|cluinn<sup>1</sup>
 
−
|-
 
−
!3 masc
 
−
|cluinneadh e
 
−
|-
 
−
!3 fem
 
−
|cluinneadh i
 
−
|-
 
−
!rowspan="3"|plural
 
−
!1
 
−
|cluinneamaid<sup>1</sup>
 
−
|-
 
−
!2
 
−
|cluinnibh<sup>1</sup>
 
−
|-
 
−
!3
 
−
|cluinneadh iad
 
−
|}
 
−
Notes
 
−
# The 1st and 2nd person forms are used without subject pronouns.
 
  
 +
To express an imperative meaning ''say'', most speakers will use the regular verb ''can'' instead.
  
 
==[[References]]==
 
==[[References]]==
Line 336: Line 263:
 
[[Category: Irregular Verb]]
 
[[Category: Irregular Verb]]
 
[[Category: Morphology]]
 
[[Category: Morphology]]
−
 
+
[[Category: Inflection]]
−
 
 
−
[[Category:Irregular Verb]]
 

Latest revision as of 11:17, 22 October 2015

The irregular verb Abair means "to say". Abair is one of 11 irregular verbs in Gaelic.

Uses

A common idiomatic usage: when used by itself, it means something along the line "what a...!" or "Say, look!".

Abair latha math!

'What a good day!'


Abair duine laghach!

'What a nice man'


Abair car breagha!

'What a beautiful car!'

Summary of forms

  • Independent forms of the verb abair are used without any particles.
  • Dependent forms of the verb abair are used after an, nach, gun and other verbal particles.
  • Unlike regular verbs, the dependent past tense particle do is never used with abair.


context independent Dependent
basic forms active past thuirt (or thubhairt) tuirt
Future their abair3
Relative Future --- their
impersonal1 past thuirteadh tuirteadh
future theirear abrar3
relative future --- theirear
Conditional Mood active theireadh2
(theirinn1 in 1st singular) 		abradh2,3
(abrainn1,3 in 1st sing)
impersonal theirte abairte
Imperative Mood 2nd person singular abair1,3 ---
plural abraibh1,3
verbal noun ràdh

Notes:

  • 1 these forms are not used with any subject, they contain the subject in the inflection of the verb (Pro-Drop)
  • 2 takes tu rather than thu in the 2nd person.
  • 3 Abair is rarely used to mean "Say" in the imperative and dependent forms in the future and conditional, instead the regular verb can is more often used.

Non Conditional Moods (indicative, interrogative, negative)

Active Voice

Past tense

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question embedded
1 thuirt mi an tuirt mi cha tuirt mi nach tuirt mi gun tuirt mi
2 thuirt thu an tuirt thu cha tuirt thu nach tuirt thu gun tuirt thu
3 masc thuirt e an tuirt e cha tuirt e nach tuirt e gun tuirt e
3 fem thuirt i an tuirt i cha tuirt i nach tuirt i gun tuirt i
1 pl thuirt sinn an tuirt sinn cha tuirt sinn nach tuirt sinn gun tuirt sinn
2 pl thuirt sibh an tuirt sibh cha tuirt sibh nach tuirt sibh gun tuirt sibh
3 pl thuirt iad an tuirt iad cha tuirt iad nach tuirt iad gun tuirt iad


Present tense

As is common in Gaelic, there is no present tense form of the verb. When a simple present meaning ("I say something") or a progressive meaning (I am saying something) is intended, the periphrastic construction is used with the present tense of the verb bi (be), i.e., tha, along with the verbal noun.

Tha mi ag ràdh
be.pres 1s prog say.vn
I'm saying/I say


Future tense

The future tense in Gaelic is used to express the idea that an event will happen sometime after the speech time. Unlike English, the future tense can also be used with a present tense meaning, to express the idea that an action is habitual.

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question Relative Future1
1 their mi an abair mi chan abair mi nach abair mi a their mi
2 their thu an abair thu chan abair thu nach abair thu a their thu
3 masc their e an abair e chan abair e nach abair e a their e
3 fem their i an abair i chan abair i nach abair i a their i
1 pl their sinn an abair sinn chan abair sinn nach abair sinn a their sinn
2 pl their sibh an abair sibh chan abair sibh nach abair sibh a their sibh
3 pl their iad an abair iad chan abair iad nach abair iad a their iad

Note:

  1. the relative future is used after certain particles such as ma or the particle used with questions a.


Impersonal/Passive Voice

Gaelic verbs don't technically have a Passive verb form. Instead the passive is typically represented through a periphrastic construction using the verbs Rach or Tha + the passive marker air. It does, however, have an impersonal form. The Impersonal is used to indicate an indeterminate subject. thuirteadh can be best translated as "someone said". When used with a pronoun, the pronoun represents the logical object of the verb. So "thuirteadh e" means "Someone said it". This is often translated as "it was said", hence the typical "passive" label.

Since Gaelic doesn't distinguish between subject and object pronouns (unlike it's sibling Modern Irish), it is very difficult to determine if these pronouns are subjects or objects. We list them here as if they were subjects, with the understanding that the pronouns in the following tables represent the logical objects of the verb (the thing that was said, not the sayer).

Past tense

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question
3 masc thuirteadh e an tuirteadh e cha tuirteadh e nach tuirteadh e
3 fem thuirteadh i an tuirteadh i cha tuirteadh i nach tuirteadh i
3 pl thuirteadh iad an tuirteadh iad cha tuirteadh iad nach tuirteadh iad


Present tense

The use of a passive in the present tense is odd, even in English. We leave this blank here.


Future tense

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question Relative Future1
3 masc theirear e an abrar e chan abrar e nach abrar e a theirear e
3 fem theirear i an abrar i chan abrar i nach abrar i a theirear i
3 pl theirear iad an abrar iad chan abrar iad nach abrar iad a theirear iad

Notes

  1. the relative future is used after certain particles such as a the particle used with questions, or ma "if".


Conditional Mood

Active

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question
1 theirinn1 an abrainn chan abrainn nach abrainn
2 theireadh tu2 an abradh tu chan abradh tu nach abradh tu
3 masc theireadh e an abradh e chan abradh e nach abradh e
3 fem theireadh i an abradh i chan abradh i nach abradh i
1 pl theireadh sinn (theireamaid3) an abradh sinn (an abramaid3) chan abradh sinn (chan abramaid3) nach abradh sinn (nach abramaid3)
2 pl theireadh sibh an abradh sibh chan abradh sibh nach abradh sibh
3 pl theireadh iad an abradh iad chan abradh iad nach abradh iad

Notes:

  1. The 1st person singular form is never used with an overt pronoun, the verb contains the pronoun already.
  2. The pronoun tu is used here instead of thu
  3. The 1st person plural has a special inflected form, which like the first person singular is never used with a pronoun. This 1st person plural form is rarely used anymore.


passive

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question
3 masc theirte e an abairte e chan abairte e nach abairte e
3 fem theirte i an abairte i chan abairte i nach abairte i
3 pl theirte iad an abairte iad chan abairte iad nach abairte iad

Imperative Mood

The imperative of abair is rarely used to mean "say!". Instead it often has the meaning of "What an X" Abair an duine What a guy!".

To express an imperative meaning say, most speakers will use the regular verb can instead.

References

  • Black, Ronald (2006) Cothrom Ionnsachaidh Peebles: Self-published.
  • Byrne, Michel (2002) Gràmar na Gàidhlig. Eilean Leòdhais: Stòrlann-Acair.
  • Deiseal Earranta tta (2006) Reference Cards: Sealbhairean Roimhearach/Riochdairean Roimhearach.
  • Mark, Colin (2004) The Gaelic-English Dictionary/Am faclair Gàidhlig-Beurla. London: Routledge
  • Mark, Colin (2006), Gaelic Verbs: Systemised and Simplified" 2nd Edition. Edinburgh: Steve Savage Publishers. http://www.savagepublishers.com/138.html
  • Lamb, William (2003) Scottish Gaelic. 2nd edition. Munich: Lingcom Europa
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