Formation of Verbal Nouns

This section is largely based on chapter 8 of Colin Marks (2006) Gaelic Verbs: Systemized and Simplified

• for a definition of verbal noun see Verbal Noun (definition)
• for a discussion of the uses of verbal nouns see Verbal Nouns

Verbal noun is the same as the imperative

Imperative	verbal Noun	verb meaning
leum	leum	jump
obair	obair	work
òl	òl	drink
ruith	ruith	run
seinn	seinn	sing
stad	stad	stop
streap	streap	climb

Suffix -(e)adh

The most common way to form a verbal noun is to suffix some version of the suffix -adh (pronounced either /u/ or /əg/). There are several variants of this, listed bleow

Suffix -adh

Imperative	verbal Noun	verb meaning
danns	dannsadh	dance
leugh	leughadh	read
pòg	pògadh	kiss
sgriobh	sgriobhadh	write

broaden and suffix -adh

This method is used for words ending in -aich, monosyllabic words ending in -ail, and -ich. To form the verbal noun, make the final consonant broad by doing one of the following:

• -aich --> ach+adh
• -ich --> each+adh e.g.
• -ail --> al+adh, e.g., buail --> bualadh

broaden, syncope final syllable, suffix -adh

where C stands for any consonant.

• Cail --> Cl+adh

Suffix -amh

Imperative	verbal Noun	verb meaning
dean	deanamh	do
seas	seasamh	sit

Suffix -t(a)inn

Imperative	verbal Noun	verb meaning
cluinn	cluinntinn	listen
seall	sealltainn	look

Suffix -e

Imperative	verbal Noun	verb meaning
ith	ithe	eat
suidh	suidhe	sit

Suppletive verbal nouns

Imperative	verbal Noun	verb meaning
abair	ràdh	say
rach	dol	go
thàladh	falbh	leave