Irish On Your Own III

11: Saying what you did



Chapter 11 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

ASKING SOMEONE WHERE THEY WENT

Cá háit a ndeachaigh* tú? Where did you go?
Cá háit a ndeachaigh* tú inné? Where did you go yesterday?
* The n at the beginning of this word is not pronounced in the Ulster dialect.

ASKING SOMEONE WHAT THEY DID

Cad a rinne tú? What did you do?
Cad a rinne tú ag an deireadh seachtaine? What did you do at the weekend?

REFERING TO THE RECENT PAST

inné yesterday
arú inné the day before yesterday
aréir last night
arú aréir the night before last
maidin inné yesterday morning
maidin inniú this morning

SAYING YOU WENT SOMEWHERE

Chuaigh mé ... I went ...
Chuaigh mé ag snámh. I went swimming.
Chuaigh muid ag rothaíocht. We went cycling.

SAYING WHAT YOU DID

Bhí mé ag bainis. I was at a wedding.
D'imir mé cispheil. I played basketball.
D'amharc mé ar fhíseáin. I watched videos.
D'éist mé le dlúthdhioscaí. I listened to CDs.
D'ól mé cúpla deoch. I had a few drinks.

THE PAST TENSE
In the case of regular verbs, the past tense is formed by adding a séimhiú to the imperative of the verb if it begins with a consonant:
suigh síos (sit down) shuigh sé síos (he sat down)
druid (close) dhuid sí (she closed)

If the verb begins with f or with a vowel, you place d' before it:
ól (drink) d'ól mé (I drank)
fan (wait) d'fhan mé (I waited)

IRREGULAR VERBS
As we mentioned before, Irish only has a handful of verbs that don't follow all the rules. Here are the past-tense forms of those verbs:
bhí mé (I was) Chonaic sibh (you saw)
rinne mé (I did) thug siad (they gave)
chuala tú (you heard) chuaigh mé (I went gave)
dúirt sé (he said) rug sí ar (she caught)
fuair sí (she got) tháinig sé (he came)
d'ith muid (we ate did)

DAYS OF THE WEEK
Dé Luain Monday
Dé Máirt Tuesday
Dé Céadaoin Wednesday
Déardaoin Thursday
Dé hAoine Friday
Dé Sathairn Saturday
Dé Domhnaigh Sunday

There's no need to place anything before the days of the week in Irish if you want to say 'on a particular day':
Chonaic mé síle Dé Luain. I saw Síle on Monday.

The days of the week aren't affected if they're preceded by the words maidin and tráthnóna:
maidin Dé Máirt Tuesday morning
tráthnóna Déardaoin Thursday evening

After oíche, however, is dropped and a séimhiú is added:
oíche Mháirt Tuesday night
oíche Shathairn Saturday night

Luain, remains the same, and Dé hAoine loses its h:
oíche Luain Monday night
oíche Aoine Friday night

ASKING SOMEONE WHEN THEY WENT SOMEWHERE

Cá huair? When?
Cá huair a chuaigh tú go Leitir Ceanainn? When did you go to Letterkenney?
Cén lá a chuaigh tú go Leitir Ceanainn? What day did you go to Letterkenney?

ASKING SOMEONE WHO WAS WITH THEM

Cé a bhí leat? Who was with you?
Cé a chuaigh leat? Who went with you?

GIVING A RESPONSE

Mo chara. My friend.
Mo chara Liam. My friend Liam.
Mo chairde. My friends.

ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY ENJOYED SOMETHING

Ar bhain tú sult as? Did you enjoy it?
Ar bhain tú sult as an dráma? Did you enjoy the play?
Ar bhain tú sult as an deireadh seachtaine? Did you enjoy the weekend?

GIVING YOUR REPLY

Bhain. Yes (I did).
Níor bhain. No (I didn't).
Bhain mé an-sult as. I really enjoyed it.

In Aonad 7 we saw three different words that are used to say 'to' in Irish:
go hArd Mhaca to Armagh
go dtí an banc to the bank
chuig dráma to a play

Chuig is used when you're talking about going to an event, an appointment, or a meeting. Chuig is also used when you are referring to sending something (such as a letter), or to motion:
Chuaigh mé chuig an dochtúir. I went to the doctor.
Chuir mé litir chuig Anna. I sent a letter to Anna.
Chaith sé cnámh chuig an mhadadh. He threw a bone to the dog.


12: Taking your leave



Chapter 12 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

SAYING YOU HAVE TO GO

Caithfidh mé imeacht. I have to go.
Caithfidh mé imeacht arís. I have to go again.
Tá mé ag imeacht. I am going.
Tá mé ag dul abhaile.
or
Tá mé ag dul chun an bhaile. I am going home.

GIVING YOUR RESPONSE

Maith go leor.
or
Ceart go leor. All right.
Is mór an trua sin. That's a pity.
Cheana féin! Already!
Níl sé ach luath. It's only early.

ASKING WHY

Cad chuige? Why?

SAYING YOU'RE SORRY

Tá brón orm ach ...
or
Tá mé buartha ach ... I am sorry but ...

SAYING WHY YOU HAVE TO GO

Tá mé tuirseach. I'm tired.
Tá mé an-tuirseach. I'm very tired.
Tá sé mall. It's late.
Tá sé mall. It's very late.
Tá mé mall. I'm late.
Tá mé mall don dráma. I'm late for the play.
Tá deifir orm. I'm in a hurry.
Tá mé ag súil le cuairteoirí. I'm expecting visitors.
Tá mé ag dul chuig cruinniú. I'm going to a meeting.

The Irish for 'very' is an-. When an- precedes words beginning with a consonant, other than d, n, t, l, or s, it causes a séimhiú.
mall an-mhall
maith an-mhaith
but
te an-te
tuirseach an-tuirseach
deas an-deas

ASKING SOMEONE TO STAY A LITTLE LONGER

Fan tamall beag eile! Stay a little while longer!
Fan go dtí ... Stay until ...
Fan go dtí a hocht. Stay until eight.
Fan leathuair eile. Stay another half an hour.
Fan uair an choig eile. Stay another hour.

GIVING YOUR REPLY

Ní thig liom. I can't.

If you decide you can stay longer you can use
Maith go leor.
or
Ceart go leor.

SAYING GOODBYE

In Aonad 1 you learnt the following phrases to use when taking leave of someone:
Slán.
Slán go fóill.
Chífidh mé tú.
The following is also used:
Adh mór! Good Luck!

REFERRING TO THE NEAR FUTURE

When people are saying goodbye they'll often mention when they'll see you again.
Chífidh mé ar ball tú. I'll see you in a while.
Chífidh mé i gceann leathuaire* tú. I'll see you in half an hour.
Chífidh mé anocht tú. I'll see you tonight.
Chífidh mé amárach tú. I'll see you tomorrow.
*For some more useful sentences containing uair go back to Aonad 7.

REFERRING TO TIMES FURTHER IN THE FUTURE

Chífidh mé i gceann cúpla lá tú. I'll see you in a few days' time.
Chífidh mé ar an tseachtain seo chugainn tú. I'll see you next week.
Chífidh mé i gceann seachtaine tú. I'll see you in a week's time.
Chífidh mé i gceann coicíse tú. I'll see you in a fortnight's time.
Chífidh mé i gceann míosa tú. I'll see you in a month's time.
Chífidh mé an mhí seo chugainn tú. I'll see you next month.


13: The family part 2



Chapter 13 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIVES

athair father
máthair mother
mac son
iníon daughter
fear céile husband
bean chéile wife

Here's some more vocabulary to do with the family and relatives:
deartháir brother
deirfiúr sister
tuismitheorí parents
máthair mhór
or
seanmháthair grandmother
athair mór
or
seanathair grandfather
aintín aunt
uncail uncle
col ceathrair cousin
col ceathracha cousins

INTRODUCING FAMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIVES

Seo ... This is ...
  • m'athair mór my grandfather
  • mo máthair mór my grandmother
  • mo chuid deartháireacha my brothers
  • mo chuid deirfiúracha my sisters
  • m'uncail my uncle
  • m'aintín my aunt
  • mo chuid col ceathracha my cousins

Mo chuid is used instead of mo by itself when
- an unspecified or indefinite mass or quantity is being referred to:
mo chuid airgid my money
mo chuid gruaige my hair

- an unspecified number of people is being referred to:
mo chuid deirfiúracha my sisters
mo chuid col ceathracha my cousins

INTRODUCING YOURSELF AND OTHERS

Is muidne* ... We're ...
Is muidne deirfiúracha John. We're John's sisters.
Is muidne deartháireacha Laura. We're Laura's brothers.
*In Ulster Irish this word usually has three syllables in everyday speech: muid-in-ne.

ASKING ABOUT AGE

Cad é an aois atá tú?
or
Cen aois atá tú? What age are you?
Cad é an aois atá sé? What age is he?

AOIS AGE
bliain (d'aois) one year (old)
dhá bhliain two years
trí bliana three years
ceithre bliana four years
cúig bliana five years
sé bliana six years
seacht mbliana seven years
ocht mbliana eight years
naoi mbliana nine years
deich mbliana ten years

You learnt earlier that the numbers 2-6 cause a séimhiú in words beginning with a consonant and the numbers 7-10 cause an urú. Bliain, however, is irregular and doesn't follow all the usual rules. Keep this pattern in mind:
1 year 2 years 3-6 years 7-10 years
bliain dhá bhliain ... bliana ... mbliana

ASKING WHERE PEOPLE LIVE

Cá bhfuil sé ina chónaí anois? Where does he live now?
Cá bhfuil sí ina cónaí anois? Where does she live now?
Cá bhfuil siad ina gcónaí anois? Where do they live now?

CÓNAÍ LIVE
Tá mé i mo chónaí I live
Tá tú i do chónaí You live
Tá sé ina chónaí He lives
Tá sí ina cónaí She lives
Tá muid inar gcónaí We live
Tá sibh in bhur gcónaí You live
Tá siad ina gcónaí They live


14: Daily routine



Chapter 14 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

DISCUSSING MORNING ACTIVITES

Músclaím ... I wake up ...
de ghnáth usually
Músclaím de ghnáth thart fá leath i ndiaidh a seacht.
I usually wake up around half past seven.
Éirim ag a hocht.
or
Éirim ar a hocht. I get up at eight.
Ním me féin. I wash myself.
Ithim mo bhricfeasta idir a hocht agus leath i ndiaidh a hocht.
I eat my breakfast between eight and half past eight.
Téim ag obair thart fá cheathrú go dtí a naoi. I go to work at around a quarter to nine.
Téim chun na scoile ag a naoi a chlog. I go to school at nine o'clock.

ASKING SOMEONE WHAT TIME THEY DO SOMETHING

Cad é an t-am a n-éiríonn tú achan mhaidin? What time do you get up every morning?
Cad é an t-am a dtéann tú ag obair achan mhaidin?
What time do you go to work every morning?
Cad é an t-am a mbíonn do dhinnéar agat? What time do you have your dinner?

DISCUSSING ROUTINES

Bíonn mo lón agam idir a haon agus a dó. I have my lunch between one and two.
Bím sa bhaile de ghnáth ag a sé. I'm usually home at six.
Bíonn mo dhinnéar agam sa bhaile. I have my dinner at home.

We've already come across many times during this course. When you're referring to something that recurs, either frequently or infrequently, you need to use the present habitual form:
Tá mé tuirseach. Bím tuirseach i gcónaí tráthnóna.
(I'm tired.) (I am always tired in the evening.)
Tá mé mall. Bím mall i gcónaí maidin Dé luain.
(I'm late.) (I am always late on Monday morning.)

bím I am (or Hiberno-English 'I do be')
bíonn tú you are
bíonn sé/sí he/she is
bíonn muid we are
bíonn sibh you are
bíonn siad they are

ASKING WHAT SOMEONE DOES DURING THE DAY

Cad é a dhéanann tú i rith an lae? What do you do during the day?
Cad é a dhéanann tú tráthnóna? What do you do in the evening?

GIVING YOUR REPLY

Tagaim abhaile .. I come home ...
Éistim leis an raidió. I listen to the radio.
Amharcaim ar an teilifís. I watch television.
Téim amach. I go out.
Déanaim réidh béile. I prepare a meal.
Téim a luí luath. I go to bed early.

ASKING SOMEONE IF THEY DO A PARTICULAR THING

An éisteann tú le ceol? Do you listen to music?
Éistim. I do (literally, I listen).
Ní éistim. I don't (literally, I don't listen).

An dtéann tú amach go minic? Do you go out often?
Téim.
Ní théim.

An éiríonn tú go luath? Do you get up early?
Éirim.
Ní éirim.

An mbíonn tú gnóthach? Are you usually busy?
Bím.
Ní bhím.

An dtagann tú abhaile luath? Do you come home early?
Tagaim.
Ní thagaim.

An amharcann tú ar an teilifís? Do you watch television?
Amharcaim.
Ní amharcaim.


15: Location and movement part 1



Chapter 15 Audio File as MP3

Information Text from the Workbook

ASKING WHERE SOMETHING IS

Cá bhfuil ...? Where is/are ...?
Cá bhfuil oifig an phoist? Where is the post office?
Cá bhfuil do charr? Where is your car?
Cá bhfuil na heochracha? Where are the keys?

SAYING WHERE SOMETHING IS

... ar chlé ... on the left
... ar dheis ... on the right
Tá sé ansin ar chlé. It's there on the left.
Tá sé anseo ar dheis. It's here on the right.
Tá sé trasna ón siopa. It's across from the shop.
Tá sé in aice leis an chaife. It's beside the cafe.

The word ó (from) adds a séimhiú to nouns beginning with a consonant (except l, n, or r):
trasna ó theach Bhríd

'From the' is one word in Irish: ón.
trasna ón bhanc across from the bank

Again, note that ón adds a séimhiú to some consonants
(the exceptions being d, n, t, l, and s):
trasna ón bhialann
but
trasna ón siopa

ASKING HOW MANY ROOMS THERE ARE IN A HOUSE

Cá mhéad seomra atá ann? How many rooms are in it?

Here are some possible answers:
Tá trí sheomra ann. It has three rooms.
Ocht seomra. Eight rooms.

If you are not sure why it is trí sheomra but ocht seomra, go back to Unit 6.

GIVING DIRECTIONS

Téigh suas an staighre. Go up the stairs.
Téigh síos an halla. Go down the hall.
Tiontaigh ... Turn ...
Tiontaigh ar chlé or ar dheis. Turn left or right.

SAYING WHICH DOOR IT IS

an chéad doras ar chlé the first door on the left

Here are the ordinal numbers from the first to tenth:
an chéad the first
an dara the second
an tríú the third
an ceathrú the fourth
an cúigiú the fifth
an séú the six
an seachtú the seventh
an t-ochtú the eighth
an naoú the ninth
an deichiú the tenth

DESCRIBING THE CONTENTS OF A HOUSE

an tábla the table
an chaothaoir the chair
an cuisneoir the fridge
an sorn the cooker
an leaba the bed
an teilifíseán the television
an prios the press
an cuirtíní the curtains
an brat urláir the carpet

ASKING WHERE TO PUT THINGS

Cá gcuirfidh mé é seo? Where will I put this?
Cá gcuirfidh mé iad seo? Where will I put these?

ASKING WHERE TO PUT THINGS

Cuir thall ansin é. Put it over there.
Cuir sa chistin é. Put it in the kitchen.
Cuir sa seomra folctha é. Put it in the bathroom.
Ar an tábla. On the table.

As we saw in earlier units, i or in is the Irish for 'in':
Tá mé i mo chónaí i mBaile Átha Cliath. I live in Dublin.

However, 'in the' is one word in Irish: sa(n).
sa chistin in the kitchen
sa gharáiste in the garage

Sa adds a séimhiú to words beginning with a consonant (except d, n, t, l, and s):
sa chuisneoir in the fridge
sa phrios in the garage
but
sa siopa in the shop
sa teach in the house

And san is used before words beginning with a vowel:
san oifig in the office
san ionad spóirt in the sports centre

MOVEMENT

Téigh suas ... Go up ...
Téigh síos ... Go down ...
Téigh amach ... Go out ...
Téigh isteach ... Go in ...

LOCATION

thuas up
thíos ... down
(taobh) amuigh outside
(taobh) istigh ... inside

We'll be returning to movement and location in Unit 25.


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).

  • Click Here For Page 1
  • Click Here For Page 2
  • Click Here For Page 3
  • Click Here For Page 4
  • Click Here For Page 5
  • Click Here For Page 6

    1. https://www.sangomahealing.com/
    2. https://www.saysoinc.org/
    3. https://www.etcgreen.com/
    4. https://www.dfwgaelicleague.com/
    5. https://www.harbourtonfoundation.org/
    6. https://newcovenantumc.org/
    7. https://clairemarieleguay.com/
    8. https://islamiccouncilofoklahoma.org/
    9. https://ctamaine.org/
    10. https://mccabechapelumc.org/
    11. https://voneinspired.com/
    12. https://www.talkforlife.org/
    13. https://wlathletics.org/
    14. https://www.buyartjewels.com/
    15. https://canaw.org/
    1. HOME