Verb_Inflection

=0. Contents=

1. Verb-roots and suffixes 2. Verb-root syncope 3. Indicative specific verb suffixes 3.1. Past tense 3.2. Future tense 3.3. Conditional tense 4. Indicative generic verb suffixes 4.1. Past tense 4.2. Future tense 4.3. Conditional tense 5. Imperative verb suffixes 5.1. Specific 5.2. Generic

Indicative verb-forms:
 * ~  ||||~ specific ||||~ generic ||
 * ~  ||~ dependent ||~ independent ||~ dependent ||~ independent ||
 * ~ past ||= //**-**// ||= //**-**// ||= NA ||= //**-(e)adh**// ||
 * ~ non-past ||= //**-**// ||= //**-(a)idh**//, // **-(e)as** // ||||= //**-(e)ar**// ||
 * ~ conditional ||||= //**-(e)adh**//, //**-(a)inn**// , //**-(e)amaid**// ||||= //**-teadh**// ||

Imperative verb-forms:


 * ~  ||||~ first ||||~ second ||~ third ||
 * ~  ||~ singular ||~ plural ||~ singular ||~ plural ||~   ||
 * ~ specific ||= **//-(e)am//** ||= //**-(e)amaid**// ||= //**-**// ||= //**-(a)ibh**// ||= //**-(e)adh**// ||
 * ~ generic ||||||||||= //**-tear**// ||

=1. Verb-roots and suffixes=

a. Gaelic verb-forms consist of a **verb-root** and an optional **suffix**.

For example:
 * //**Glacaidh** mi bradan.// (I will catch a salmon.) - the verb-form //glacaidh// consists of the verb-root //glac// (catch) and the suffix //-(a)idh// (absolute independent future indicative specific).
 * //Cha **tug** mi dhut airgead.// (I didn't give you money.) - the (past dependent indicative specific) verb-form //tug// consists of the verb-root //tug// (gave) and no suffix.

b. Most of the verb suffixes begin with an unstressed vowel. In order to preserve the "broad-to-broad slender-to-slender" spelling rule, each of these suffixes has two distinct orthographic forms, one for when the verb-root ends in a broad consonant, and one for when it ends in a slender consonant. For example, take the independent future absolute indicative specific suffix. When the verb-root ends with a slender consonant (e.g. //**cuir**// - to put) this suffix is written //**-idh**// (i.e. //**cuiridh**// - will put). But when the verb-root ends with a broad consonant (e.g. //**sgrìobh**// - to write), then the suffix is written //**-aidh**// (i.e. //**sgrìobhaidh**// - will write), but is pronounced exactly the same. Thus we can represent this suffix as //**-(a)idh**//.

Similarly, the independent future relative indicative specific suffix //**-(e)as**//
 * is written //**-as**// after a broad consonant (e.g. //**sgrìobhas**// ),
 * is written //**-eas**// after a slender consonant (e.g. //**cuireas**// ).

Back to top

=2. Verb-root syncope=

a. Some Gaelic verb-roots end in an unstressed syllable with a final sonorant -
 * //**-ail**// stems, e.g. //**fosgail**// (to open)
 * //**-air**// stems, e.g. //**freagair**// (to reply)
 * //**-ain**// stems, e.g. //**seachain**// (to avoid)
 * //**-inn**// stems, e.g. //**coisinn**// (to earn)

When these roots combine with a vowel-initial suffix, they undergo **syncope**, as follows -
 * //**fosgail-(a)idh**// becomes //**fosgl-(a)idh**// becomes //**fosglaidh**// (will open)
 * **//freagair-(e)as//** becomes //**freagr-(e)as**// becomes //**freagras**// (will open)
 * //**seachain-(e)adh**// becomes //**seachn-(e)adh**// becomes //**seachnadh**// (would avoid)
 * //**coisinn-(a)inn**// becomes //**coisn-(a)inn**// becomes //**coisninn**// (I would earn).

b. This syncope is usual, but not obligatory?

Back to top

=3. Indicative specific verb suffixes=

3.1. Past tense
a. Past tense non-impersonal verb-forms consist of a verb-root with **no suffix**.

For example, here are some sentences with **independent** past tense non-impersonal verb-forms:
 * //**Thug** mi dhut airgead.// (I gave you money.) - the verbal root is //tug// (gave).
 * //**Chuir** Màiri an leabhar air a' bhòrd.// (Mary put the book on the table.) - the verbal root is //cuir// (put).
 * //**Dh'fhosgail** iad an doras.// (They opened the door.) - the verbal root is //fosgail// (open).

Here are some with **dependent** past tense non-impersonal verb-forms:
 * //Cha **deach** mi dhan bhaile.// (I didn't go to the town.)
 * //Am **faca** sibh na h-iuchraichean?// (Did you see the keys?) - the verbal root is //faca// (saw).

b. Note that there are **very few** dependent past-tense non-impersonal verb-forms in Gaelic.

Here is a complete list:
 * //**cuala**// (hear), //**deach(aidh)**// (go), //**faca**// (see), //**robh**// (be).

Here are some example sentences:
 * //Cha **chuala** mi na balaich.// (I didn't hear the boys.)
 * //Càit an **deach** thu?// (Where did you go?)
 * //Nach **fhaca** tu iad?// (Didn't you see them?)
 * //Nach **robh** an t-acras ort?// (Aren't you hungry?)

c. For most verbs, there is a **complex** dependent past formed by the verbal particle ** //do// ** and the related past independent verb-form.

For example:
 * //Cha **do chuir** Màiri an leabhar air a' bhòrd.// (Mary didn't put the book on the table.)
 * //An **do dh'fhosgail** iad an doras?// (Did they open the door?)

Back to top

3.2. Future tense
a. **Non-relative** **independent** future-tense indicative specific verb-forms almost always consist of a verbal root with the suffix //**-(a)idh**//.

For example:
 * //**Glacaidh** mi bradan.// (I will catch a salmon.) - the verbal root is //glac// (catch).
 * //**Cuiridh** Màiri an leabhar air a' bhòrd.// (Mary will put the book on the table.) - the verbal root is //cuir// (put).
 * //**Fosglaidh** iad an doras.// (They will open the door.) - the verbal root is //fosgail// (open), which has been subject to syncope.

b. However, a handful of independent future tense indicative specific verb-forms do **not** have a suffix, and just consist of a verbal root:
 * //**bheir**// (will give), //**nì**// (will do), //**thig**// (will come), //**gheibh**// (will get), //**chì**// (will see), //**their**// (will say), //**thèid**// (will go).

For example:
 * //**Bheir** sinn dhut airgead.// (We'll give you money.)
 * //**Gheibh** mi còta ùr a-màireach.// (I'll get a new coat tomorrow.)

c. **Relative independent** future-tense indicative specific verb-forms almost always consist of a verbal root with the suffix //**-(e)as**//.

For example:
 * //am bradan a **ghlacas** mi// (the salmon which I will catch)
 * //a' chaileag a **chuireas** an leabhar air a' bhòrd// (the girl who will put the book on the table.)
 * //an doras a **dh'fhosglas** iad// (the door that they will open)

d. However, again there are a handful of exceptions, identical to the independent forms listed in (b) above:
 * //**bheir**// (will give), //**nì**// (will do), //**thig**// (will come), //**gheibh**// (will get), //**chì**// (will see), //**their**// (will say), //**thèid**// (will go).

For example:
 * //an t-airgead a **bheir** sinn dhut// (the money we'll give you)
 * //am fear a **gheibh** còta ùr// (the man who'll get a new coat)

e. **Dependent** future-tense indicative specific verbs always consist of a verbal root with **no suffix**.

For example:
 * //Cha **ghlac** mi bradan.// (I won't catch a salmon.) - the verbal root is //glac// (catch).
 * //An **cuir** Màiri an leabhar air a' bhòrd?// (Will Mary put the book on the table?)
 * //an doras nach **fhosgail** iad// (the door that they won't open) - the verbal root is //fosgail// (open).
 * //Cha **d' thoir** sinn dhut airgead.// (We won't give you money.)
 * //am fear nach **fhaigh** còta ùr// (the man who won't get a new coat)

Back to top

3.3. Conditional tense
a. **Non-conjugated** conditional-tense indicative specific verb-forms consist of a verbal root with the suffix **//-(e)adh//**.

For example, here are some sentences with **independent** non-conjugated conditional-tense independent specific verb-forms:
 * //**Bheireadh** tu dhomh airgead.// (You would give me money.) - the verbal root is //bheir// (will give).
 * //**Chuireadh** Màiri an leabhar air a' bhòrd.// (Mary put the book on the table.) - the verbal root is //cuir// (put).
 * //**Dh'fhosgladh** iad an doras.// (They opened the door.) - the verbal root is //fosgail// (open).

Here are some with **dependent** non-conjugated conditional-tense independent specific verb-forms:
 * //Cha **bheireadh** tu dhomh airgead.// (You wouldn't give me money.)
 * //Nach **cuireadh** Màiri an leabhar air a' bhòrd?// (Wouldn't Mary put the book on the table?)
 * //Am **fosgladh** iad an doras?// (Would they open the door?)

b. **First-person singular** conditional-tense indicative specific verb-forms consist of a verbal root with the suffix **//-(a)inn//**.

For example:
 * //**Bheirinn** dhut airgead.// (I would give you money.)
 * //An **toirinn** dhut airgead?// (Would I give you money?)
 * //an dorus a **dh'fhosglainn**// (the door which I would open)

c. **First-person plural** conditional-tense indicative specific verb-forms consist of a verbal root with the suffix **//-(e)amaid//**.

For example:
 * //**Bheireamaid** dhut airgead.// (We would give you money.)
 * //An **toireamaid** dhut airgead?// (Would we give you money?)
 * //an dorus a **dh'fhosglamaid**// (the door which we would open)

Back to top

=4. Indicative generic verb suffixes=

4.1. Past tense
a. **Independent** past-tense indicative generic verb-forms generally consist of a verbal root with the suffix //**-(e)adh**//.

For example, here are some sentences with independent past-tense indicative generic verb-forms:
 * //**Thugadh** dhut airgead.// (You were given money; Money was given to you; Someone gave you money.)
 * //**Chuireadh** an leabhar air a' bhòrd.// (The book was put on the table; Someone put the book on the table.)
 * //an doras a **dh'fhosgladh**// (the door that was opened; the door that opened; the door that someone opened)

b. However, there are five exceptions with suffix ** //-as// **:
 * //**Chualas** gun do thill e.// (It was heard that he had returned; Someone heard that he had returned.)
 * //**Fhuaras** an gille anns a' choille.// (The boy was found in the wood; Someone found the boy in the wood.)
 * //**Chunnacas** e anns a' bhaile a-raoir.// (He was seen in the town last night; Someone saw him in the town last night.)
 * //**Thàineas** a-steach.// (Someone came in.) ràineas?
 * //**Chaidheas** don bhaile.// (Someone went to town.)

c. Note about: bhathar, bhatar, bhathas.

d. There are only a handful of **dependent** past-tense indicative generic verb-forms:
 * //**cualas**// (hear), //**facas**// (see), //**deachas**// (go), //**robhar**// /** //robhas// ** (is).

Here are some example sentences:
 * //Cha **chualas** gun do thill e.// (It was not heard that he had returned; Nobody heard that he had returned.)
 * //Am **facas** na h-iuchraichean?// (Were the keys seen? Did someone see the keys?)
 * //Cha **deachas** don bhaile.// (Nobody went to town.)
 * Nach robhar . ..

e. For all other verbs, there is a **complex** dependent past-tense indicative generic verb-form formed by the verbal particle ** //do// ** and the relevant past-tense independent verb-form.

For example:
 * //Cha **do chuireadh** an leabhar air a' bhòrd.// (The book wasn't put on the table; Nobody put the book on the table.)
 * //An **do dh'fhosgladh** an doras?// (Was the door opened? Did somebody open the door? Did the door open?)
 * //Nach **d'fhuaras** an gille anns a choille?// (Wasn't the boy found in the wood? Didn't domebody find the boy in the wood?)

f. In some dialects, the relevant suffix is //**-(e)ar**// rather than //**-(e)adh**//. [Which dialects?]

g. Confusion with non-conjugated conditional-tense indicative specific verb-forms?

Back to top

4.2. Future tense
a. Future-tense indicative generic verb-forms consist of a verbal root with the suffix //**-(e)ar**//.

For example, here are some sentences with **independent** future-tense indicative generic verb-forms:
 * //**Bheirear** dhut airgead.// (You will be given money; Money will be given to you; Someone will give you money.)
 * //**Cuirear** an leabhar air a' bhòrd.// (The book will be put on the table; Someone will put the book on the table.)
 * //an doras a **dh'fhosglar**// (the door that will be opened; the door that will open; the door that someone will open)

Here are some with **dependent** future-tense indicative generic verb-forms:
 * //Cha **toirear** dhut airgead.// (You won't be given money; Money will not be given to you; Nobody will give you money.)
 * //An **cuirear** an leabhar air a' bhòrd?// (Will the book be put on the table? Will somebody put the book on the table?)
 * //an doras nach **fhosglar**// (the door that won't be opened; the door that won't open; the door that nobody will open)

Back to top

4.3. Conditional tense
a. Conditional-tense indicative generic verb-forms consist of a verbal root with the suffix //**-teadh**//.

For example, here are some sentences with **independent** conditional-tense indicative generic verb-forms:
 * //**Bheirteadh** dhut airgead.// (You would be given money; Money would be given to you; Somebody would give you money.)
 * //**Chuirteadh** an leabhar air a' bhòrd.// (The book would be put on the table; Somebody would put the book on the table.)
 * //an doras a **dh'fhosgailteadh**// (the door that would be opened; the door that would open; the door that somebody would open)

Here are some with **dependent** conditional-tense indicative generic verb-forms:
 * //Cha **toirteadh** dhut airgead.// (You wouldn't be given money; Money wouldn't be given to you; Nobody would give you money.)
 * //An **cuirteadh** an leabhar air a' bhòrd?// (Would the book be put on the table? Would somebody put the book on the table?)
 * //an doras nach **fhosgailteadh**// (the door that wouldn't be opened; the door that wouldn't open; the door that nobody would open)

b. The suffix //**-teadh**// is usually pronounced and spelled as simply ** //-te// ** nowadays. c. The spelling rule?

d. In some dialects, the suffix //**-(a)ist(e)**// is used instead. [Which dialects?]

Back to top

=5. Imperative verb suffixes=

5.1. Specific
a. **First-person singular** imperative specific verb-forms consist of a verbal root with suffix **//-(e)am//**.

For example:
 * //**Thoiream** dhaibh airgead!// (May I give them money!)
 * //**Òlam** an t-uisge!// (May I drink the water!)

b. **First-person plural** imperative specific verb-forms consist of a verbal root with suffix //**-(e)amaid**//.

For example:
 * //Na **thoireamaid** dhaibh airgead!// (Let's not give them money!)
 * //**Òlamaid** an t-uisge!// (Let us drink the water!)

Note: same as conditional-tense.

c. **Second-person singular** imperative specific verb-forms consist of a verbal root on its own, with **no suffix**.

For example:
 * //**Thoir** dhomh airgead!// (Give me money!)
 * //Na **òl** an t-uisge!// (Don't drink the water!)

d. **Second-person plural** imperative specific verb-forms consist of a verbal root with suffix //**-(a)ibh**//.

For example:
 * //Na **thoiribh** dhomh airgead!// (Don't give me money!)
 * //**Òlaibh** an t-uisge!// (Drink the water!)

e. **Third-person** imperative specific verb-forms consist of a verbal root with suffix //**-(e)adh**//.

For example:
 * //**Thoireadh** i dhaibh airgead!// (May she give them money!)
 * //**Òladh** e an t-uisge!// (May he drink the water!)
 * //Na **thoireadh** iad dhi airgead!// (May they not give her money!)

Note: same as conditional and past generic.

Back to top

5.2. Generic
a. Imperative generic verb-forms consost of a verbal root with suffix //**-tear**//.

For example:
 * //**Thoirtear** dhomh airgead!// (May I be given money! May money be given to me! May someone give me money!)
 * //Na **thoirtear** dhuibh airgead!// (May you not be given money! May money not be given to you! May nobody give you money!)
 * //**Òltear** an t-uisge!// (May the water not be drunk! May nobody drink the water!)

b. Spelling rule?

Back to top

tu versus thu?