Autonomous verbs in Past Tense

Do I aspirate the Autonomous Form of the verb in the Past Tense?

You don’t aspirate with níor, cár, ar, gur, murar, nár, sular etc. when in the past autonomous form (you would normally if it was not in the autonomous form)

eg.

Cár chaill sé? but Cár cailleadh é?
Ar chiall sé? but Ar cailleadh é?
Níor chiall sé? but Níor cailleadh é?

etc etc.

So, where you put in the “h” in bold you can take it out

For example, the aspiration here is incorrect:

Dúirt sé gur dhúnadh an doras
He said that the door was closed

It should be:

Dúirt sé gur dúnadh an doras

The rule
When the verb is in the Autonomous form of any other tense don’t aspirate.

How does the verb particle a affect Autonomous Verbs in the Past Tense?

Normally a (the direct relative conjunction) aspirates the verb (incl all autonomous forms of the verb in all tenses except PAST AUTONOMOUS or if it begins with a d’) eg.

Example of Indicative (Normal) Tense aspirating: “An fear a chuireann an síol”

Example of Present Autonomous aspirating: “An síol a chuirtear”

However

Example with Past Autonomous not aspirating: “An síol a cuireadh”

Example of Verb beginning with d’ not aspirating: “An fear a d’olfadh é”

Written by Conor.