Irish Translation Forum

"A sister's love is eternal"

That expresses an inherent quality. Therefore the copula is should be used. 'Tá' is not used in this context AFAIK.

Is buan grá deirféar


Proverbs:

Is buan fear ina dhúiche

Ní buan gach ní a chaitear

Ní buan cogadh na gcarad

Is teann gach madra ar a dhoras féin

Is fairsing Dia sa chúngach

Is glas na cnoic i bhfad uainn

Is fuar cumann cailí

Is binn béal ina thost

I can't think of any common phrases that use tá in those contexts

Idiom:

Más buan mo chuimhne, of course

I am open to correction as always.

The copula is used for classification, identification, with "le" to show ownership and to mark emphasis.

In this case, it would be used for emphasis. But this is no proof that "tá" necessarily can't be or shouldn't be used.

Timocein wrote:The copula is used for classification, identification, with "le" to show ownership and to mark emphasis.

In this case, it would be used for emphasis. But this is no proof that "tá" necessarily can't be or shouldn't be used.

The copula is used for classification, identification, with "le" to show ownership and to mark emphasis.

That is correct but is not complete. The copula with adjectives may mark emphasis but not necessarily. Adjectives of measure and colour are normally used with the copula.

The list of proverbs I gave above is just to show how sentences are constructed. I am sure a search of the literature would show the use of the copula is the standard way of expressing such concepts as the original query.

Antóin wrote:"A sister's love is eternal"

That expresses an inherent quality. Therefore the copula is should be used. 'Tá' is not used in this context AFAIK.

Is buan grá deirféar


.

Ok, Antóin, you've convinced me anyway.

Ailill wrote:

Antóin wrote:"A sister's love is eternal"

That expresses an inherent quality. Therefore the copula is should be used. 'Tá' is not used in this context AFAIK.

Is buan grá deirféar


.

Ok, Antóin, you've convinced me anyway.

I have to say I like

Is buan grá deirféar



Never would have come up with it meslelf - (I'm not good enough- yet)

I like "Is buan grá deirféar" the best too by the way.

Isn't "Tá an geimhreadh fuar" possible? Cold is inherent of winter but could it be expressed like this as well?

Sorry for all the questions.

Tá Dia láidir.

Is S/He really?

Timocein wrote:Is S/He really?

Apparently so - agus tá máthair mhaith aici/aige.

Tá Dia láidir

but

Is treise Dia ná dóchas

I’m not sure why the first is acceptable but it is not the normal construction used in proverbs. Adjectives like hot, cold, full and strong usually describe a temporary or accidental condition and are preceded by tá. When they are used in an absolute sense (I assume God has always been strong and hopefully always will be) perhaps tá can still be used.

I admit I’m paddling a little beyond my depth here, as I’m not an authority on grammar. I usually approach translations here from my familiarity with the language and only use grammar books to check up when I’m not confidant. I usually avoid questions about when or when not to copulate.

Tá an geimhreadh fuar

Tá gan dabht, ach ní i gcónaí anseo i ndeisceart na hÉireann, bhi an séasúr go breá bog cineálta le cúpla bliain anuas.

My first understanding of tá an geimhreadh fuar would be that one was referring to a particular winter. How best to translate the more absulute winters are cold (of their very nature) – I’m afraid I don’t know.