Irish Translation Forum

scoobytyson wrote:ag bheith doesn't exist.

Thanks, is there no verbal adjective for it either do you know?

Scoobytyson I've edited the list to show your corrections so others won't re-do same ones. I have since found out that gonta and gointe are both ok and I think the two for díbir are too but níl mé cinnte.

scríobhtha is in FGB too (although I would write scríofa). My approach to this is to learn about 50 common verbs rather that bother with what seem to be difficult rules to learn. Once you have the general idea, the endings will either sound right or not, most of the time. Some of the verbs in your list are fairly obscure, or at least, they would be among the last ones I would bother with.

bheith is the verbal noun of bí (without ag). There is no verbal adjective.

scoobytyson wrote:My approach to this is to learn about 50 common verbs rather that bother with what seem to be difficult rules to learn. Once you have the general idea, the endings will either sound right or not, most of the time.

This is what I would recommend too. When I started learning verbs I was gun-ho for analyzing them and figuring out all the rules, but by the time I had worked through enough verbs to figure out the rules, I didn't need those rules. You might have the rules nearby as to help you follow what's going on as you work through the verbs, but don't bother to learn the rules.

I know you're both right - I'm getting fed up with rules, but exams are only 8 weeks away. I think I will just forget about the obscure ones as you suggest Scoobytyson and hopefully I've got those most likely to come up. I had thought it would be straightforward and then the verb 'legislate' came up on a past paper!
Go raibh maith agaibh.

When you come up against an unfamiliar word, remember that the WUTVAN can be extended to any kind of situation where you might modify the ending of a word.

Wombat's Unified Theory of Word Endings (WUTWE)
Trying to figure out how to put a word in the right form -- conjugate a verb, decline a noun or adjective, form the verbal adjective -- anything where the word ending might change? Think of a similar word (i.e., one that ends with the same bunch of letters) that you do know. Chances are the "new" word follows the same pattern.

This is much easier to remember than a lot of detailed rules, and it's pretty reliable. For example, if I wanted to know the verbal noun for guigh:

Hmm... suigh -> suí (vn) and suite (va)
So probably guigh -> guí (vn) and guite (va)

But you need to take fadas into account when you talk about words being "similar". You'd be totally wrong if you used this as your model:
Hmm... crúigh -> crú (vn) and crúite (va)
So... gu??? gú??? XXXXX

This has been a public service announcement from Wombats Who Want To Help Eager People Avoid Wasting Time Memorising a Lot Of Stuff (WWWTHEPAWTMLOS)

Wombat scientists are still working on the WUTIG (Wombat's Universal Theory of Irish Grammar).

Aw thanks a mill, a Bhríd, 8 weeks and counting...