Mar a dúradh san aonad deireanach, níl focal amháin sa Ghaeilge ar Yes nó No an Bhéarla agus caithfidh tú an briathar a úsáidtear sa cheist a úsáid i do fhreagra. Féach ar an bpatrún sna ceisteanna agus freagraí seo thíos anois – beimid ag teacht ar ais chuig an aimsir chaite cúpla uair eile le linn an chúrsa seo agus beidh deis agat tuilleadh a fhoghlaim mar gheall uirthi.
As was mentioned in the last unit, there is no equivalent in Irish of Yes or No in English and you have to use the verb contained in the question in your answer. Observe the pattern in the questions and answers below now – we’ll be returning to the past tense a few times during the course and you’ll have a chance to learn more about it.
| | Ráiteas Statement | | | Ceist Question | | | Freagra Answer | |
|
| D’imir mé leadóg inné. I played tennis yesterday. | |
| Ar imir tú leadóg inné? Did you play tennis yesterday? | |
| D’imir. Yes. | Níor imir. No. |
|
| Tháinig siad anseo ar saoire. They came here on holidays. | |
| Ar tháinig siad anseo ar saoire? Did they come here on holidays? | |
| Tháinig. Yes. | Níor tháinig. No. |
|
| Chuaigh muid ansin gach lá. We went there every day. | |
| An ndeachaigh sibh ansin gach lá? Did you go there every day? | |
| Chuaigh. Yes. | Ní dheachaigh. No. |
|
| Chonaic sé iad go minic. He often saw them. | |
| An bhfaca sé iad go minic? Did he often see them? | |
| Chonaic. Yes. | Ní fhaca. No. |
|
| Chuala sé í ar an raidió. He heard her on the radio. | |
| Ar chuala sé í ar an raidió? Did he hear her on the radio? | |
| Chuala. Yes. | Níor chuala. No. |
|
| Rinne siad an obair in am. They did the work on time. | |
| An ndearna siad an obair in am? Did they do the work on time? | |
| Rinne. Yes. | Ní dhearna. No. |
|
| Dúirt siad rudaí maslacha. They siad insulting things. | |
| An ndúirt siad rudaí maslacha? Did they say insulting things? | |
| Dúirt. Yes. | Ní dúirt. No. |
|
| Fuair sí carr nua. She got a new car. | |
| An bhfuair sí carr nua? Did she get a new car? | |
| Fuair. Yes. | Ní bhfuair. No. |
|
| D’ith siad béile mór. They ate a big meal. | |
| Ar ith siad béile mór? Did they eat a big meal? | |
| D’ith. Yes. | Níor ith. No. |
|
| Thug sé airgead di. He gave her money. | |
| Ar thug sé airgead di? Did he give her money? | |
| Thug. Yes. | Níor thug. No. |
Riail bheag amháin eile!
Cuirtear an mhír cheisteach Ar roimh na briathra rialta go léir san aimsir chaite. Cuirtear Ar roimh na briathra neamhrialta beir (bring, take), clois (hear), ith (eat), tar (come), agus tabhair (give), atá le feiceáil thuas. An a chuirtear roimh na briathra neamhrialta eile go léir. Tá siad sin le feiceáil thuas chomh maith.
One other small rule!
The interrogative particle Ar is used before all regular verbs in the past tense. Ar is also used before the irregular verbs beir (bring, take), clois (hear), ith (eat), tar (come), and tabhair (give), which you can see above. An is used in the case of all the other irregular verbs. You can see them above as well.