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The Daltaí Boards » Archive: 2005- » 2006 (September-October) » Archive through October 26, 2006 » Ab ea agus an bhfuil « Previous Next »

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Suaimhneas
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Username: Suaimhneas

Post Number: 97
Registered: 08-2006
Posted on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 12:25 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

Ag éisteacht ar RnaG inniú,


The broadcaster in dialogue with a reporter used "Ab ea?"

and "an bfhuil?" on different points. The questions elicited the expected responses Sea and Tá, but I was wondering when is it appropriate each form. Are they not both present tense? I'm no good at understanding grammatical terminology, so I'd appreciate an example



Go raibh maith agaibh

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Rud_ar_bith
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Username: Rud_ar_bith

Post Number: 4
Registered: 10-2006
Posted on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 12:42 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

im not totally sure, i know when used as 'ach ab ea' it means 'if it hadnt been for...'. amharc ar an leabhar 'crinnscriobh na gaeilge'

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Lars
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Username: Lars

Post Number: 76
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 03:00 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

quote:

The broadcaster in dialogue with a reporter used "Ab ea?" and "an bfhuil?" on different points. The questions elicited the expected responses Sea and Tá, but I was wondering when is it appropriate each form. Are they not both present tense?


"Does it?" and "Is it?" are both present tense, but used in different situations.
"is" and "tá" are used in different situations, and so are "an ea/ab ea?" and "an bhfuil?"
quote:

I'm no good at understanding grammatical terminology, so I'd appreciate an example


E.g.
Is sampla maith é. - > Ab ea? Sea.
Tá ocras orm. - > An bhfuil? Tá.

Lars

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Fear_na_mbróg
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Username: Fear_na_mbróg

Post Number: 1248
Registered: 08-2004
Posted on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 06:17 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

I thought "ab" was simply the form of "ba" which was used before vowels... ? E.g.

Thaitin an cailín ba shine liom.
Thaitin an cailín ab óige liom.

(except for past tense adjectives, e.g. "bhí an leabhar eile ní b'aisteach")

I've heard both the following forms:

Feirmeoir ab ea é
Feirmeoir ba ea é

(I believe the latter is more common in Munster)

Anywho... I would have thought that "Is sampla maith é" would be answered with the present tense, i.e. "Is ea" or "An ea", rather than "Ab ea".

Fáilte Roimh Cheartúcháin
Ceartaigh rud ar bith atá mícheart -- úsáid phrásaí go háirithe.

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Lars
Member
Username: Lars

Post Number: 79
Registered: 08-2005
Posted on Tuesday, October 24, 2006 - 06:51 pm:   Small TextLarge TextEdit Post Print Post

quote:

I thought "ab" was simply the form of "ba" which was used before vowels... ?


Yes, it is the relative form of "ba" before vowels(lit.: "which was ...") in Standard Irish.

But it is also a Connacht form of the verbal particle "an" in copula questions ("Is ...?) before pronouns beginning with vowels (é, í, iad, ea).
Ab é? = Is he? Ab í = Is she? Ab ea? = is it?
(Standard: An é? = Is he? An í = Is she? An ea? = Is it?)

Lars



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