From Wikipedia:

"In grammar, a pro-verb is a word or phrase that stands in place of a verb (for example, in order that the verb not need to be repeated). It does for a verb what the more widely known pronoun does for a noun."

Given Irish is more noun-orientated, does it need it less than English, and what sort of sentences would use pro-verb constructions?

I thought in English proverbs are coined expressions like "barking dogs don't bite" which are used in a fixed way to express some folk wisdom, is'nt it?

Your definition sound more like a passepartout-verb like:

"I am singing. Do you? Yes, I do it." where "do" replaces "sing".

In Irish you don't even replace the original verb in saying "yes" and "no", (ie. An rachaidh tú ann? Rachaidh) so I don't think "pro-verbs" are an important feature of Irish.

But here are more proficient speakers who may know more about it.

It seems like in all Celtic languages, you'd use the verb "to do" as a pro-verb.

"express some folk wisdom, is'nt it? "

proverb vs pro-verb (hence the dash!)


""I am singing. Do you? Yes, I do it." where "do" replaces "sing". "

Exactly. Just one thing -it should be 'I sing/play etc Do/Can you (too)? Yes, I do/can (too)'.


"It seems like in all Celtic languages, you'd use the verb "to do" as a pro-verb."

As in for example:

Q: An scríobh tú do cheachtanna, a mhac?
A: Déan

?

Seems to me it's more like verbs are sometimes simply omitted rather than replaced:

Cóta deas é sin ort, a Cháit.

There isn't a verb in that sentence but it's clearly understood.