I have a question about the first person plural. Mostly, what is the prevailing trend in its use? In the early 20th century the Christian Brothers stated: “In Ulster the ending muid of the first person plural is very often separated from the verb, and used instead of the pronoun sinn as Chonnaic muid é ‘We saw him’. On no account should this corruption be imitated by the student.”

I understand where they were coming from. It is a Muster book, and sinn seems to be used there still, but it is also the place where sythetic forms are used most as well. On the other hand, places where analytic forms are used more seem to have adopted muid in place of sinn. An Caighdeán Oifigiúil seems to sidestep a bit (or compromise?) by implementing complete use of the synthetic form in this case. But Ó Siadhail is “Modern Irish” states quite clearly that the trend is away from synthetic forms to analytic forms. So some books say muid only, or muid/sinn. Sinn is common in Munster. Muid is common in Ulster. Scottish and Manx retain sinn. Could it be said that muid is simply overtaking sinn, and that muid now would be understandable in all areas of Ireland (even Munster)?

Is spéisiúil 'sinn'. Ní ó dheas amháin ar ndóigh, a bhí luí ag daoine leis.

Tá 'sinn' iontach láidir i gcónaí i nGaeltacht Láir Thír Chonaill.

Mhothaigh mé 'bheadh sinn' ag daoine i Maigh Eo, daoine nach bhfaca mé le blianta, ach tá siad fós ann.

Bhí 'sinn' in iarthar an Chábháin, chomh maith le 'muid', go dtí le deireanas: Fágann sinn; théid sinn, théann sinn, ní sinn (déanaimid), rachadh sinn; rachaidh sinn.

Bhí 'támar', Aimsir Láithreach, le clos i dTír Eogain agus in Íochtar Chonnacht chomh maith, leagan atá le clos i gConnachta go fóill.

Bhí 'téadh sinn abhaile' i Sligeach sa Modh Ordaitheach.

An-chuidiúil. Go raibh maith agat.

Ar ndóighe thuigfeadh cibé Gaeilgeoir "muid" mar fhorainm, ó tharla go n-úsáideann an chuid is mó do na Gaeilgeoirí é...

Maidir le ráiteas na mBr. Críostaí, ní bheadh "chonnaic sinn é" níos cirte ná "chonnaic muid é" cibé ar bith. Má tá tú ag iarraidh bheith in do "phurist", caithfidh tú "do-chonnacamar" a ráidht, nó rud níos sine féin! Caithfidh tú rogha a dhéanamh, eadar Gaoidhealg Chlasaiceach do labhuirt, nó Nua-Ghaeilg a labhairt...

I Nua-Ghaeilg is é a deirtear chonaic muid, chonaic sinn, choinic muid, chonaiceamair... caithfear glacadh leofa sin uilig mar gurb iad sin atá i gcaint na Gaeltachta.