quote:

Bíonn said ag súgradh san iarnóin.

Tá siad ag súgradh.

These are two sentences that I've stumbled upon in Rosetta Stone which explains no grammar. What is the difference between Bíonn and Tá? Does Tá mean that they are doing it this instance and Bíonn imply that they do it regularly?

(Message edited by paploo on December 31, 2010)

Rud eigin mar sin.

Yes, present habitual is regularity, habit, tendency.

Yes, that's the general idea.

1) Bíonn siad ag súgradh san iarnóin. = They "do be" playing in the afternoon/They play in the afternoon.
2) Tá siad ag súgradh. = They are playing.

So for 2) it's a regular occurrence. It's a habit of theirs to play in the afternoon. This is an example of the aimsir gnáthláithreach (habitual present tense)

Bíonn sé ag rince gach lá - He "does be" dancing every day/He dances every day.
Tá sé ag rince - He is dancing.

Taic, you confused me...

you wrote...

2) Tá siad ag súgradh. = They are playing.

So for 2) it's a regular occurrence. It's a habit of theirs to play in the afternoon. This is an example of the aimsir gnáthláithreach (habitual present tense)

I think u mixed up the examples... i thought the "Bionn" part was the habitual that occurs often or everday? the way you wrote it seems to sugges that "Ta" siad ag sugradh... is the habitual.. which is it?

My apologies! I knew I'd get something wrong :D You're right, of course. I meant 1) instead of 2).

[Edit]
That is, "So for 2) it's a regular occurrence." should read "So for 1) it's a regular occurrence."

(Message edited by raic on December 31, 2010)

Hi Paploo.

If Rosetta Stone can get across the concept of the habitual present tense and how it differs from the regular present tense, without actually explaining it in the conventional manner, then it must be pretty good.

(Message edited by Joe on January 01, 2011)

Another point that you may find useful:

nuair atá an t-airgead agat, tabharfad an chairt duit = seeing, considering the fact that (now) you have the money, I will give you the car

nuair a bhíonn an t-airgead acu, tugaim cairteacha dóibh = when they have the money, I give them cars (every day, week, month, etc.)

nuair a bheidh an t-airgead agat, tabharfad an chairt duit = When you have the money, I will give you the car

Note carefully how English uses the present form to refer to the future "when you have the money" whereas in Irish as in many if not most other languages one must use the future tense to refer to the future. It is a very common mistake made by learners and non-native speakers in general, some drawing not inconsiderable salaries, to follow the English pattern and use the present to refer to the future. You will often hear and read stuff like "nuair a thagann tú isteach amáireach" which makes no sense whatsoever.

The only two situations in which a present form referring to the future is permitted are:

- after má (habitual present): má thagann tú isteach amáireach tabharfad an t-airgead duit

- when something is understood to have been pre-planned and arranged and in the near future: táim ag dul 'on Ghaillimh Dé hAoine; an bhfuileann sibh ag dul 'on phub anocht?, etc.

Ailín, a very useful summary. Yes, the point about má and the habitual present as an exception needs to be borne in mind. As far as I recall, that exception does not extend to mara (but correct me if wrong). "if you don't come in"? mara dtiocfair isteach, as far as I recall. But I think the future after mara is also an alternative to the original use of the present subjunctive, so you could also say mara dtagair isteach.

(Message edited by corkirish on January 03, 2011)

quote:

But I think the future after mara is also an alternative to the original use of the present subjunctive, so you could also say mara dtagair isteach.

Indeed. Either future indicative or present subjunctive follow mara/mura/muna.