How do i form an 'ag' verb? For example imigh changes to ag imeacht but ag rith stays the same. Is there any rule i can follow?

No, unfortunately, there's no rule. Most regular verbs have a verbal noun (that's the name of the form you use after "ag") that ends in -(e)adh or -(i)ú, but there are so many exceptions that you have to learn the verbal noun everytime...

the second conjugation seems much more regular.

Not so much:

Cruinnigh -> cruinniú
Foscail -> foscailt or foscladh
Imir -> imirt
Inis -> insint or inse
éirigh -> éirí
smaoinigh -> smaoineamh
foghlaim -> foghlaim
ceannaigh -> ceannach or ceannacht
aithin -> aithint or aithneachtáil

and so on... Definitely need to learn them everytime. But you see the verbal nouns of the most common verbs all the time, and anyway they are indicated in dictionaries...

Ok I Guess i'll just have to learn as I go. Could you also help me with ''Bíonn' - when do i use it?

you use bíonn instead of tá when you're talking about something that happens regularly or represents the usual way something is. it is what they call the habitual form.

You mean if i was saying something that used to happen or always happened?

present habitual = regularly, generally, often, sometimes, seldom, never

simple present = non-habitual, one off, now

When using the progressive form (ag + VN):

present habitual = normally the whole duration of the event

simple present = one off or now

Verbs of thoughts, feelings, and the five senses are generally understood as simple present, but can be understood both ways. You would use adverbs in this case to clarify what you meant in many cases (go minic, etc.).

Now since all verbs except bí do not have a unique form, if you wish to say something is habitual, use the regular habitual form (which is the regular present in Irish). If you wish to wish to express the simple present, use the progressive form, ag + VN.

Ah yes i understand now, thank you. How is there so many american irish speakers on theis? :D

I have read that one could use the habitual form of bi + ag + VN for a repeated set of durations.

(Message edited by hugo75 on March 20, 2011)

Yes you can : bím ag obair achan lá eadar a 8 agus a 12. (I am usually working everyday between 8 and 12).

what's the difference between "gach" and "achan"?

They say "achan" in Donegal; its counterpart in Connacht is "'chaon," a contraction of "gach aon."

Yeah, "achan" is a shortened form of "gach aon" ; Donegal people don't use much "gach", they use "achan" instead, most of the time (but sometimes "gach" anyway, and you'd hear "gach" in songs etc).