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Subjunctive Mood- Regular Verbs



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Affirmative Statements

In making affirmative statements in the subjunctive mood, changes are made at both the beginning and the end of the verb. The changes made at the beginning of the verb are caused by the verbal particle that preceds all the verb forms.

First, identify the root of the verb as follows:

1. For the majority of the First Conjugation verbs (usually one syllable), the entire verb is the root. [B-F-G-O-P-R-S1-S2] An exception is when the verb ends in "igh." In that case, if there is an accented vowel ("ua" also) immediately before the "igh," simply drop the "igh" to expose the root. In all other cases, delete the "igh" and replace it with an "í". [N] Also, be aware that there are a few two syllable verbs in the First Conjugation which maintain two syllables in the root. [T] (ie. Sábháil, Taispeáin)

2. For the Second Conjugation (usually multi-syllable) verbs, part or all of the end of the verb is generally removed to reveal the root. Whenever these verbs end in "(a)igh" (the most common type), simply drop that syllable. [A-D-E-M-S3-U] In most other cases, squeeze the vowels out of the last syllable and tack the remaining consonant(s) onto the end of the first syllable. For example, with the verb "codail," squeeze the "ai" out of the second syllable and add the remaining "l" to the end of the first syllable to make the root "codl..." [C-I-L]

Secound, to the root add these endings:

1) For First Conjugation verbs, add:

When root ends in a consonant,
If last vowel in the root is 'e'   'i'   a', 'o' or 'u'
  *May I/You/She/He/
You (pl.)/They*...
...e   ...e   ...a
  May We ... ...imid   ...mid   ...aimid
  Sb. May ... ...itear   ...tear   ...tar
When the root ends in a vowel,
nothing more is affixed to the root

2) For Second Conjugation verbs, add:

If last vowel in the root is     'e' or 'i'     a', 'o' or 'u'
  *May I/You/She/He/
You (pl.)/They*...
  ...í     ...aí
  May We ...   ...ímid     ...aímid
  Sb. May ...   ...ítear     ...aítear

Third, to finish making the affirmative form, the verbal particle "Go" is added before the verb, which causes úrú (eclipse) to the initial consonant of the verb root where possible. If the verb begins with a vowel, of course, it gets an "n-" prefixed to it.

Negative (Statements/Wishes)

Negative (Statements/Wishes) are constructed in the subjuntive mood by making certain changes to the affirmative forms:

  • 1) Negative (Statements/Wishes) - Change the verbal particle from "Go" to "Nár" before the verb, and séimhiú (lenite) the initial consonant in the verb where possible. (Verbs that begin with a vowel do not get an "h-" prefixed to them.)

Samplaí
(Examples)


*Note: These endings are followed by specific pronouns (ie. sé, sí, and sibh) or by personal names. The "We" form is a combined form and the pronoun is dropped. Example: "Go mbeirimid beo.." (May we be alive..) already contains the subject.


**Note: Letters in square brackets, e.g., "[T]" are keys to the linked examples.


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