Learning

The Irregular Verb

There are ten irregular verbs in Gaelic. It is worthwhile mastering these because they are very common in everyday speech. Below is a table outlining the root, verbal noun, infinitive, past tense and future tense of all ten irregular verbs.

Root Verbal noun Infinitive Past tense Future tense
abair ag ràdh a ràdh thuirt their
say saying to say said will say
beir a’ breith a bhreith rug beiridh
catch catching to catch caught will catch
cluinn a’ cluinntinn a chluinntinn chuala cluinnidh
hear hearing to hear heard will hear
dean a’ dèanamh a dhèanamh rinn
do doing to do did will do
faic a’ faicinn a dh’fhaicinn chunnaic chì
see seeing to see saw will see
faigh a’ faighinn a dh’fhaighinn fhuair gheibh
get getting to get got will get
rach a’ dol a dhol chaidh thèid
go going to go went will go
ruig a’ ruigsinn a ruigsinn ràinig ruigidh
arrive, reach arriving, reaching to arrive, reach arrived, reached will arrive reach
thoir a’ toirt a thoirt thug bheir
give giving to give gave will give
thig a’ tighinn a thighinn thàinig thig
come coming to come came will come

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