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EXERCISE II

§ 25 The verb To be

The English 'am', 'art', 'is', 'are' are all translated by the Irish word atá (ă-thau'). This word has, it will be noted, the accent on the last syllable, and is almost the same in sound as the English word "a thaw." In the spoken language it is shortened to 'tá (thau).

§ 26 Verb and nominative

In Irish the nominative case is placed immediately AFTER the verb; as atá tú, thou art.

§ 27 Verb, Nominative Case and Adjective

In English sentences, like 'the field is large', the order of words is—1. nominative case; 2. verb; 3. adjective. In translating such sentences into Irish, the words must be placed in the following order:—1. verb; 2. nominative case; 3. adjective. Examples:—

1	2	3
atá	mé	mór	I am big
atá	tú	óg	thou art young
atá	an gort	mór	the field is big

§ 28

When there is another adjective qualifying the nominative case, it is placed immediately after its noun, as:—

atá	an gort mór	glar	the big field is green
atá	an doras úr	árd	the new door is high