Verbal nouns

Do you know how to use verbal nouns in Irish? Learn some helpful words and phrases and test yourself on others you may already know!

A verbal noun is a noun that is derived from a verb, usually by adding the suffix -ing in English.

Verbal nouns are used all the time in English.

• I am playing football.

• I was going by bicycle.

• I will be buying sweets later.

Let's try to use the verbal noun in Irish for these sentences.

imir (play)

• Tá mé ag imirt peile. I am playing football.

téigh (go)

• Bhí mé ag dul ar rothar. I was going by bicycle.

ceannaigh (buy)

• Beidh mé ag ceannach milseán. I will be buying sweets.

You will have noticed that the verbal noun can look very similar to the original verb, or very different, depending on what verb is used.

There are several rules to follow when changing a verb into the verbal noun, but one rule all verbal nouns follow is that they begin with ag. To help you remember, you can think of this as how verbal nouns in English end in -ing.

• ag déanamhdoing
• ag críochnúfinishing
• ag briseadhbreaking
• ag oscailtopening

Spelling of verbal nouns

1. Short verbs

If the verb is short, add –adh to broad verbs, and –eadh to slender verbs.

2. Long verbs

If the verb is long, add –ú to broad verbs, and –iú to slender verbs.

3. Verbs that take t

There are some verbs that change very little, by taking t as their ending.

4. Verbs that do not follow the rules

There are some verbs that do not follow the rules above, and have their own special endings, or do not change at all.

5. Irregular verbs

The irregular verbs in Irish often do not follow any set rules in any of the tenses or forms in Irish, which is why they are known as irregular. They are commonly used in Irish, so it is good to learn them off.