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why (lemmy.dbzer0.com)
submitted 9 months ago by to c/memes@sopuli.xyz
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[–] 4 points 9 months ago (3 children)

In general it’s the positive or negative of the verb though - were you? I was. Did you? I did. Will you? I will. Did she? She did etc.

So the verb has a negative declension, or is it just some kind of conjunction that negates the verb?

Either way, that's kind of beautiful. English has a problem where one can ask a compound question, and replying "no" doesn't clarify a damn thing. This would be impossible in Irish, since you'd have to pick one or some combination of questions to reply to, as the verb-form is required.

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  • [–] 4 points 9 months ago* (last edited 9 months ago) (2 children)

    So the verb has a negative declension, or is it just some kind of conjunction that negates the verb?

    It's so long since I used declension that I honestly can't remember it's use but you repeat the verb but in the positive or negative form and there are differences if that makes sense?

    Like "Do you understand?" is "I understand" and "I do not understand" is a little different.

    I'm teaching my youngest lad Irish and I'll regularly ask him "An dtuigeann tú" (on diggin too) and he'll respond with "tuigim" ("tig-im" - "I understand" (which is strictly a contraction)).

    edit: The negative would be "Ní thuigim" which we would pronounce as "nee higim" (I do not understand) so there's a definite change in the word for the negative.

    edit 2: The answers to "were you?" would be bhí mé "vee may" (I was) and Ní raimh mé "nee r-ow may" (I was not) so it is quite different to answer in the positive or negative.

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