"Ní madraí iad."
Translation:They are not dogs.
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I can't believe that I spelt that all correctly from the audio! :-)
Uh oh, what are they? Wolves?!!!
What makes this negative? " Ní " instead of "Is"? This is my first negative, as well, or else I forgot it.
Nope! Most just use ní as a negative particle (followed by lenition). Or níor in the past tense (for all but 6).
477
Does this mean to say that in Irish there are actually different versions of negation based on the tense one is using? That it's NOT always "Ni" but varies with tense??? This may be the first language I've come across with that feature.
Yes. It's níor in the past for most past tense verbs.
And ní is used with other verbs besides bí as a negative particle:
Ní rithim
It is kind of like English if you think about the combination of words that we mash together for a single meaning: is=is, is not=ni, was not=nior. Is that about right?
Because you're using a form of the copula is, and not a form of bí (probably seen mostly as tá at this point). The copula is used because you're equating two nouns, them and dogs.
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I just read this again...I see it has been a year. And your answer makes sense to me now. I guess I must be learning.
I probably missed something, but since Irish is VSO, why isn't "Dogs are not them" correct?
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Yes, I agree with you Zerr !! My mother and granny (who were Dutch) retired to Southern Ireland and I used to love listening to the news in Irish because I adored the sound of it !!
Couldn't agree more, I've got family descending from Ireland, so I'm really keen to learn the language
Is cholaiste ide a good ghaeltacht in kerry im going but theres not much about it online if anyone has gone to any ghaeltacht tips would be appreciated thanks
The pronouns sé, sí and said are only used as the subject of active verbs - in all other cases you use é, í and iad.