"Ní madraí iad."

Translation: They are not dogs.

[TobyBartels]

I can't believe that I spelt that all correctly from the audio! :-)

[fleeny]

can't get my head around Irish negatives yet .... !

[galaxyrocker]

What precisely about them? I can try and help

[tu.8zPhLD72zzoZN]

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.

[galaxyrocker]

Yes. Ní is the negative present tense form of Is.

[.o_]

Every verb has a negative form to learn? :c

[galaxyrocker]

Nope! Most just use ní as a negative particle (followed by lenition). Or níor in the past tense (for all but 6).

[Bush6984]

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.

[galaxyrocker]

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

[Teikalen]

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?

[nahuatl1939]

why is it IAD and not SIAD ?

[donna382364]

why is it "ni" instead of "nil"?

[galaxyrocker]

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.

[donna382364]

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.

[OMZ9Vd]

Irish

[drkstrdr]

I am having a hard time translating English to Irish, I need help...

[Jessicaoak17]

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

[ConnerWils11]

What are they then