Now that we’ve seen the indirect relative clauses in the present tense, let’s look at similar sentences in the past tense. 

 

If that sounds like a bolgam mór gramadaí, you’re right.  But I think it’s the only way to really get to the heart of the matter regarding relative clauses.  Today, we’ll look further at the verb “to be” and also a couple of regular verbs.  Eventually we’ll work our way through the other ten irregular verbs Irish has, and move on to the future tense and na foirmeacha diúltacha.  “The good news?” you might ask, plea, beg, or cajole.  As we work through in the next few blogs, we’ll also stop for some fun stuff, like Lá Fhéile Bríde, Lá an Úitsigh (i Meiriceá), and Lá Vailintín.  Maybe even Lá na nUachtarán (i Meiriceá freisin), if the excruciating detail continues to excruciate past the middle of Feabhra.

 

First we’ll look at the verb “to be,” using its “raibh” form (not “bhí”).  You may remember the pattern:

 

Aimsir láithreach: Tá an lá go breá.  An bhfuil an lá go breá?  Tá, tá an lá go breá.

(The day is fine.  is the day fine?  Yes, the day is fine).

 

Aimsir chaite: Bhí an lá go breá.  An raibh an lá go breá?  Bhí, bhí an lá go breá. 

 (The day was fine.  Was the day fine?  Yes, the day was fine). 

 

The “raibh” and “bhfuil” forms of the verbs “bhí” and “tá” are called the “dependent forms.”  They are used in certain types of questions and also in indirect relative clauses. 

 

Remember the last blog’s examples:

Sin é an fear atá tinn.  That is the man who is ill. 

Sin é an fear a bhfuil a mhac tinn.  That is the man whose son is ill. 

 

Let’s look at that in the past tense:

Sin é an fear a bhí tinn.   That is the man who was sick.

Sin é an fear a raibh a mhac tinn.   That is the man whose son was sick. 

 

So, we’ve started with the verb “to be,” since it’s so widely used.  However, the irregularity of this verb “to be” somewhat disguises the pattern of what’s actually happening. 

 

If we look at our regular verbs (bris, tóg), the pattern will be clearer.  The particle “ar” (not “a”) is used before the regulars, and it is followed by lenition:

 

Bhris an fear an fhuinneog.  Sin é an fear a bhris an fhuinneog.  Sin é an fear ar bhris a mhac an fhuinneog.  (The man broke the window.  Direct: That’s the man who broke the window.  Indirect: That’s the man whose son broke the window). 

 

Thóg an slíbhín an t-airgead.  Sin é an slíbhín a thóg an t-airgead.  Sin é an slíbhín ar thóg a mhac an t-airgead. 

 

These forms with “ar” might look familiar.  If so, that’s because they look like the forms you’d use to ask questions in the past tense (Ar bhris sé an fhuinneog?  Ar thóg an slíbhín an t-airgead?)

 

Bhuel, sin é don bhlag seo.  Hard to make much of a cliffhanger ending to irregular verbs in indirect relative clauses!