Irish Lesson 38
PRONUNCIATION EXERCISE Read the phrases below out loud, referring to the pronunciation guide if necessary. When you can read the phrases readily, look at the translation and then go over the phrases again, visualizing the meaning as you say each. dhá bhéile; dhá bhord dhá chiseán; trí chupán ceithre dhinnéar; cúig dhoras sé fheirm; dhá fhuinneog ocht mbricfeasta; ocht mbád seacht gcistin; naoi gclog ocht nduais; deich ndoirteal seacht bhfiacail; naoi bhfadhb gaw* VAY*L-uh; gaw* vohrd gaw* hyish-AW*N; tree k*u-PAW*N KER-e YIN-yay*r; KOO-ig GUH-ruhs shay* ER-im; gaw* in-YOHG ohk*t mrik-FAS-tuh; ohk*t maw*d shahk*t GISH-tin; nee gluhg ohk*t NOO-ish; de NUHRT-uhl shahk*t VEE-kil; nee veyeb two meals; two tables two baskets; three cups four dinners; five doors six farms; two windows eight breakfasts; eight boats seven kitchens; nine clocks eight prizes; ten sinks seven teeth; nine problems Remember that "naoi", nine, is pronounced with a broad "n". This means that a faint (uh) sound occurs between the (n) and (ee). Lesson 28 described this. The word may sound a little like (nay*) but there is a clear difference. GRAMMAR In Lessons 29 and 33, you learned the past tense of "Come, go, see, hear". These are irregular in the past but regular in the present.
Usage of "feic" and clois" resembles that of "see" and hear" in English. Say "Cloisim é" for "I hear him", not "Tá mé á chloisteáil", I am hearing him.
DRILL Translate the following drills out loud:
Translation:
READING EXERCISE D'éirigh mé (DEYE-ree may*) go moch maidin inné. Chuaigh mé amach suas an bóthar. De ghnách (de GNAW*K*) téim chuig (hig) siopa nuachtáin, agus ansin tagaim abhaile timpeall a hocht a chlog. An uair (OO-ir) sin, áfach, ní dheachaigh mé ach cúpla céim (kay*m). Chuala mé madra ag tafann (TAHF-uhn), agus ansin chonaic mé cat i gcrann in aice an chúinne (K*OON-ye). Thuas sa gcrann, bhi an cat ina shui, ag féachaint go ciúin ar an madra. Níor tháinig an cat anuas (uh-NOO-uhs) roimh (rev) am (oum) suipéir. I got up early yesterday morning I went up the road. Usually I go to a paper store, and then I come home around eight o'clock. That time, however, I didn't go but a couple of steps. I heard a dog barking, and I saw a cat in a tree near the corner. Up in the tree, the cat was sitting, quietly looking at the dog. The cat didn't come down before suppertime.
Note: With a few verbs, like suigh (si), sit, the form is "Tá sé ina shuí", he is in his sitting, rather than "tá sé ag suí". "I was sitting" is Bhí mé i mo shuí (i muh HEE). Similar verbs are "luigh" (li), lie; ina luí, in his lying; seas (shas), stand, ina sheasamh (HAS-uhv), in his standing.
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