An Irish sentence begins with the verb, then the subject, then the rest - Tá mé i mo chónaí i gCorcaigh is literally "am I in my dwelling in Cork". Most everyday sentences open with tá, so the shape becomes familiar quickly.
Examples
- Tá mé i mo chónaí i gCorcaigh.
- I live in Cork.
- Tá Seán ag obair inniu.
- Seán is working today.
- Tá na páistí ag súgradh.
- The children are playing.
The mistake to avoid
Beginning with the subject, as English does, is the habit to break - the verb leads.
Where this fits in
Greetings & introductions, Irish Gaelic A1: Say hello, give your name, ask someone else's, and where they're from. Notice how the start of a word can soften (séimhiú) after certain words.