Irish Verb Conjugation: All Tenses and Tables

Irish verbs are more regular than you might expect. There are only 11 irregular verbs in the entire language — everything else follows predictable patterns based on two conjugation classes. Once you learn those patterns, you can conjugate any regular verb in any tense.

This guide covers the full conjugation system: both conjugation classes across all five main tenses, the 11 irregular verbs, and the verbal noun. For the grammar context these verbs fit into, see our Irish grammar beginner's guide.

First and Second Conjugation

Irish verbs divide into two conjugation classes:

• First conjugation: verbs with a one-syllable root. Examples: mol (praise), cuir (put), bris (break), dún (close).
• Second conjugation: verbs with a two+ syllable root. Examples: ceannaigh (buy), inis (tell), foghlaim (learn), oscail (open).

Each class has its own set of endings for each tense, but the endings within each class are completely consistent. Learn the pattern once, apply it to every verb.

Present Tense (An Aimsir Láithreach)

The present tense describes habitual actions: "I praise," "she buys." For actions happening right now, Irish uses the verbal noun construction: Tá mé ag moladh (I am praising).

Past Tense (An Aimsir Chaite)

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Future Tense (An Aimsir Fháistineach)

Habitual Past (An Aimsir Ghnáthchaite)

The habitual past describes things that used to happen regularly: "I used to praise." Like the past tense, it lenites the initial consonant.

Conditional Mood (An Modh Coinníollach)

The conditional is used for "would" statements and in dá (if) clauses. Like the habitual past, it lenites and uses synthetic endings.

Questions and Negatives

Irish forms questions and negatives using particles before the verb:

• An (question particle) — causes eclipsis: An molann tú? (Do you praise?)
• Ní (negative particle) — causes lenition: Ní mholann tú (You don't praise)
• Ar (past question) — causes lenition: Ar mhol tú? (Did you praise?)
• Níor (past negative) — causes lenition: Níor mhol tú (You didn't praise)
• Nach (negative question) — causes eclipsis: Nach molann tú? (Don't you praise?)

These particles interact with mutations — another reason why mastering séimhiú and urú is essential for verb usage.

The 11 Irregular Verbs

Irish has exactly 11 irregular verbs. They're among the most common verbs in the language, so you'll encounter them immediately. Here are their key forms:

These 11 verbs need memorisation — there's no pattern to shortcut them. The good news: once you know these, every other verb in Irish is regular.

The Verbal Noun (An Ainm Briathartha)

The verbal noun is one of the most important verb forms in Irish. It's used with tá + ag to form the progressive tense — the construction you'll use most in everyday speech:

• Tá mé ag moladh — I am praising
• Tá sí ag ceannach — She is buying
• Tá siad ag ithe — They are eating
• Bhí mé ag foghlaim — I was learning

Common verbal noun formations: -adh (moladh), -áil (ceannach → ceannáil variation), -t (ól → ólt... actually ól itself), and many irregular forms. The verbal noun needs to be learned alongside each verb.

The Autonomous Form (An Fhoirm Shaor)

Irish has a special verb form for when the agent is unspecified — similar to the English passive or "one does." Each tense has its own autonomous form:

• Present: moltar — "(one) praises" / "(it) is praised"
• Past: moladh — "(it) was praised"
• Future: molfar — "(it) will be praised"

You'll see this in signs (Dúntar ag 5 — Closes at 5) and news reports. It's not a priority for beginners but becomes useful at intermediate level.

Practical Tips

1. Learn the present tense pattern first, then past, then future. These three cover 90% of daily conversation.
2. Drill the 11 irregular verbs early. They appear in almost every conversation. Use spaced repetition — blas. schedules these automatically.
3. Master the verbal noun construction. Tá mé ag + VN is the most common way to express actions in progress.
4. Don't neglect the question/negative particles. Knowing how to conjugate a verb is only half the story — you also need an, ní, ar, níor and the mutations they cause.