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Friendship

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An tràth caithte

The past tense

When should you use bha + verbal noun, and when should you use the simple past tense?

Use the simple past tense when an action is complete. Use bha when it was something which was an extended process but is now complete.

The past tense of regular verbs

We will use question and answer format to show you how to form the past tense of regular verbs.

How do you form the past tense of regular verbs?

First, you need to find out the command form of the verb. In the LearnGaelic dictionary, we show this with an exclamation point.

Does the imperative start with one of the following consonants b, c, d, f, g, m, p, s, t?

If the command starts with one of the consonants:  b, c, d, f, g, m, p, s, t then the word lenites when it is in the past tense.

Coisich -> choisich mi

Walk -> I walked

Freagair! > Fhreagair mi    

Answer!  > I answered.

Does the imperative start with one of the vowels a, e, i, o, u?

If the imperative starts with one of the vowels a, e, i, o, u then the word begins with dh’ in the past tense.

Ith -> dh’ith

eat -> ate

Òl -> dh’òl

drink -> drank

Does the command start with one of the following consonants l, n, r, sg, sm, sp or st?

If the command starts with one of the consonants:  l, n, r, sg, sm, sp or st then the word stays the same when it is in the past tense.

leugh -> leugh

read -> read

sgrìobh -> sgrìobh

write -> wrote

Does the command start with f + a vowel?

If the imperative starts with f + a vowel, then the word begins with dh’ and it lenites when it is in the past tense.

fuirich -> dh’fhuirich

stay -> stayed

Command / Òrdugh  
b, c, d, g, m, p, s, t+ hCoisich -> choisich
a, e, i, o, u+ dh’Ith -> dh’ith
l, n, r, sg, sm, sp or stLeugh -> leugh
F+ a,e,i,o,uDh’ + hFuirich -> Dh’fhuirich

Here are all the irregular past tense verbs.

ÒrdughcommandAn tràth caithteThe past tense
abair / cansaythuirtsaid
Beircatchrugcaught
Cluinnhearchualaheard
Dèandorinnmade
Faicseechunnaicsaw
Faighgetfhuairgot
Rachgochaidhwent
Ruigarriveràinigcame
Thoirgivethuggave
Thigcomethàinigcame