Sometimes we hear a person say "I be sick", indicating that he is continually ailing, as contrasted with "I am sick", indicating a present and temporary state. Irish has a form of "tá" to indicate a continuing state. It is:
bím (beem), I am, I be
bíonn tú(BEE-uhn too), you are
bíonn sé, sí; he is, she is
bímid (BEE-mid), we are
bíonn sibh, siad; you (plural) are, they are
The negative is: níbhím (nee veem), I am not; níbhíonn tú, you are not; etc. The question forms are: an mbím? (un meem), am I; nach mbím? (nahk* meem), am I not?; etc.
For indirect speech: deir ségo mbím; deir sénach mbím.
Examples: Bím tinn (beem tin), I am sick, in poor health.
Támétinn; I am sick now.
Bíonn séar scoil; he is usually or often at school.
Táséar scoil; he is at school at this moment.
Bímid ann go minic; we are often there.
Táimid ann anois; we are there now.
Vocabulary
Masculine nouns
geimheadh (GEV-ruh), winter
lampa (LAHM-puh), lamp
néal (nay*l), cloud
cnaipe (kuh-NAHP-e), button
brúigh, ag brú(BROO-ee), uh BROO), press
brúim (BROO-im), I press
brúnn sé(broon shay*), he presses
coimeád, ag coimeád (kim-AW*D, uh kim-AW*D), keep
Feminine nouns
tine (TIN-e), an tine, fire (in a fireplace)
grian, an ghrian (GREE-uhn, un YREE-uhn), sun
aontaigh le, ag aontúle (AY*N-tee le, eg AY*N-too le), agree with