The Future Tense in Irish: Beidh, Rachaidh and Tiocfaidh
How to talk about tomorrow in Irish. Learn the regular future endings, the important irregular verbs, and useful time words.
Talking about plans and predictions is easy once you know the future ending. It's the same for every person, so you only learn it once.
Regular verbs
Add -faidh (broad) or -fidh (slender) to the stem:
| Verb | Future | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| ól | ólfaidh mé | I will drink |
| cuir | cuirfidh mé | I will put |
| buail | buailfidh mé | I will meet / hit |
| ith | íosfaidh mé | I will eat |
Notice that ith has a special stem in the future (íosfaidh).
Irregular verbs
The most common irregular verbs:
| English | Present stem | Future |
|---|---|---|
| be | bí | beidh |
| go | téigh | rachaidh |
| come | tar | tiocfaidh |
| do / make | déan | déanfaidh |
| see | feic | feicfidh |
| say | abair | déarfaidh |
| get | faigh | gheobhaidh |
| give | tabhair | tabharfaidh |
Examples
- Beidh mé ag obair amárach. — I'll be working tomorrow.
- Rachaidh mé go Corcaigh. — I'll go to Cork.
- Tiocfaidh sí anocht. — She'll come tonight.
- Déanfaidh mé an obair. — I'll do the work.
- Feicfidh mé thú Dé Luain. — I'll see you on Monday.
- Ólfaidh mé cupán tae. — I'll drink a cup of tea.
Time words
| English | Irish |
|---|---|
| tomorrow | amárach |
| tonight | anocht |
| next week | an tseachtain seo chugainn |
Negative and question
| Form | Example |
|---|---|
| negative | Ní bheidh mé ann. — I won't be there. |
| negative | Ní rachaidh mé. — I won't go. |
| question | An mbeidh tú ann? — Will you be there? |
| question | An rachaidh tú? — Will you go? |
Common mistakes
- Changing the ending for each person. In the future tense it is the same for all.
- Using the present tense for the future. Learn the future forms.
- Forgetting mutations after ní and an.
Tips
- Learn the irregulars first.
- Use time words like amárach.
- Use the dictionary to check verb forms.
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