Two Verbs for 'To Be': When to Use Tá and When to Use Is

English has one verb "to be". Irish has two, and choosing the right one is one of the first big steps in learning the language.

Tá: states, feelings and location

Tá describes how something is, where it is, or what it's doing:

• Tá mé tuirseach. — I am tired.
• Tá sé fuar. — It is cold.
• Tá an leabhar ar an mbord. — The book is on the table.
• Tá siad sa bhaile. — They are at home.
• Tá mé ag obair. — I am working.

Forms:

Form	Irish
positive	tá
negative	níl
question	an bhfuil...?
answer yes	Tá.
answer no	Níl.

Example: An bhfuil tú tuirseach? — Are you tired? Tá. — Yes.

Is: identity and classification

Is (the copula) says what someone or something is: a person, a job, a nationality or a noun:

• Is múinteoir mé. — I am a teacher.
• Is Éireannach é. — He is Irish.
• Is bó í. — She (it) is a cow.
• Is mise Máire. — I am Máire.

With is, the pronoun comes at the end and there is no separate word for "a" or "the" before the noun.

Forms:

Form	Irish
positive	is
negative	ní
question	an

Example: An múinteoir tú? — Are you a teacher? Is ea. — Yes (I am).

Quick test

• If you're describing how something is, use tá.
• If you're saying what something is, use is.

English	Irish	Why
I am a student.	Is dalta mé.	classification
I am tired.	Tá mé tuirseach.	state
It is a nice day.	Is lá deas é.	classification
It is raining.	Tá sé ag cur báistí.	action / state

Common mistakes

1. Using tá with a noun: saying Tá mé múinteoir instead of Is múinteoir mé.
2. Using is with an adjective for a state: Is tuirseach mé is wrong for "I'm tired".
3. Forgetting the pronoun order with is.

Tips

1. Learn a few sentences for each verb as models.
2. Ask yourself: state or identity?
3. Use the dictionary for the correct noun and adjective forms.

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