HeyRuaHow to say “autonomous verb” in Irish
- Irish:
- saorbhriathar
- English:
- autonomous verb
- Word type:
- noun
- Gender:
- masculine
- Pronunciation:
- “SEER-vree-uh-hur” /ˈsˠiːɾˠˌvʲɾʲiəhəɾˠ/
- Plural:
- saorbhriathra (autonomous verbs)
- Genitive singular:
- saorbhriathair, an tsaorbhriathair (e.g. foirm an tsaorbhriathair, the form of the autonomous verb)
- Genitive plural:
- saorbhriathra, na saorbhriathra (e.g. foirmeacha na saorbhriathra, the forms of the autonomous verbs)
What does “saorbhriathar” mean?
- autonomous verb
- In Irish grammar, the verb form that has no stated subject and expresses an action done by an unspecified person, similar to an English passive or 'one' construction.Also: autonomous form, impersonal verb, passive.
“Saorbhriathar” with the article
The plural of autonomous verb in Irish is saorbhriathra. Here is saorbhriathar after the article (an t-alt), in the singular and the plural.
“Saorbhriathar” in a sentence: Irish examples
Common Irish sentences using saorbhriathar, the Irish word for autonomous verb.
Other nouns in Irish
More everyday Irish nouns to learn next.
Autonomous verb in Irish: frequently asked questions
What is the Irish for autonomous verb?
The Irish for autonomous verb is saorbhriathar (pronounced “SEER-vree-uh-hur”). It’s a masculine noun and the plural is saorbhriathra.
How do you pronounce saorbhriathar in Irish?
Saorbhriathar is said like “SEER-vree-uh-hur” (IPA /ˈsˠiːɾˠˌvʲɾʲiəhəɾˠ/).
What is the plural of autonomous verb in Irish?
The plural of saorbhriathar is saorbhriathra; with the article, na saorbhriathra means “the autonomous verbs”. The genitive plural is saorbhriathra, as in foirmeacha na saorbhriathra (the forms of the autonomous verbs).
Why does saorbhriathar change to shaorbhriathar?
After words like mo (my) and do (your) the first letter is lenited: mo shaorbhriathar. After ár (our) it stays ár saorbhriathar, because s does not take eclipsis.
Is the saorbhriathar the same as the English passive?
Not exactly: "buaileadh é" means "he was hit" or "someone hit him", but the saorbhriathar never takes an agent, so you cannot add "by someone" as in English.
