HeyRuaHow to use “má”
Má puts a séimhiú on the verb, an h after its first letter: tagann becomes má thagann, bíonn becomes má bhíonn. It is used with the present tense (aimsir láithreach), and for something in the future Irish still uses the present after má: má thagann sé amárach, if he comes tomorrow, never má thiocfaidh. With the past tense (má bhí, má cheannaigh) the verb already carries its own h, so nothing more changes. Tá keeps its shape (má tá) because t does not take an h, and má with is becomes más: más féidir leat, if you can.
“Má” in a sentence
More conjunctions
Má in Irish: the questions people ask
What does má mean in Irish?
má means if (something that may well be true). For example, Má thagann sé amárach, beidh mé sásta.: If he comes tomorrow, I will be happy.
Does má change the verb after it?
Yes, it takes séimhiú. Má puts a séimhiú on the verb, an h after its first letter: tagann becomes má thagann, bíonn becomes má bhíonn. It is used with the present tense (aimsir láithreach), and for something in the future Irish still uses the present after má: má thagann sé amárach, if he comes tomorrow, never má thiocfaidh. With the past tense (má bhí, má cheannaigh) the verb already carries its own h, so nothing more changes. Tá keeps its shape (má tá) because t does not take an h, and má with is becomes más: más féidir leat, if you can.
Can you give an example of má in a sentence?
Má bhíonn an aimsir go maith, rachaimid ag snámh. If the weather is good, we will go swimming. Má tá ocras ort, tá bia sa chistin. If you are hungry, there is food in the kitchen.