Irish

Alternative forms

• nár bh’ (superseded)

Particle

nárbh ‎(before consonants nár) (introduces negative past/conditional copular clauses of various kinds; used before vowels and fh plus vowel)

1. wasn’t/wouldn’t... be? (used to introduce a negative question)

   Nárbh fhearr leat cupán tae?‎

   Wouldn’t you prefer a cup of tea?

2. which/who wasn’t/wouldn’t be (used to introduce both direct and indirect relative clauses)

   an bhean nárbh iascaire í‎ ― the woman who wasn’t a fisherwoman

   an bhean nárbh fhearr léi bainne‎ ― the woman who wouldn’t prefer milk

3. that... it wasn’t/wouldn’t be; whether/if... it wasn’t/wouldn’t be (used to introduce a negative past/conditional copular subordinate clause, including an indirect question)

   Dúirt sí nárbh fhearr léi cupán tae.‎

   She said that she wouldn’t prefer a cup of tea

   Ní raibh a fhios agam nárbh fhearr léi cupán tae.‎

   I didn’t know whether she would prefer a cup of tea.

Related terms