Speaking
Past tense
Cad é a rinne tú an deireadh seachtaine seo caite?
What did you do last weekend?
Can you say a sentence in the The past tense is used to describe things that have already happened. for each bullet point below? Try to extend each response.
Cuir abairt amháin le chéile do gach pointe thíos san aimsir chaite. Déan iarracht cur le gach freagra.
Question
- I went to a concert...
- I enjoyed a disco...
- I attended a birthday party...
- I met friends...
- I bought...
- We won a match...
- I visited a friend...
- We headed for the cinema...
Sample responses may include:
- Chuaigh mé go ceolchoirm i mBéal Feirste le mo chairde ar an Satharn.
I went to a concert in Belfast with my friends on Saturday.
- Bhain mé sult as an dioscó i Halla an Bhaile an deireadh seachtaine seo caite.
I enjoyed the disco in the Town Hall last weekend.
- D'fhreastail mé ar bhreithlá mo dhearthár ar an Domhnach. Bhí cóisir aige san ionad pobail.
I attended my brother's birthday on Sunday. He had a party in the community centre.
- Bhuail mé le mo chairde i lár na cathrach ar an Satharn.
I met my friends in the city centre on Saturday.
- Cheannaigh mé éadaí nua nuair a bhí mé ag siopadóireacht i nDoire.
I bought new clothes when I was shopping in Derry.
- Bhain muid an cluiche ar an Domhnach.
We won the game on Sunday.
- Thug mé cuairt ar mo chara cúpla seachtain ó shin.
I visited my friend a couple of weeks ago.
- Thug muid aghaidh ar an phictiúrlann aréir.
We went to the cinema last night.
Present tense
The present tense is used when something is happening now or when something happens regularly.
Question
Cad é a dhéanann tú gach deireadh seachtaine?
What do you do every weekend?
Can you construct an oral response to the above question?
Below is a sample answer. This is only a suggested response. You may use a variety of vocabulary.
Maidin Shathairn, buailim le mo chara Saoirse agus téann muid go lár na cathrach ar an bhus. Caitheann muid an mhaidin ag siopadóireacht agus ceannaíonn muid éadaí nua agus smideadh. Faigheann muid greim le hithe i lár na cathrach don lón. Freastalaím ar thraenáil peile san iarnóin agus caitheann muid dhá uair an chloig ag cleachtadh scileanna. I ndiaidh am tae, tugaim aghaidh ar theach mo charad. De ghnáth, buaileann muid lenár gcairde ag an chlub oíche. Maidin Domhnaigh, freastalaím ar Aifreann le mo sheantuismitheoirí. San iarnóin, ligim mo scíth. Éistim le ceol nó imrím cluichí ar mo ghuthán. In amanna, téim amach fá choinne béile le mo theaghlach mar is maith linn am a chaitheamh le chéile Dé Domhnaigh.
Translation
On Saturday morning, I meet my friend Saoirse and we go to the city centre on the bus. We spend the morning shopping and we buy new clothes and makeup. We get a bite to eat in the city centre for lunch. I attend football training in the afternoon and we spend two hours practising skills. After tea time, I head to my friend’s house. Usually, we meet our friends at the nightclub. On Sunday morning, I attend Mass with my grandparents. In the afternoon, I relax. I listen to music or I play games on my phone. Sometimes, I go out for a meal with my family because we like to spend time together on a Sunday.