Complete Irish Beginner to Intermediate Book and Audio Course

Learn to read, write, speak and understand a new language with Teach Yourself

Diarmuid O Se, Joseph Sheil

• Publisher: Teach Yourself
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781444105902
• eBook ISBN: 9781444132205
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Grammar & Punctuation
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Are you looking for a complete course in Irish which takes you effortlessly from beginner to confident speaker? Whether you are starting from scratch, or are just out of practice, Complete Irish will guarantee success! Now fully updated to make your language learning experience fun and interactive. The course is structured in thematic units and the emphasis is placed on communication, so that you effortlessly progress from introducing yourself and dealing with everyday situations, to using the phone and talking about work. By the end of this course, you will be at Level B2 of the Common European Framework for Languages: Can interact with a degree of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular interaction with native speakers quite possible without strain for either party.Learn effortlessly with a new easy-to-read page design and interactive features: NOT GOT MUCH TIME?
One, five and ten-minute introductions to key principles to get you started.AUTHOR INSIGHTS
Lots of instant help with common problems and quick tips for success, based on the author's many years of experience.GRAMMAR TIPS
Easy-to-follow building blocks to give you a clear understanding.USEFUL VOCABULARY
Easy to find and learn, to build a solid foundation for speaking.DIALOGUES
Read and listen to everyday dialogues to help you speak and understand fast.PRONUNCIATION
Don't sound like a tourist! Perfect your pronunciation before you go.TEST YOURSELF
Tests in the book to keep track of your progress.TRY THIS
Innovative exercises illustrate what you've learnt and how to use it.

1

Is mise …
My name is …

In this unit you will learn how to

• Use some simple greetings

• Introduce yourself

• Give your address and telephone number

• Be polite

QUICK VOCAB

Dia dhuit	Hello.
Conas tá tú?	How are you?
Dia is Muire dhuit.	Hello.
Tá mé go maith.	I’m well.
Cad is ainm duit?	What is your name?
(Is) mise …	I am …
Tá mé i mo chónaí i …	I live in …
le do thoil	please
Go raibh maith agat.	Thank you.
Slán.	Goodbye.

Read the dialogue, watching out for the phrases listed above. There is a complete list of vocabulary after the dialogue to help you understand it.

Dialogue

Like most Irish people Seán has studied Irish at school but he wants to improve his knowledge of it. He has been in contact with a language school which teaches Irish and now turns up to apply for a place. He calls in to the secretary’s (an rúnaí) office and she notes some personal details for his application.

CD1, TR 2

Seán	Dia dhuit. Is mise Seán Ó Briain.
An rúnaí	Dia is Muire dhuit. Tar isteach. Conas tá tú?
Seán	Tá mé go maith.
An rúnaí	Suigh síos ansin.
Seán	Go raibh maith agat.
An rúnaí	Tá sé fuar inniu.
Seán	Tá, cinnte.
An rúnaí	Cad is ainm duit arís, le do thoil?
Seán	Seán Ó Briain.
An rúnaí	Agus do sheoladh?
Seán	Tá mé i mo chónaí in uimhir a trí Sráid Mhór, árasán a dó.
An rúnaí	Agus d’uimhir teileafóin?
Seán	A naoi, náid, a cúig, a sé, a seacht, a haon (905671).
An rúnaí	Tá bileog ansin. Tá an t-eolas ar fad ann.
Seán	Go raibh maith agat. Slán.

Question

Complete Seán’s enrolment form below:

QUICK VOCAB

Tar isteach.	Come in.
Suigh síos ansin.	Sit down there.
Go raibh maith agat.	Thank you.
Tá sé fuar inniu.	It is cold today.
Tá, cinnte.	It certainly is.
arís	again
Agus do sheoladh (m)?	And your address?
uimhir (f) a trí	number three
árasán (m) a dó	flat two
Sráid (f) Mhór	Main Street
d’uimhir teileafóin (m)	your telephone number
Tá bileog (f) ansin.	There is a leaflet there.
Tá an t-eolas (m) ar fad ann.	All the information is in it.

Language notes

1 GREETINGS

You can greet somebody casually by asking Conas tá tú? (How are you?), or by commenting on the weather, e.g. Tá sé go breá (It is fine). More formal greetings are of religious origin, e.g. Dia dhuit (God be with you), replied to with Dia is Muire dhuit (God and Mary be with you).

2 IRISH SURNAMES

Distinctively Irish surnames tend to begin with Ó or Mac (O and Mc/Mac in the English versions). These were originally names which identified you by your father or grandfather, but t...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Contents
• Meet the author
• Only got a minute?
• Only got five minutes?
• Introduction
• 1 Is mise … My name is …
• 2 Is múinteoir mé I am a teacher
• 3 An bhfuil tú pósta? Are you married?
• 4 Seo … This is …
• 5 Seo do sheomra This is your room
• 6 Tá sé go breá inniu It is fine today
• 7 Cén t-am é? What time is it?
• 8 Cé leis é seo? Who does this belong to?
• 9 Cén caitheamh aimsire a bhíonn agat?
• 10 Ar mhaith leat cupán tae? Would you like a cup of tea?
• 11 Céard a chosnaíonn sé seo? What does this cost?
• 12 Céard a rinne tú? What did you do?
• 13 Ní fhaca mé thú le tamall I haven’t seen you for a while
• 14 Tá mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge le dhá bhliain anuas I have been learning Irish for the past two years
• 15 Rugadh i gCorcaigh mé I was born in Cork
• 16 Lean ort leathmhíle Keep going half a mile
• 17 Tá a oifig thuas an staighre His office is upstairs
• 18 Buailfidh mé leat ag a hocht I’ll meet you at eight
• 19 Ceapaim go bhfuil an banc dúnta I think the bank is closed
• 20 Céard a dhéanfá? What would you do?
• 21 Bhíodh mórán le déanamh agam I used to have a lot to do
• Taking it further
• Key to the exercises
• Appendices
• Glossary of grammatical terms
• Irish–English vocabulary
• English–Irish vocabulary
• Grammar index
• Copyright
• Credits