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Updated Apr 19, 2026
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Learn About An Aimsir Fháistineach: Forming Future Tense in Irish
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An Aimsir Fháistineach - Getting Started
Think of the future tense as your planning language - it's how you say "I will go" or "they will play" in Irish. The trick is knowing which ending to stick on your verb, and that depends on the vowels inside it.
Before diving in, you need to master broad and slender vowels. Broad vowels are a, o, u (remember: "Are Owls Ugly?") and slender vowels are i, e ("Is Everyone Ill?"). This matters because of the golden rule: leathan le leathan, caol le caol - broad with broad, slender with slender.
The verb root is your starting point - it's the basic form without any endings. For example, glanann (cleans) has the root glan. Once you've got your root, check its last vowel to decide which ending fits.
Quick tip: Master the vowel types first - they're used throughout Irish grammar, not just the future tense!
First Conjugation Verbs - The One-Syllable Gang
First conjugation verbs have just one syllable in their root - words like dún (close), glan (clean), bris (break), and ól (drink). These are actually the easiest once you get the pattern.
Here's the system: if your verb root ends with a broad vowel (a, o, u), you add -faidh. If it ends with a slender vowel (i, e), you add -fidh. So glan becomes glanfaidh and bris becomes brisfidh.
The endings work perfectly for sé, sí, and siad (he, she, they). For other pronouns like mé and tú, you just add the pronoun after: glanfaidh mé, glanfaidh tú. The only special case is sinn (we) - it gets its own endings: -faimid for broad roots and -fimid for slender ones.
Remember: The broad/slender rule applies to every single verb - there are no exceptions here!
Second Conjugation Verbs - The Multi-Syllable Squad
Second conjugation verbs have two or more syllables and usually end in -igh. Think ceannaigh (buy), bailigh (collect), or éirigh (get up) - they're longer words that need a different approach.
The process is straightforward: chop off the -igh ending first. Then check what vowel you're left with at the end. If it's broad (a, o, u), add -óidh. If it's slender (i, e), add -eoidh.
So ceannaigh loses its -igh to become ceanna (ending in broad 'a'), then gets -óidh to make ceannóidh. Bailigh becomes bail (ending in slender 'i'), then gets -eoidh to make baileoidh.
Just like first conjugation, sinn (we) is special again. It uses -óimid for broad roots and -eoimid for slender ones instead of the regular endings.
Pro tip: Most verbs you'll meet ending in -igh follow this pattern - it's more common than you might think!
Working Through Examples
Let's tackle some exam-style questions to see how this works in practice. Take ól (drink) with mé (I) - it's one syllable, so it's first conjugation. The 'o' is broad, so we add -faidh: ólfaidh mé (I will drink).
For something trickier, try críochnaigh (finish) with sinn (we). It's multi-syllable and ends in -igh, so it's second conjugation. Drop the -igh to get críochn, which ends in broad 'o'. Since it's sinn, we use -óimid: críochnóimid (we will finish).
The key is taking it step by step: identify the conjugation type, find the root, check the vowel type, pick the right ending. Once you've done a few, the pattern becomes automatic.
Questions and negatives change things slightly - they start with An (will...?) or Ní (will not...), but the verb endings stay the same. An ólfaidh tú? (Will you drink?) and Ní ólfaidh mé (I will not drink).
Exam hack: Always identify conjugation type first - it saves you from mixing up the ending patterns!
Quick Revision Summary
You've got two main patterns to remember. First conjugation : broad vowel gets -faidh, slender vowel gets -fidh. Second conjugation : drop the -igh, then broad gets -óidh, slender gets -eoidh.
The pronoun sinn (we) always gets special treatment with its own endings: -faimid/-fimid for first conjugation, -óimid/-eoimid for second conjugation. Every other pronoun just tags along after the main verb form.
Remember that irregular verbs like téigh (go) completely ignore these rules - téigh becomes rachaidh mé (I will go), not téighfidh mé. You'll need to learn those 11 irregular verbs separately.
The leathan le leathan, caol le caol rule is your safety net - if your vowels don't match up, you've made a mistake somewhere. This future tense system works for the vast majority of Irish verbs once you've mastered the basics.
Final reminder: Practice with regular verbs first - once these patterns are automatic, irregular verbs become much easier to handle!
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This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
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Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
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I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
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Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
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Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
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THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
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This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
Learn About An Aimsir Fháistineach: Forming Future Tense in Irish
The Irish future tense (an aimsir fháistineach) is your tool for talking about things that will happen - from tomorrow's plans to next year's goals. It's built on a simple system of adding specific endings to verb roots, but you... Show more
An Aimsir Fháistineach - Getting Started
Think of the future tense as your planning language - it's how you say "I will go" or "they will play" in Irish. The trick is knowing which ending to stick on your verb, and that depends on the vowels inside it.
Before diving in, you need to master broad and slender vowels. Broad vowels are a, o, u (remember: "Are Owls Ugly?") and slender vowels are i, e ("Is Everyone Ill?"). This matters because of the golden rule: leathan le leathan, caol le caol - broad with broad, slender with slender.
The verb root is your starting point - it's the basic form without any endings. For example, glanann (cleans) has the root glan. Once you've got your root, check its last vowel to decide which ending fits.
Quick tip: Master the vowel types first - they're used throughout Irish grammar, not just the future tense!
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First Conjugation Verbs - The One-Syllable Gang
First conjugation verbs have just one syllable in their root - words like dún (close), glan (clean), bris (break), and ól (drink). These are actually the easiest once you get the pattern.
Here's the system: if your verb root ends with a broad vowel (a, o, u), you add -faidh. If it ends with a slender vowel (i, e), you add -fidh. So glan becomes glanfaidh and bris becomes brisfidh.
The endings work perfectly for sé, sí, and siad (he, she, they). For other pronouns like mé and tú, you just add the pronoun after: glanfaidh mé, glanfaidh tú. The only special case is sinn (we) - it gets its own endings: -faimid for broad roots and -fimid for slender ones.
Remember: The broad/slender rule applies to every single verb - there are no exceptions here!
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Second Conjugation Verbs - The Multi-Syllable Squad
Second conjugation verbs have two or more syllables and usually end in -igh. Think ceannaigh (buy), bailigh (collect), or éirigh (get up) - they're longer words that need a different approach.
The process is straightforward: chop off the -igh ending first. Then check what vowel you're left with at the end. If it's broad (a, o, u), add -óidh. If it's slender (i, e), add -eoidh.
So ceannaigh loses its -igh to become ceanna (ending in broad 'a'), then gets -óidh to make ceannóidh. Bailigh becomes bail (ending in slender 'i'), then gets -eoidh to make baileoidh.
Just like first conjugation, sinn (we) is special again. It uses -óimid for broad roots and -eoimid for slender ones instead of the regular endings.
Pro tip: Most verbs you'll meet ending in -igh follow this pattern - it's more common than you might think!
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Working Through Examples
Let's tackle some exam-style questions to see how this works in practice. Take ól (drink) with mé (I) - it's one syllable, so it's first conjugation. The 'o' is broad, so we add -faidh: ólfaidh mé (I will drink).
For something trickier, try críochnaigh (finish) with sinn (we). It's multi-syllable and ends in -igh, so it's second conjugation. Drop the -igh to get críochn, which ends in broad 'o'. Since it's sinn, we use -óimid: críochnóimid (we will finish).
The key is taking it step by step: identify the conjugation type, find the root, check the vowel type, pick the right ending. Once you've done a few, the pattern becomes automatic.
Questions and negatives change things slightly - they start with An (will...?) or Ní (will not...), but the verb endings stay the same. An ólfaidh tú? (Will you drink?) and Ní ólfaidh mé (I will not drink).
Exam hack: Always identify conjugation type first - it saves you from mixing up the ending patterns!
Sign up to see the contentIt's free!
Access to all documents
Improve your grades
Join milions of students
Quick Revision Summary
You've got two main patterns to remember. First conjugation : broad vowel gets -faidh, slender vowel gets -fidh. Second conjugation : drop the -igh, then broad gets -óidh, slender gets -eoidh.
The pronoun sinn (we) always gets special treatment with its own endings: -faimid/-fimid for first conjugation, -óimid/-eoimid for second conjugation. Every other pronoun just tags along after the main verb form.
Remember that irregular verbs like téigh (go) completely ignore these rules - téigh becomes rachaidh mé (I will go), not téighfidh mé. You'll need to learn those 11 irregular verbs separately.
The leathan le leathan, caol le caol rule is your safety net - if your vowels don't match up, you've made a mistake somewhere. This future tense system works for the vast majority of Irish verbs once you've mastered the basics.
Final reminder: Practice with regular verbs first - once these patterns are automatic, irregular verbs become much easier to handle!
We thought you’d never ask...
What is the Knowunity AI companion?
Our AI companion is specifically built for the needs of students. Based on the millions of content pieces we have on the platform we can provide truly meaningful and relevant answers to students. But its not only about answers, the companion is even more about guiding students through their daily learning challenges, with personalised study plans, quizzes or content pieces in the chat and 100% personalisation based on the students skills and developments.
Where can I download the Knowunity app?
You can download the app in the Google Play Store and in the Apple App Store.
Is Knowunity really free of charge?
That's right! Enjoy free access to study content, connect with fellow students, and get instant help – all at your fingertips.
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The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user
The app is very easy to use and well designed. I have found everything I was looking for so far and have been able to learn a lot from the presentations! I will definitely use the app for a class assignment! And of course it also helps a lot as an inspiration.
Stefan S
iOS user
This app is really great. There are so many study notes and help [...]. My problem subject is French, for example, and the app has so many options for help. Thanks to this app, I have improved my French. I would recommend it to anyone.
Samantha Klich
Android user
Wow, I am really amazed. I just tried the app because I've seen it advertised many times and was absolutely stunned. This app is THE HELP you want for school and above all, it offers so many things, such as workouts and fact sheets, which have been VERY helpful to me personally.
Anna
iOS user
I think it’s very much worth it and you’ll end up using it a lot once you get the hang of it and even after looking at others notes you can still ask your Artificial intelligence buddy the question and ask to simplify it if you still don’t get it!!! In the end I think it’s worth it 😊👍 ⚠️Also DID I MENTION ITS FREEE YOU DON’T HAVE TO PAY FOR ANYTHING AND STILL GET YOUR GRADES IN PERFECTLY❗️❗️⚠️
Thomas R
iOS user
Knowunity is the BEST app I’ve used in a minute. This is not an ai review or anything this is genuinely coming from a 7th grade student (I know 2011 im young) but dude this app is a 10/10 i have maintained a 3.8 gpa and have plenty of time for gaming. I love it and my mom is just happy I got good grades
Brad T
Android user
Not only did it help me find the answer but it also showed me alternative ways to solve it. I was horrible in math and science but now I have an a in both subjects. Thanks for the help🤍🤍
David K
iOS user
The app's just great! All I have to do is enter the topic in the search bar and I get the response real fast. I don't have to watch 10 YouTube videos to understand something, so I'm saving my time. Highly recommended!
Sudenaz Ocak
Android user
In school I was really bad at maths but thanks to the app, I am doing better now. I am so grateful that you made the app.
Greenlight Bonnie
Android user
I found this app a couple years ago and it has only gotten better since then. I really love it because it can help with written questions and photo questions. Also, it can find study guides that other people have made as well as flashcard sets and practice tests. The free version is also amazing for students who might not be able to afford it. Would 100% recommend
Aubrey
iOS user
Best app if you're in Highschool or Junior high. I have been using this app for 2 school years and it's the best, it's good if you don't have anyone to help you with school work.😋🩷🎀
Marco B
iOS user
THE QUIZES AND FLASHCARDS ARE SO USEFUL AND I LOVE Knowunity AI. IT ALSO IS LITREALLY LIKE CHATGPT BUT SMARTER!! HELPED ME WITH MY MASCARA PROBLEMS TOO!! AS WELL AS MY REAL SUBJECTS ! DUHHH 😍😁😲🤑💗✨🎀😮
Elisha
iOS user
This app is phenomenal down to the correct info and the various topics you can study! I greatly recommend it for people who struggle with procrastination and those who need homework help. It has been perfectly accurate for world 1 history as far as I’ve seen! Geometry too!
Paul T
iOS user