How construct:
How + [verb]
— e.g. How do you go to Ireland?
— e.g. How did you go to Ireland?
— e.g. How will you go to Ireland?
Conas a + [conj. verb]
— triggers lenition
— e.g. Conas a théann tú go hÉireann?
— e.g. Conas a chuaigh tú go hÉireann?
— e.g. Conas a rachaidh tú go hÉireann?
How constrict:
Do you + [verb]?
— e.g. Do you go there often?
Present/Future: An + [conj. verb]?
Past: Ar + [conj. verb]?
— e.g. An dtéann tú ann go minic?
— e.g. Ar chuaigh tú ann go minic?
— e.g. An rachaidh tú ann go minic?
How construct:
Is there + [noun]?
— e.g. Is there a party?
Was there + [noun]?
— e.g. Was there a party?
Will there be + [noun]
— e.g. Will there by a party?
PRESENT: An bhfuil + [noun] ann?
— e.g. An bhfuil cóisir ann?
PAST: An raibh + [noun] ann?
— e.g. An raibh cóisir ann?
FUTURE: An mbeidh + [noun] ann
— e.g. An mbeidh cóisir ann?
(NON-VERB)
Who is _____? (e.g. who is present?)
Who was _____? (e.g. who was present?)
Who will be? _____? (e.g. Who will be present?)
Cé + [dir. relative]
— e.g, Cé atá i láthair?
— e.g. Cé a bhí i láthair?
— e.g. Cé a bheidh i láthair?
How construct:
Who + [verb]?
— e.g. Who puts it there?
— e.g. Who put it there?
— e.g. Who will put it there?
Cé a + [conj. verb]?
— particle triggers lenition
e.g. Cé a chuireann ann é?
e.g. Cé a chuir ann é?
e.g. Cé a chuirfidh ann é?
How construct:
How [adj] is the [noun]?
— e.g. How long is the show?
— e.g. How far was it from here?
Cé chomh [adj] + is + [direct relative]
— e.g. Cé chomh fada is atá an clár?
— e.g. Cé chomh fada is a bhí é as seo?
How construct:
Where is the _____? (etc.)
— Where is the house?
— Where was the house?
— Where will the house be?
PRESENT: Cá bhfuil an _____?
— e.g. Cá bhfuil an teach?
PAST: Cá raibh an _____?
— e.g. Cá raibh an teach?
FUTURE: Cá mbeidh an _____?
— e.g. Cá mbeidh an teach?
How construct:
Where + [verb]
— e.g. Where do you go?
— e.g. Where did you go?
— e.g. Where will you go?
Cá + [conj. verb]?
— causes eclipsis
— Cá dtéann tú?
— Cá ndeachaigh tú?
— Cá rachaidh tú?
Causes n-prosthesis
— e.g. Cá n-itheann tú?
When will the [noun] be [adj]?
— e.g. When will the dinner be ready?
Cathain a bheidh an + [noun] + [adj]?
— e.g. Cathain a bheidh an dinnéar reidh?
How express:
Asking about the weather
Cén chaoi a bhfuil an aimsir?
Past:
— Cén chaoi a raibh an aimsir
Future
— Cén chaoi a mbeidh an aimsir
How to express:
Why is he [adjective]?
— Why is he tall?
— Why was he tall?
— Why will he be tall?
Cén fáth + [dir. relative] + [adj]?
— Cén fáth a bhfuil sé ard?
— Cén fáth a raibh sé ard?
— Cén fáth a mbeidh sé ard?
CEN FÁTH ALWAYS TRIGGERS INDIRECT CONSTRUCTION
How construct:
Would you mind _____?
— e.g. Would you mind closing the door?
— e.g. Would you mind if I eat?
— e.g. Would y’all mind being quiet?
Ar mhiste [leat] _____?
— e.g. Ar mhiste leat an doras a dhúnadh?
— e.g. Ar mhiste leat má ithim?
— e.g. Ar mhiste libh bheith ciúin?
Answering:
— Ní miste: no, I would not mind
— Is miste: yes, I would mind
How construct:
Why are you _____?
— e.g. Why are you at home?
— e.g. Why were you at home?
— e.g. Why will you be at home?
Cén fáth + [indirect relative]?
— e.g. Cén fáth a bhfuil tú sa bhaile?
— e.g. Cén fáth a raibh tú sa bhaile?
— e.g. Cén fáth a mbeidh tú abhaile?
CEN FÁTH ALWAYS TRIGGERS INDIRECT CONSTRUCTION
How express:
Where [go]?
— e.g. Where are you going?
— e.g. Where did you go?
— e.g. Where will you go?
Cá bhfuil tú ag dul?
Cá ndeachaigh tú?
Cá rachaidh tú?
How express:
Who is / are _____
— e.g. Who is he?
— e.g. Who is the woman?
— e.g. Who are they?
— e.g. Who was he?
Cé + (h-prosthesis) pronoun
— Cé hé?
— Cé hí an bhean?
— Cé hiad?
If past tense, use cé + [relative]
— e.g. Cé a bhí sé?
How express:
Asking what something (as in a word) means
Cad is brí [le] _____
— Cad is brí leis an fhocal sin?
— Cad is brí le [word]?
How express:
How many?
— e.g. How many children do you have?
— e.g. How many cats did she have?
— e.g. How many children will they have?
Cé mhéad _____?
— note: always use the singular of the noun
— e.g. Cé mhéad páiste atá agat?
— e.g. Cé mhéad páiste a bhí aici?
— e.g. Cé mhéad páiste a bheidh acu?
How ask about age?
— e.g. How old is he?
Cén aois atá _____?
— e.g. Cén aois atá sé?
— e.g. Cén aois atá siad?
How construct:
Do you like _____
— e.g. Do you like to read?
— e.g. Do you like reading?
An maith leat _____?
— e.g. An maith leat léamh?
— e.g. An maith leat a bheith ag léamh?
(Past tense)
Ar thaitin _____ leat?
—e.g. Ar thaitin an scannán leat?
How construct:
Why is he _____?
— e.g. Why is he angry?
— e.g. Why were you angry?
— e.g. Why will they be angry?
Cén fáth + [indirect]
— e.g. Cén fáth a bhfuil fearg air?
— e.g. Cén fáth a raibh fearg ort?
— e.g. Cén fáth a mbeidh fearg orthu?
CEN FÁTH ALWAYS TRIGGERS INDIRECT CONSTRUCTION
How construct:
Do you want to [verb]?
— e.g. Do you want to play?
— e.g. Do you want to read?
Ar mhaith leat [VN]?
— e.g. Ar mhaith leat imirt?
— e.g. Ar mhaith leat léamh?
How construct:
What is wrong with you?
(e.g. health)
Cad atá ort?
How to construct:
What happened?
Cad a tharla?
How to express:
Can I _____?
(Both in the sense of ability and permission)
An féidir liom _____?
e.g. An féidir liom dul go mBaile Átha Cliath amárach?
However, it is very common in conversational or casual Irish to use Is féidir liom, instead