Difference Between

Question 1

What is the difference between:

CEAP

SÍL

CREID

MEAS

Answer 1

CEAP
— most neutral, common option

SÍL
— think “suppose”

CREID
— think “believe”

MEAS
— RAREST in everyday use
— connotation of consider / reckon
— often used for judgement / evaluation

Question 2

What are the differences between:

IN AICE LE

LE TAOBH DE

GAR DO

COIS

Answer 2

IN AICE LE
— most frequently used and neutral
— beside / next to

LE TAOBH DE
— more specific / implies more closeness
— at the side of

GAR DO
— implies closeness but not immediate proximity
— near to

COIS
— more poetic / literary
— beside
— e.g. Cois Fhairraige

Question 3

What are the differences between:

TAOBH THIAR DE

AR CHÚL

I NDIADH

Answer 3

TAOBH THIAR DE
— most commonly used
— behind

AR CHÚL
— more physical / anatomical
— e.g. ar chúl an tí

I NDIADH
— usually temporal (after), but can imply speciality in some limited contexts

Question 4

What are the differences between:

TAR ÉIS

I NDIADH

Answer 4

TAR ÉIS
— can be used to express “after” in terms of temporality, but NOT spacially
— used in common speech, but the more formal of the two

I NDIADH
— can be used to express “after” in terms of both temporality and spatiality, ALTHOUGH it is much more commonly used temporally
— used in common speech, but the less formal of the two

Question 5

What is the difference between:

DEIS

SEANS

Answer 5

DEIS
— more of a sure thing
— i.e. opportunity / advantage

SEANS
— less of a sure thing
— i.e. chance / possibility

Question 6

What are the differences between:

TÓG

GABH

BEIR

Answer 6

TÓG
— most general “take”

GABH
— used for more specific contexts
— e.g. Gabh mo leithscéal
— e.g. Gabh an bóthar
— e.g. Gabhadh é ag na gardaí

BEIR
— more aggressive; grabbing / catching
— e.g. Rug sé ar an liathróid

Question 7

What are the differences between:

TAPA

LUATH

SCIOBTHA

Answer 7

TAPA
— most common & general

LUATH
— generally used temporarily
— i.e. early / soon

SCIOBTHA
— more intense connotation
— i.e. swift / rapid

Question 8

What is the difference between:

AR FEADH

LE

I RITH

LE LINN

Answer 8

AR FEADH
— duration (complete)
— e.g. Thiomáint sé trí lae ar feadh

LE
— duration (ongoing)
— Tá mé ag foghlaim Gaeilge le trí bhlian anuas

I RITH
— think “during” (in the course of)
— implies that whatever was happening the entire time
— e.g. Bhí sé ag cur báistí i rith an lae

LE LINN
— more formal version of i rith
— e.g. le linn an chogaidh

Question 9

What are the differences between:

AR AGHAIDH

IN AGHAIDH

LE HAGHAIDH

Answer 9

AR AGHAIDH
— against

IN AGHAIDH
— forward / ahead

LE HAGHAIDH
— for the purpose of
— e.g. Tá an leanhar seo le haghaidh páistí

Question 10

What are the differences between:

[DO]

LE HAGHAIDH

Answer 10

[DO]
— for (implies a recipient)
— e.g. Cheann mé fáinne do
— e.g. Faigheann sé bia don Seán

LE HAGHAIDH
— for (the purpose of)
— e.g. Ullmhaíonn siad le haghaidh an toghchán

Question 11

What are the differences between:

GO / GO DTÍ

CHUIG

Answer 11

GO / GO DTÍ
— used primarily for places
— e.g. Tháinig siad go hÉireann
— e.g. Téann sé go dtí an siopa

CHUIG
— more of a connotation of “toward”
— also more commonly used than go for people, events and institutions
— e.g. Rachaidh sé chuig an ceolchoirm
— e.g. Chuaigh sí chugam

Question 12

What are the differences between:

BUAL [LE]

CAS [LE]

Answer 12

BUAL [LE]
— used for planned arrangements
— e.g. Bhual mé le Cáit le haghaidh dinnéir

CAS [LE]
— used for chance enounters
— connotation of “ran into”
— e.g. Chas mé leis ar an tsraid

Question 13

GO DEO

I GCÓNAÍ

RIAMH

Answer 13

GO DEO
— forever

I GCÓNAÍ
— always

RIAMH
— ever / never

Question 14

MAR A BHEADH

COSÚIL [LE]

AMHÁIL IS GO [X]

AR NÓS

Answer 14

MAR A BHEADH
— common (more abstract)
— as if
— e.g. Tá sé mar a bheadh rí ann

COSÚIL [LE]
— common (more concrete)
— similar to / resembling
— e.g. Tá sé cosúil le deartháir dom

AMHÁIL
— more formal / literary form of mar a bheadh
— unlike the former, uses all tenses (e.g. amháil is go mbeadh, amháil is go raibh, etc.)
— e.g. Tá sé mar a bheadh rí ann

AR NÓS
— “in the manner of”
— more formal / literary
— e.g. Rith ar nós na ghaoithe

Question 15

What are the differences between:

FONN

MIAN

DÚIL

SAINT

Answer 15

FONN
— fleeting desire
— think “feel like”

MIAN
— much deeper desire
— think “longing”
— e.g. Más mian leat

DÚIL
— think “appetite”

SAINT
— greed / avarice
— Tá saint uirthi

Question 16

Difference between:

EAGLA

FAITÍOS

SCANRADH

UAFÁS

UAMHAN

Answer 16

EAGLA
— most common and general “fear”
— to express being afraid OF something, use [roimh]
— e.g. Tá eagla orm roimh mhadraí

FAITÍOS
— nervous / timid

SCANRADH
— fright
— most commonly expressed with VA
— e.g. Tá mé scanraithe

UAFÁS
— horror

UAMHAN
— dread / awe / intense fear
— e.g. Uamhan Dé

Question 17

Differences between:

FÁTH

CÚIS

Answer 17

FÁTH
— used for justification / motivation
— e.g. Cén fáth?
— e.g. gan fáth

CÚIS
— more general cause & effect
— e.g. ar chúis éigin (for some reason)
— e.g. cúis le [x] (the cause for [x])

Question 18

What is the difference between:

GO LEOR [NOUN]

[NOUN] GO LEOR

Answer 18

GO LEOR [NOUN]
— enough of
— e.g. go leor bia = enough food

[NOUN] GO LEOR
— lots of
— e.g. bia go leor = lots of food

Question 19

AN-[ADJ]

THAR A BHEITH + [ADJ]

UAFÁSACH + [ADJ]

MILLTEACH + [ADJ]

IONTACH + [ADJ]

Answer 19

AN
— very
— e.g. an-mhaith

THAR A BHEITH
— extremely
— e.g. thar a bheith maith

UAFÁSACH
— awfully / terribly
— e.g. uafásach fuar

MILLTEACH
— fiercely / savagely
— e.g. millteach te

IONTACH
— wonderfully
— e.g. iontach deas