it
pronoun
1 pronoun as subject of verbs► (with ordinary verbs in Irish)
sé sí Máire left the bus when it stopped d'fhág Máire an bus nuair a stop séPeadar left the train when it stopped d'fhág Peadar an traein nuair a stop síhit the ball when it bounces buail an liathróid nuair a phreabann síeat your dinner while it's hot ith do dhinnéar nuair atá sé te► (with copula in Irish)
é í get a dog when it's a puppy faigh madra nuair is coileán éwatch that knife - it's a sharp one seachain an scian sin - is ceann géar í► (in passive structures)
é í I had a bicycle but it was stolen bhí an rothar agam ach goideadh éthe door was creaking before it was fixed bhí an doras ag díoscán sular deisíodh éthe window cracked when it was hit scoilt an fhuinneog nuair a buaileadh íchocolate melts when it is heated leánn seacláid nuair a théitear í 2 pronoun emphatic, subject of 'be'► (referring to noun)
é í it's the committee that appointed him is é an coiste a cheap éit's the wind that worries me is í an ghaoth atá ag cur imní orm► (referring to other people)
it's you I'm trying to protect is tusa atá mé ag iarraidh a chosaintit's Áine you need to speak to is le hÁine is gá duit labhairt► (in other structures)
it's not that he didn't try ní hé nach ndearna sé iarrachtwhat is it that they want? céard atá uathu?, cad é atá siad a iarraidh?, cad atá á lorg acu?where is it she's off to again? cá bhfuil sí ag dul arís?, cá háit a bhfuil sí ag dul arís?how is it that ...? cén chaoi a ...?; cén dóigh a ...?; conas go ...?why is it that ...? cén fáth a ...?; cad chuige a ...?; cad ina thaobh go ...?Taispeáin iontráil iomlán
3 pronoun in weather expressions etcsé é it's raining tá sé ag cur fearthainne, tá báisteach annit's cold today tá sé fuar inniuit's a fine day tá lá breá ann, lá breá atá annit was getting dark bhí sé ag éirí dorcha 4 pronoun in time or date expressionssé é what time is it? cén t-am é?, cén t-am?what day is it? cén lá atá ann?it's seven o'clock tá sé a seacht a chlogit's early yet tá sé luath fósit's getting late tá sé ag éirí déanach, tá sé ag éirí mallit was a Saturday evening tráthnóna Sathairn a bhí annit's 20 years since it happened tá sé 20 bliain ó tharla séit was 1950 when Cathal was born is in 1950 a rugadh Cathal 5 pronoun in expressions of distancesé how far away is it? cá fhad uainn atá sé?it's 10 miles to Galway tá sé 10 míle go Gaillimhit was further than we thought bhí sé ní b'fhaide ná a cheapamarit's a long way from home tá sé i bhfad ó bhaile 6 pronoun describing impression, appearancesé it looked as if they would succeed dhealraigh sé go n-éireodh leoit sounds like she's happy tá an chuma air go bhfuil sí sástait appears that ... dealraíonn sé go ...; is cosúil go ...; tá cuma air go ... 7 pronoun as object of verb
► (direct object of verbs in Irish)
é í the bread was fresh when I bought it bhí an t-arán úr nuair a cheannaigh mé éyou'll recognise the song once you hear it aithneoidh tú an t-amhrán a luaithe a chloisfidh tú éthe mirror broke as they were lifting it bhris an scáthán nuair a bhí siad á thógáilthe rope will break if you pull it brisfidh an téad má tharraingíonn tú íthe jacket is too tight, don't wear it tá an chasóg rótheann, ná caith íthe paint gets thicker as you mix it éiríonn an phéint níos tibhe agus tú á meascadh► (with verb and preposition phrases in Irish)
if you have a dog, let it run about má tá madra agat lig dó rith timpeallread the file in case they mention it léigh an comhad ar eagla go dtagróidís dóI went to the launch and really enjoyed it chuaigh mé chuig an lainseáil agus bhain mé an-sult aistiI had a key but forgot it bhí eochair agam ach rinne mé dearmad uirthi 8 pronoun as object of prepositionlift that coat, my phone is under it tóg an cóta sin, tá mo ghuthán faoileave the book back when you're finished with it fág an leabhar ar ais nuair a bheidh tú réidh leistake the car but be careful with it tóg an gluaisteán ach bí cúramach leisuse that office, there's nobody in it úsáid an oifig sin, níl aon duine intimind your knee and don't fall on it again tabhair aire do do ghlúin agus ná tit uirthi arísread the report and refer to it léigh an tuairisc agus déan tagairt di 9 pronoun object of verbs of feelinghe loves it that they all get on is breá leis go réitíonn siad go léir le chéileI hate it when you don't answer is fuath liom nuair nach bhfreagraíonn túshe didn't like it when Paul wasn't there níor thaitin sé léi nuair nach raibh Pól ann 10 pronoun baby, childis it a boy or a girl? an buachaill nó cailín atá ann?it was a girl cailín a bhí ann 11 pronoun unknown person, thingwho is it? cé atá ann?what was it? cad a bhí ann?, cad é a bhí ann?it's Ciara Ciara atá annit was some strange-looking animal ainmhí aisteach de shaghas éigin a bhí ann 12 pronoun standing for phrase or clauseit's hard to refuse them tá sé deacair iad a dhiúltú, is doiligh diúltú dóibhit's good that they're coming is maith go bhfuil siad ag teacht, tá sé maith go bhfuil siad ag teachtit'd be nice to be told ba dheas dá ndéarfaí leat, bheadh sé deas dá ndéarfaí leatit seems unlikely that they'll agree ní dhealraíonn sé go n-aontóidh siad, níl cuma air go n-aontóidh siadit annoys me that she's still there cuireann sé isteach orm go bhfuil sí fós annit occurred to me that we hadn't registered rith sé liom nár chláraíomarhe finds it difficult to ask for help tá sé deacair aige cúnamh a lorgit's certain that the place will close is cinnte go ndúnfaidh an áitit's not right that they have an advantage níl sé ceart go bhfuil buntáiste acuit was announced he was transferring fógraíodh go raibh sé ag aistriúit hasn't been confirmed yet that she's available níor deimhníodh fós go bhfuil sí ar fáil 13 pronoun standing for situation, concept etcsé é ► (as subject of verb)
it isn't easy níl sé furasta, níl sé éascawhat was it like? cé mar a bhí sé?, cad é mar a bhí sé?, conas a bhí sé?I hope it works tá súil agam go n-oibreoidh séit won't happen again ní tharlóidh sé arísit's an absolute disgrace is náire shaolta é► (as object of verb or preposition)
they won't do it again ní dhéanfaidh siad arís éI can't stand it níl mé in ann cur suas leis, níl mé ábalta é a fhulaingtI don't believe it ní chreidim éshe's taking it easy tá sí á thógáil go réidhstop it! éirigh as!he thinks he knows it all síleann sé go bhfuil deireadh gach eolais aigeI don't believe in it ní chreidim annlet us deal with it lig dúinne déileáil leisI'll apply for it cuirfidh mé isteach airthat's only the start of it níl ann sin ach a thús 14 pronoun placesé sí é í 'Where is Lough Derg?' 'It's in Donegal.' 'Cá bhfuil Loch Dearg?' 'Tá sé i dTír Chonaill.'that's Scotland over there, can you see it? sin Albain thall ansin, an bhfeiceann tú í? 15 pronoun informal necessary qualitysé é either you've got it or you haven't tá sé agat nó níl sé agat 16 pronoun informal alluresé é she still has it tá mealladh na bhfear inti fós 17 pronoun very informal sexsé é did you do it with him? an ndearna tú leis é?, ar bhuail tú craiceann leis? 18 (also 'it') pronoun in children's chasing gamewho's 'it'? cé atá 'air'?