Tá and Bíonn both mean ‘to be’. • They can also mean ‘there is’ or ‘there are’.
• In Hiberno-English (the English spoken in Ireland), people sometimes say ‘does be’ and ‘do be’ to reflect the meaning of Bíonn. tá mé / táim tá tú
tá sé/sí nílim
an bhfuilim? Tá
• We use Tá if the action is taking place now; if something is a fact, or even if the speaker thinks it is a fact. o Tá an rang Gaeilge ar siúl anois. / The Irish class is on now. o Tá Nua-Eabhrac i Meiriceá. / New York is in America. o Tá mé go hiontach. / I am great.
• Tá is often used with the following phrases: o anois / now o inniu / today o faoi láthair / at the moment
Bíonn • We use Bíonn if the action takes place regularly. o Bíonn ranganna Gaeilge ar siúl gach lá. / Irish classes take place every day. o Bíonn sé fuar i Nua-Eabhrac sa gheimhreadh. / It is cold in New York in winter. o Bím/Bímse cúramach i gcónaí. / I am always careful.
• Bíonn is often used with the following time phrases: o i gcónaí / always o de ghnáth / usually o go rialta / regularly o go minic / often o uaireanta / sometimes o riamh / ever/never
• Bíonn is often used with time phrases that use gach: o gach lá / every day o gach bliain / every year o gach céad bliain / every century
