Cluin (to hear)
Conjugation and usage of the Irish irregular verb 'cluin' (to hear), which is primarily used in Ulster Irish.
The verb cluin means “to hear”. It is one of the eleven irregular verbs in Irish. Its irregularity is confined to the past tense (preterite), which uses the distinct stem chuala. In all other tenses, it follows a regular conjugation pattern.
This verb is primarily used in Ulster Irish; the more common standard verb is clois, which shares the same irregular past tense.
Conjugation
Present Tense
- Cluinim an ceol sin. - I hear that music.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st sg. | cluinim |
| 2nd sg. | cluineann tú |
| 3rd sg. | cluineann sé/sí |
| 1st pl. | cluinimid |
| 2nd pl. | cluineann sibh |
| 3rd pl. | cluineann siad |
| Autonomous | cluintear |
Past Tense (Preterite)
The past tense uses the irregular stem chuala.
- Chuala mé an scéal aréir. - I heard the story last night.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st sg. | chuala mé |
| 2nd sg. | chuala tú |
| 3rd sg. | chuala sé/sí |
| 1st pl. | chualamar |
| 2nd pl. | chuala sibh |
| 3rd pl. | chuala siad |
| Autonomous | chualathas |
Imperfect Tense
- Chluininn an clog gach maidin. - I used to hear the clock every morning.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st sg. | chluininn |
| 2nd sg. | chluinteá |
| 3rd sg. | chluineadh sé/sí |
| 1st pl. | chluinimis |
| 2nd pl. | chluineadh sibh |
| 3rd pl. | chluinidís |
| Autonomous | chluintí |
Future Tense
- Cluinfidh tú an nuacht amárach. - You will hear the news tomorrow.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st sg. | cluinfidh mé |
| 2nd sg. | cluinfidh tú |
| 3rd sg. | cluinfidh sé/sí |
| 1st pl. | cluinfimid |
| 2nd pl. | cluinfidh sibh |
| 3rd pl. | cluinfidh siad |
| Autonomous | cluinfear |
Conditional Mood
- Chluinfeá an difríocht dá mbeifeá anseo. - You would hear the difference if you were here.
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st sg. | chluinfinn |
| 2nd sg. | chluinfeá |
| 3rd sg. | chluinfeadh sé/sí |
| 1st pl. | chluinfimis |
| 2nd pl. | chluinfeadh sibh |
| 3rd pl. | chluinfidís |
| Autonomous | chluinfí |
Imperative Mood
- Cluinigí go cúramach! - Listen carefully! (plural)
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
| 1st sg. | cluinim |
| 2nd sg. | cluin |
| 3rd sg. | cluineadh sé/sí |
| 1st pl. | cluinimis |
| 2nd pl. | cluinigí |
| 3rd pl. | cluinidís |
| Autonomous | cluintear |
Subjunctive Mood
The subjunctive is used in certain clauses, often after particles like go (that) or dá (if).
- D’iarr sé go gcluine mé an t-amhrán. - He asked that I hear the song.
| Tense | Person | Form |
|---|---|---|
| Present | 1st sg. | go gcluine mé |
| 2nd sg. | go gcluine tú | |
| 3rd sg. | go gcluine sé/sí | |
| 1st pl. | go gcluinimid | |
| 2nd pl. | go gcluine sibh | |
| 3rd pl. | go gcluine siad | |
| Autonomous | go gcluintear | |
| Past | 1st sg. | dá gcluininn |
| 2nd sg. | dá gcluinteá | |
| 3rd sg. | dá gcluineadh sé/sí | |
| 1st pl. | dá gcluinimis | |
| 2nd pl. | dá gcluineadh sibh | |
| 3rd pl. | dá gcluinidís | |
| Autonomous | dá gcluintí |
Derived Forms
Verbal Noun
The verbal noun is cluinstin.
- Is maith liom a bheith ag cluinstin ceoil. - I like listening to music.
The genitive case of the verbal noun is cluinstine.
Verbal Adjective
The verbal adjective is cluinte. It means “heard” and is often used to form the perfect tenses with the verb bí.
- Tá an scéal sin cluinte agam cheana. - I have heard that story already. (Literally: “That story is heard by me already.”)