A word that signifies to be, to do, or to suffer anything, is called a _Verb_.
The Verb in Gaelic, as in other languages, is declined by Voices, Moods, Tenses, Numbers, and Persons.
The _Voices_ are two: Active and Passive.
The _Moods_ are five: the Affirmative or Indicative, the Negative or Interrogative, the Subjunctive, the Imperative, and the Infinitive. Many, but not all, Transitive Verbs have a Passive Participle.
The _Tenses_ are three: the Present, the Preterite, and the Future.
The _Numbers_ are two: Singular and Plural.
The _Persons_ are three: First, Second, and Third. The { 66} distinction of number and person takes place only in a few tenses.
The inflections of Verbs, like those of nouns, are made by changes at the beginning, and on the termination.
The changes on the termination are made according to one model, and by the same rules. But for the sake of stating some diversity in the _initial_ changes, it may be convenient to arrange the verbs in two _conjugations_, whereof the first comprehends those verbs which begin with a consonant, the second, those verbs which begin with a vowel. Verbs beginning with _f_, followed by a vowel, are ranged under the second conjugation, along with verbs beginning with a vowel.
The verb Bi _be_, which is used as an auxiliary to other verbs, is declined as follows:--
Present. Preterite. Future. _Sing._ _Sing._ _Sing._ 1. Ta mi, _I am_, Bha mi, _I was_, Bithidh mi, _I will be_, 2. Ta thu, Bha thu, Bithidh tu, 3. Ta e; Bha e; Bithidh se;
_Plur._ _Plur._ _Plur._ 1. Ta sinn, Bha sinn, Bithidh sinn, 2. Ta sibh, Bha sibh, Bithidh sibh, 3. Ta iad. Bha iad. Bithidh siad.
Present. Preterite. _Sing._ _Sing._ { 1 Bheil mi, _I am not,_ Robh mi, _I was not,_ ni { 2 Bheil thu, Robh thu, cha { 3 Bheil e; Robh e; nach { mur, { _Plur._ _Plur._ &c. { 1 Bheil sinn, Robh sinn, { 2 Bheil sibh, Robh sibh, { 3 Bheil iad. Robh iad.
Future. _Sing._ { Bi mi, _I shall not be_, ni { Bi thu, cha { Bi se; nach { mur, { _Plur._ &c. { Bi sinn, { Bi sibh, { Bi siad.
Preterite or Imperfect. Future. _Sing._ _Sing._ 1 Bhithinn, _I would be_, Ma bhitheas mi, _If I shall be_, 2 Bhitheadh tu, Bhitheas tu, 3 Bhitheadh e; Bhitheas e;
_Plur._ _Plur._ 1 Bhitheadheamaid, Bhitheas sinn, Bhitheadh sinn, 2 Bhitheadh sibh, Bhitheas sibh, 3 Bhitheadh iad. Bhitheas iad.