ní raibh / an raibh

Negative and Question Past of Bí

Level 2

Use Ní raibh mé ann and An raibh tú ann? The dependent form raibh follows these particles.

How It Works

Use Ní raibh mé ann and An raibh tú ann? The dependent form raibh follows these particles.

Raibh is used after the negative ní and the question particle an in the past of bí. Thus Bhí tú ann becomes An raibh tú ann? and Ní raibh tú ann. These use an and ní, unlike the ar and níor pattern of many regular past verbs.

Examples (3)

  1. Ní raibh mé ann.

    I was not there.

  2. An raibh tú sa bhaile?

    Were you at home?

  3. Ní raibh an siopa ar oscailt.

    The shop was not open.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

ní raibh / an raibhLevel 2Negative and Question Past of Bí

Learn This First

Contrast independent bhí with its dependent past negative and question.

Words in This Pattern

níanbí