níl

Negative Present of Bí

Level 1

Níl negates tá: Níl mé tuirseach. Do not add ní directly to tá to form the standard negative.

How It Works

Níl negates tá: Níl mé tuirseach. Do not add ní directly to tá to form the standard negative.

Níl is the present negative of bí. Keep the same subject and descriptive phrase as in the affirmative: Tá mé réidh becomes Níl mé réidh. The standard question asks An bhfuil...? and a negative answer can simply repeat Níl.

Examples (3)

  1. Níl mé tuirseach.

    I am not tired.

  2. Níl an siopa ar oscailt.

    The shop is not open.

  3. Níl siad anseo.

    They are not here.

How It Connects

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

nílLevel 1Negative Present of Bí

Learn This First

Recognize a present state with tá before learning its negative níl.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

bíníl