ar

Past Question Particle

Level 2

Ar forms many simple-past questions: Ar léigh tú é? Contrast irregular patterns such as An raibh tú ann?

How It Works

Ar forms many simple-past questions: Ar léigh tú é? Contrast irregular patterns such as An raibh tú ann?

Ar asks about many completed past actions. In these regular examples it is followed by the appropriate lenited form, or a vowel-initial form without affirmative d'. Some irregular verbs instead use an with a dependent past stem.

Examples (3)

  1. Ar léigh tú an litir?

    Did you read the letter?

  2. Ar bhris sé an cupán?

    Did he break the cup?

  3. Ar ól sí tae?

    Did she drink tea?

How It Connects

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

arLevel 2Past Question Particle

Learn This First

Compare the past question particle with the related negative past frame.

Words in This Pattern