Tá ceist beagáinín orm. So... "an mbeifeá i do Vailintín dom" makes sense to me. Got it.

But what if you want to use a different noun for love/term of endearment/sweetie there? Do you still need the "i do" ?

"An mbeifeá (?) dom" (Fíorghrá, searc, cara, leannán, etc.)

Yes...you'd need either "i do" or "mar," since you're using "bí."

Redwolf

So you can only skip the "i do" if you're using an adjective? (which is describing bí)

Ex: An mbeifeá (saor)?

Yes. You need the "i do" if you're saying what someone is (or, in this case, "would be") using a form of "bí." It's the same rule that you may be more familiar with in the simple present tense with "tá." (You can't say "tá mé múinteoir," for example. You have to say either "tá mé i mo mhúinteoir" or "is múinteoir mé"). But when you're saying what someone is like or describing his state or condition using adjectives (tá mé saor, bhí sí go hálainn, beidh sé tinn, etc.), you don't need that special construction.

"An mbeifeá" is simply the interrogative form of the conditional mode of "bí," so it follows the same rules.

Redwolf

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