An Sionnach Glic wrote:
Hi I just have a quick question here,
I wanted to say "it(the moon) shines", can I say "teastaíonn sí"? I don't see that usually and instead often see "tá sí ag teastáil" but the first one sounds much better in a poem I'm writing so I was wondering if it's acceptable
First off, that verb doesn't mean "shine". The verb you want is
soilsigh. Secondly, the two verb forms you asked about have different purposes, as in English (though the second form exists in very few other European languages).
The first is for habitual action [which happens regularly, but is not necessarily happening right now]:
Soilsíonn an ghealachThe moon shiines
Soilsíonn síIt shines
The second form is the "present progressive", for action which is underway right now:
Tá an ghealach ag soilsiúThe moon is shining
Tá sí ag soilsiúIt is shining