Conjugation of the verb Bee (ta) in Manx

The verb Bee

One of the first things you’ll notice in Manx is how often the word ta appears. That’s no coincidence: ta is probably the most important verb in the whole language.

1. Ta means “to be”

You use it to say where someone or something is, or how someone feels. It’s the present tense form of the verb bee (to be).

• Ta mee mie = I am well / I feel good
• Ta eh ayn = He is here

2. Ta as a helper verb

In many sentences, ta works together with another word or verb. What in English would often be a single verb is expressed in Manx as ta + a form.

• Ta mee goll = I’m going (literally: I am going)
• Ta shin ny soie = We’re sitting (literally: We are sitting)

It looks like the English continuous (I am going), but in Manx this is the default way to say it.

3. Ta always comes first

Manx usually follows a Verb–Subject–Object (VSO) order. That’s why ta almost always comes at the very beginning of the sentence.

• Ta mee mie = I am well
• Ta shiu ayn = You (plural/polite) are here

4. Shortened forms with pronouns

Because ta so often comes right before a pronoun, the two usually blend together into a shorter form.

• ta + eh → t’eh (he is)
• ta + ish → t’ish (she is)
• ta + ad → t’ad (they are)

Short vs. long forms

In Manx, you’ll sometimes see two versions of the same pronoun, such as T’eh / T’eshyn (“he is”). The difference is between the short form and the emphatic form:

• Short form (t’eh, t’ish, t’ad): used in everyday sentences and casual speech. This is the form you’ll hear most often.
• Long form (t’eshyn, t’ish, t’adsyn): used when you want to put extra emphasis on someone, or contrast one person with another.

Example:

• T’eh ayn. – He is here. (neutral)
• T’eshyn ayn, cha nee ish. – He is here, not her. (emphatic)

In practice, you’ll hear the short forms most of the time, but it’s useful to recognize the longer emphatic forms as well.