Why does the verb come at the end of the sentence sometimes?

[zzxjoanw]

If I wanted to say “I like speaking Irish” that would be “Is maith liom an Ghaeilge a labhairt”, right? Is that only for modal verbs, or does it happen in any sentence with two verbs, ie “I’m going over there and getting some food.”?

[Cúnla]

“Labhairt” there isn’t really syntactically a verb but a verbal noun (i.e., a noun based on the verb). The “a” that’s before it is historically a worn-down form of the preposition “do” (“do” and “dh’” are still found in this position in places in Munster, and “dh’” in places in Ulster, actually).

And there are lots of possible ways you could say your other sentence, e.g., “tá mé ag goil anonn go bhfaighe mé greim len ithe.”

[Cúnla]

…And there I unthinkingly ended that sentence with another verbal noun.

Another way you could say it:

“Tá mé ag goil anonn go bhfaighe mé greim bia.”

[Seáiní]

…And there I unthinkingly ended that sentence with another verbal noun.

Another way you could say it:

“Tá mé ag goil anonn go bhfaighe mé greim bia.”

Agree completely with above.

May be this example will help you, remember it’s a verbal noun coming at the end not the verb.

Tá mé ag dul anonn chun greim bia a fháil.
I am going over there to get a bite to eat.

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