Somebody is coming. Beiḋfar ag siuḃal, Somebody will be walking. Nuair ṁoṫuiġ an t‑aṫaċ go raḃṫas ag ceangailt a ċos, When the giant perceived that they were binding his legs.
The Irish Autonomous form cannot be literally translated into English, because no exact counterpart exists in English, hence the usual method of translating this form is to use the English passive voice, but the Irish verb is not therefore passive. To give an instance of the incapability of the English language to express literally the force of the Autonomous verb, notice the English translation of the subjoined example of the continued use of the Autonomous verb in an Irish sentence.
“Áit ana-aereaċ is eaḋ an áit sin: nuair ḃítear ag gaḃáil an treo sain i n‑am mairḃ na h‑oiḋċe, airiġtear coisiḋeaċt d’á déanaṁ ⁊ foṫrom mar ḃeifiḋe ag riṫ ⁊ foṫrom eile mar ḃeifiḋe ag teiċeaḋ, ⁊ annsain airiġtear foṫrom mar ṫiocfaiḋe suas ⁊ mar ḃuailfiḋe ⁊ mar ḃeifiḋe faoi ḃualaḋ ⁊ mar ḃrisfiḋe, ⁊ annsain airiġtear mar ḃeaḋ dearg-ruaṫar ⁊ tóir.”
This passage cannot be literally translated: the following will give a fair idea of its meaning: “That place is frequented by fairies: when one is walking near it in the dead stillness of the night, footsteps are heard and loud noises, as if people were running and fleeing, and then other noises are heard as if people were overtaking (those who were running away), and were striking and being struck, and as if they were being broken in pieces, and then are heard noises as if they were in hot rout and pursuit.”
