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SeallagainGaelicGrammarataGlance
by
CatrìonaNicÌomhairParsons
CONTINUINGEDUCATION,UNIVERSITYOFOTAGOMĀTARAKAAUROA,TEWHAREWĀNANGAOOTĀGO
OtepotiDunedin,AotearoaNewZealand
2016
Publishedin2016by
CONTINUINGEDUCATION,UNIVERSITYOFOTAGOMĀTARAKAAUROA,TEWHAREWĀNANGAOOTĀGO
OTEPOTIDUNEDIN,AOTEAROANEWZEALANDEditedbyAindriasHirt
Seallagain:GaelicGrammarataGlance©2016CatrìonaNicÌomhairParsons
ISBN978-0-9952632-0-8:book(sizeA4)ISBN978-0-9952632-1-5:electronicbookISBN978-0-9952632-2-2:book(sizeU.S.Letter)
Thecoverartofatarge,aGaelicshield,wasinspiredbytheScottishtargethoughttocommemoratethefoundingoftheGaelicSocietyofNewZealandinDunedin,1881,andheldattheToitüOtagoSettlersMuseum,Dunedin.Inscribedon this targe are thewords “ComunnGaidhealach,N.Z. 1881. FarAmFaigheadhCoigreachBaigh”(GaelicSociety,N.Z.1881.Wherethestrangerwouldreceivekindness).
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ThisbookisdedicatedtothememoryofDrs.EvelynRobertsonEntwistle(1930-2016)andRobertEntwistle(1930-2016).Evelyn,borninGlasgow,Scotland,andRobert,borninCarlisle,justacrosstheEnglishborder,metwhiletheywereuniversitystudentsinDundee; theymarried in 1956, and in 1961, emigrated to Dunedin, New Zealand.Evelyn and Bob both taught at the University of Otago, she in the field of TextileChemistryandheinNuclearPhysics.
BothwerefaithfulandhardworkingmembersoftheGaelicSocietyuntilitsclosurein2006.In1973,aftertakingontheleadershipoftheGaelicChoir,EvelynattendedaGaelicSchoolinStornoway,Lewis,interestedasshewasintheGaeliclanguageandintentonensuringauthenticpronunciationbythechoir.BobservedasChiefoftheGaelicSociety1976-78,1984,2000,and2004-06whileEvelynservedasChiefin1986.
v
INTRODUCTION
IfirstheardaboutGaeliclanguageandsongteacherCatrionaParsonsinJanuary2013whenLiamMcIlvanney,theStuartProfessorofScottishStudiesattheUniversityofOtago,askedmeto consider offering her intensive Scottish Gaelic Language course during Summer School2014.WeanticipatedthatmanyinDunedinwithScottishheritagewouldwelcomethechancetostudyGaelic,andsoitproved.CatrionataughttheContinuingEducationGaeliclanguagecoursethefollowingsummertoasmallbutenthusiasticgroup,gettingthemtonotonlyspeakinGaelic,buttosinginitaswell.ItwaswonderfultobringtheGaeliclanguagetoDunedin,inspiringpeopleheretoread,write,andspeakinthisancientlanguage.
WhenCatrionareturnedtoteachduringthe2016SummerSchool,shenotonlytaughtthescheduled course, but an additional Gaelic language course that attracted an even largergroupofeager learners.Thesestudentsweresoenthusiastic theykeptmeetingforweeksafterthecoursehadfinished.Inspiredbyagreatteacheraswellasloveofthislanguage,thegroupnowwanttokeeplearningandisresurrectingtheGaelicSocietyofNewZealandastheGaelicSocietyofOtago.
Overthesummerof2016,CatrionastayedoncampusintheSummerSchoolaccommodationprovidedbyUniversityCollege,tothedelightofallinhabitants.Gaelicwasheardinthatdininghallmanytimes,aspoetry,song,andgreetingspepperedtheconversation.GaelicwasalsoheardintheUniversityStaffClubwhereCatrionaconnectedoverafternoonteawithpoetSueWootton andher students studying “Poetry in theCity of Literature”, another ContinuingEducationcourse.Therewasgreatsynergybetweenthesegroups–Iguessit’sthepowerofwords to connect and inspire. And I don’t know if it’s Catriona’s love of Gaelic, ofcommunicating,orofpeoplethatwarmseveryonewhocomesincontactwithher.Probablyit’sallthree.Butwhateveritis,thisrichlanguagelivesagainintheSouthlargelyduetohergenerosityandefforts.
WearetrulyhonouredandgratefulthatCatrionahaschosentosharethiswonderfullanguageresource,andIamdelightedtosupportthispublication.
Thasinna’toirttaingdoChatrionaairsonnanoidhirpeanaiceagus’seardùrachdgusoirbhichleatha’sanàmriteachd.
DrElaineWebster June,2016
Director,SummerSchool&ContinuingEducationUniversityofOtagoDunedin,NewZealand
vii
FOREWORD
WhentheScotleaveshisnativelandtogofurthofScotlandandsettleinsome other part of the world, he invariably takes his culture and hiscustomswithhim,andthishasbeentotheadvantageandbenefitoftherestoftheworld…TheGaeliclanguagehasitsrootsinantiquity;itwastheancient language of Scotland and even in this changing world is stillpreservedandtreasuredinsomepartsoftheHighlands.Indeedthereisarevivalof interest intheoldtonguealloverScotlandandnotonly inScotlandbutinmanypartsoftheworldthebondoflanguageisholdingmanycommunitiestogether.AHighlanderfindsinGaelica languageinwhich he can better express his inmost thoughts and emotions, andappreciatehisancienttraditionsandculture…
In1981,whenWilliamBrown,M.B.E.pennedthesewordsintheforewordtotheCentennialBook of the Gaelic Society of New Zealand, the Gaelic language in Scotland was indeedbeginning toexperiencea resurgence;and itwasn’t long toobeforeanewanddedicatedeffortwasunderwaytomaintainandadvancethelanguageinNovaScotia,Canada,theonlyplaceoutsideScotlandwherealivingGaeliccommunityhasprevailed.Ittooksometimeandmucheffort,butintheGaelicLanguage(Scotland)Act2005,GaelicwasfinallygrantedequalstatuswithEnglish;andin2006,theNovaScotiaOfficeofGaelicAffairswasinstitutedbytheprovincialgovernment.
Ahundredyearsearlier,in1881,thoseGaelswhowereamongtheFreeChurchofScotlandimmigrantstotheOtagoPeninsula,andwhowouldhelptobuildthecityofDunedinandfoundtheUniversityofOtago,setforthaplanfortheformationoftheNewZealandGaelicSociety.Its chief objectiveswere “to foster andperpetuate theGaelic language, to encourage thecultivationofGaelicliteratureandmusic,toestablishbranchsocietiesthroughoutthecolonyofNewZealand,togenerallytakecognisanceofallmatterswhichmaybeconsideredofspecialinteresttoHighlanders”.
Inthecenturybetween,theNewZealandGaelicSocietycontinuedtomeetandadvanceitsprinciples.ThecentennialhistoryoftheSociety,writtenbyEvelynEntwistle,includesalistoftheSocietyChiefs,thirty-threeinallfrom1881tothe1980s,amongthemsomeimportantGaels inNewZealandhistory.We learnof thenotablepipers,dancers,Gaelic singersandBardsthattheSocietyboastedthroughtheyears;andpicturesthroughoutthehistorybringusintotheworldofthesocietyinapersonalway.ThishistorydescribesasignificantpartofNewZealand’sGaelicheritage;andadebtofgratitudeisowedtosuchmembersasDrs.RobertandEvelynEntwistle,bothofwhosefuneralsIattendedinDunedininearly2016,fortheirfaithfulness inpromoting theSociety into the21st century.Thisbookrepresentsamodestefforttoacknowledgetheircontribution.
Ibelievethatthey,togetherwiththefoundersandmembersoftheSocietythroughtheyears,wouldrejoicethatintoday’sworld,descendantsofimmigrantGaelscanreachouttoeachotherandsharetheirloveoftheGaeliclanguageanditscultureinglobalcommunity:fromScotlandtosuchplacesasSeattle,Washington,andGrandfatherMountain,NorthCarolina,inthe United States; to Vancouver and Toronto, and Nova Scotia, Canada; to Sydney, Cape
viii
Breton,Canada,andSydney,Australia;andfromalloftheseplaces–andmanymore–toNewZealand.Letuscelebrateourjointheritageandcommunicateourdelightinit,throughoursharedknowledgeoftheGaeliclanguage.
My grateful thanks are dueAindriasHirt for formatting the text and recording theGaelicphrases;andtoDr.ElaineWebsteroftheUniversityofOtagoContinuingEducationprogramforsupportingthisprojectfromthebeginning.
CatrìonaNicÌomhairParsons June,2016
BeforeYouBegin
AsyouenterupontheadventureoflearningScottishGaelic,Irecommendthatyoudosowithamindopentoallkindsofpossibilities.Youwillencounterthemindofapeoplewithaworld-viewexemplifiedintheverystructureoftheirlanguage:infact,alllanguagesgivecluestothewayof thinkingof thosewho speak them.Some languages, for instance, suggest that thepassageoftimemaynotbeverymeaningful inthespecificculture.ThestructuresyouwillfindinGaelicarebothlogicalandexpressive:thoughGaelichasnoverb“tohave”,yetitcanindicate ownership by using the verb “to be” together with the simple preposition “at”declinedforperson–aneatandefficientwayofhandlingit!
Ialsorecommendthatyoutakeyourtimeandseektograspandunderstandthepatternsofthelanguageastheyareunveiled,stepbystep,glimpsebyglimpse,togetherwithpracticeofthesoundsandphrasesasheardontherecording.Ifyouarelearningtogetherwithagroup,somuch thebetter.Gradually, youwillbeable to formulateyourownsentences,both inspeechandwriting;youwillbecomeaccustomedtotheverbprecedingthesubject,theuseoflenition,the“possessionprinciple”,andthewaythatGaelicmakesuseofhowthevowelsinfluence pronunciation of consonants to handle grammatical differences—in noundeclensions,forinstance–bàrd:apoet;bàird:poets.Thetitleofthistextfollowsthesamepattern–seallagan:aglimpse,aglance;seallagain:glimpses,glances.
WhilethisbookintendstotakethenewlearnerthroughthestructuresofGaelicstepbystep,itwill also beuseful for the advanced learnerwhoneeds to confirm specific grammaticalpointssoastodevelopgreaterconfidencebothinspeechandwriting.
IndividualsofGaelicancestrythroughouttheworldarelearningtheirancestrallanguage;inthis mobile world, the world of the internet, you will become part of a global Gaeliccommunity.
Gusoirbhichgumathleat!Allsuccesstoyou!
ix
TABLEOFCONTENTS
Introduction......................................................................................................................vForeword........................................................................................................................viiTheBasicGaelicSentence.................................................................................................1TheArticle.........................................................................................................................1ThePersonalPronoun.......................................................................................................2Gender..............................................................................................................................2Lenition.............................................................................................................................3Pronunciation....................................................................................................................3OpenandCloseVowels.....................................................................................................4Backto“h”........................................................................................................................5Names...............................................................................................................................6Greeting............................................................................................................................6FurtheronSoundandStructure…......................................................................................7HowAreYou?...................................................................................................................8Basic(Substantive)Verb“ToBe”.......................................................................................8Questions........................................................................................................................10Cleachdadh(Practice)......................................................................................................11EmphaticEndings............................................................................................................12TheCopula......................................................................................................................13VerbalNouns..................................................................................................................13MoreonLenition.............................................................................................................14Cleachdadh:Eadar-theangachadh(Translation)..............................................................15Moreonthe“Small”,SimplePrepositions.......................................................................16ContinuingwiththeSimplePrepositions.........................................................................17IdiomaticExpressions......................................................................................................19Prepositions....................................................................................................................21MorePrepositions...........................................................................................................21EmphaticPerfectPast......................................................................................................23VerbalNounRootsandPastTenseofRegularVerbs.......................................................24ScottishGaelicStructure.................................................................................................26PossessivePronouns.......................................................................................................27ThePossessivePronounwithAnn...................................................................................29TheCopula:the“Assertive”Verb“ToBe”.......................................................................31ThePast/ConditionalTenseoftheCopula.......................................................................33RegularVerbs:FutureTense...........................................................................................34TheConditionalTense:a)BasicVerb“ToBe”;andb)RegularVerbs...............................37IF-Clauses........................................................................................................................38ReturningtotheDefiniteArticleandtotheNouns..........................................................40Continuingwiththe1stDeclensionMasculine+theArticle..............................................41TheFirstDeclensionMasculinewithDefiniteArticle,Continued.....................................44TheFirstDeclensionMasculinewithAdjectives...............................................................46TheFirstDeclensionFeminine.........................................................................................48TheFirstDeclensionFemininewithAdjectives................................................................49The“Small”Declensions..................................................................................................51
x
AddendumtothePossessive(Genitive)Case..................................................................55IrregularVerbs:ThePastTense......................................................................................57IrregularVerbs:TheFutureTense...................................................................................61IrregularVerbs:TheConditionalTense...........................................................................65TwoIncompleteVerbs:May,Must.................................................................................68ThePassiveVoice:RegularVerbs....................................................................................70ThePassiveVoice:IrregularVerbs..................................................................................71Alternative“Passive”Formswitha’dol...........................................................................74Modals............................................................................................................................75TheCardinalNumbers:Traditional.................................................................................77TheOrdinalNumbers:Traditional...................................................................................80TheWatch,Timepiece:TheClock...................................................................................81SubordinateClauses........................................................................................................82NounClauses...................................................................................................................83ConsequentialandConditionalClauses...........................................................................83ConcessiveClauses..........................................................................................................84AdverbialClauses............................................................................................................84IndirectQuestions...........................................................................................................85ComparisonofAdjectives................................................................................................86Briathrana’ghràmair:GrammaticalTerms.....................................................................90Faclan:Vocabulary.........................................................................................................92
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1 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEBASICGAELICSENTENCE
FIRST,thinkofgrammarastheuniquebuildingblocksorSTRUCTURESthatallowyoutomakemeaningfulutterancesinthatlanguage,oranylanguagethatyouchoose.Ifyou’reanadultandhaven’tlearnedGaelicatmother-knee,andevenifyouhave,soonerorlateryou’llhavetoconfrontstructureandhowthestructuresofGaelicandEnglisharedifferent.Sowe’llstartatthebeginning,bearinginmindthatwe’reonlytalkingBASICSnow:
WhileEnglishisa SUBJECT Verb Object (SVO)language
JIM woke John Gaelicisa VERB Subject Object (VSO)language
DHÙISG Seumas Iain
Andifyouwanttosay“JOHNwokeJim”inGaelic,itbecomesDHÙISGIainSeumas.Yousimplyswitch“Seumas”and“Iain”.ThesubjectALWAYScomesaftertheverbinGaelic,and,ifthere’sadirectobject –becauseobjectsmaybeabsent, it almostALWAYS comes right after thesubject.
2 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEARTICLE
SECOND,beginnersmayhaveahardtimegettingtheirheadsaroundtheideathatGaeliconlyhasaDEFINITEARTICLE (“the”inEnglish)withthenoun*andhasNO INDEFINITEARTICLE(“a”or“an”inEnglish).Thetroubleis,theselasttwolittleEnglishwordslookawfullylikeformsoftheGaelicDEFINITEARTICLE(a’,an)!Obh!Obh!(Gaelicgroan).Forexample:
Dhùisgcatcù:Acatwokeadog–admittedlynotalikelysentence!
NotethereisNOarticlewiththeindefinitenouninGaelic,onlythebarenounitself–but,ofcourse,theremaybeanadjectiveortwo!
Nowcomparethesamesentencewithadefinitearticleadded:
DhùisgANcatANcù:THEcatwokeTHEdog
Ciamarachanassibh…(Howdoyousay),“Thedogwokethecat”?
Ceart!Right!
Moreonthearticlelater...
*Anounisagrammaticaltermdesignatingawordthatnamessomething;averbdesignatesawordthatdenotesanaction.
2
3 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEPERSONALPRONOUN
HerearethebasicpersonalpronounsinGaelic:
Singular/Singilte Plural/Iolra
FIRSTPERSON mi I,me sinn we,us
SECONDPERSON thu you(thou) sibh you(alsoformal)
THIRDPERSONe he,him,it
iad they,themi she,her,it
Neat,isn’tit?HerewehavegreatersimplicityinGaelicthaninEnglish.InEnglish,thepersonalpronounchangesitsform,forallbutthesecondperson,whenitisthedirectobject inthesentence (I➾me; he➾ himwe➾ us, etc.). But inGaelic, thedirect object formof thepersonalpronounretainsthesameformasthesubject.SO–rememberingwhatyoulearnedaboveaboutbasicGaelicsentencestructure–putEnglish“on”thefollowing:Dhùisgmithu,Dhùisgthumi,Dhùisgsibhiad,Dhùisgiade,Dhùisgisinn.
NOW…putGaeliconthefollowing:
Wewokeyou.Iwokethem.Youwokeher.Hewokeme.Jimwokeus.TheywokeIain.
Yes–sometimesGaelicislesscomplexinformthanEnglish.Butyouarealreadyawarethatithasitsowncomplexities!That’swhenthefunreallybegins.
Gusanaththuras…untilthenexttime…
4 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
GENDER
Nodoubtyoupaidattentiontothepersonalpronoun(thirdperson,singular)andnoticed:
e:he,him,it i:she,her,it
Yes– likeFrench,modernGaelichasnoneuter;nounsareeither treatedasmasculineorfeminine.This is calledGRAMMATICALGENDER,unlike thevastmajorityofEnglishnounswhichhaveNATURALGENDER.
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5 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
LENITION
You’remostlikelyalreadyawarethatsomethinginterestingandun-EnglishhappenswiththeletterhinGaelic.Inthefirstplace,GaelichastomakedowitheighteenlettersoftheRomanalphabetinsteadofthetwenty-sixthatEnglishuses:abcdefg[h]ilmnoprstuandofthese,thefollowingistrue:
h is usedas agrammaticalmarkerwhen it immediately followsan initial consonant; forexample,itmayindicatethepasttenseformofaregularverb:seehowtheinsertionofhtransformsthemeaninginthefollowing:
Dùisg!:Wake(up)! DùisgSeumas!:WakeJim(up)!
Noticethattheverbwithouthistheimperativeform(moreonthiswhenwelookatverbsmore closely). Add h after the initial consonant (which indicates that the pronunciationchanges),andyouhavethepasttense:
DhùisgSeumas:Jimwoke. DhùisgSeumasIain:JimwokeIain.
SO…you’regoingtofindhoccurringlikeacolourinatapestrybutalwaysstrategicallywhenit followsan initial consonant. The insertionofh in spelling indicatesa transformationofsound.Thisphenomenoniscalledlenitionbymodernlinguists;itsoldernameisaspiration.NotrueGaelicwordbeginswithh.
NOTE:theconsonantsl,n,rareexemptfrombeingsucceededbyh.Sotheconsonantswhichmay“suffer”lenitionare:b,c,d,f,g,m,p,s,t.
Moreonhlater...
6 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
PRONUNCIATION
PronunciationsofGaelicwordsarealwayspuzzlingto theuninitiated.But there’sakeytoeverypuzzle,eveninlanguages!InGaelic,contiguoussounds(soundsthatfolloweachotherdirectly)influenceeachothertoafargreaterdegreethaninEnglish.Let’sstartwiththevowelsounds:
Open¬
Close®
“TheBackVowels” a o u (Broad/VelarVowels)
“TheFrontVowels” e i (Slender/PalatalVowels)
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Theoldgrammarianssawthatthereweretwomainsetsofvowels:a,o,anduarepronouncedwiththebackof thetongueslightly raised,whichtheycalledthe“broad”vowels;modernlinguistsrefertothemasbackvowels.Vowelsiandearepronouncedwiththefrontpartofthetongueslightlyraised,theso-called“slender”vowels;modernlinguistsrefertothemasfrontvowels.Progressiveroundingofthelipstransformsaintooandthenu.Inboth“lines”ofvowels,asthetonguesqueezesagainsttheroofofthemouth,itpinchesthesound,makingvowelsmore“close”.Asthetonguedrops,thethroatbecomesmore“open”.
Theconsonantsc,d,g,l,n,s,andtareparticularlyinfluencedbyadjacentvowels:
cù ceart dà dé làn leann nòs nead
guth gin sonas sìth tùs teth
ComparethetwoGaelicwords:cala céilidh
Noticehowinthefirstword,thelhasaback/broadvowelbeforeit(a)andafterit(a);inthesecondword,thelhasafront/slendervowelbeforeit(i)andafterit(i).Thespellinggivesusunequivocal informationonhow topronounce the l inbetween.Notice thatwhencala ispronounced,thetipofthetonguestrikesthetopteethbutthetonguespreadsinthebacktomakethespecificback l-sound; the l incéilidh is like theEnglishsound in“let”wherethetonguetiptouchesthealveolarridge(toothridge).Theoldgrammariansdubbedthisspellingrule:Caolricaol,leathannrileathannor“Slendertoslender,broadtobroad”.Soconsonantsmustbeflankedinspellingbyvowelsofthesametype(eitherfrontorback).ThisexplainswhyGaelicwordssometimesseemtohaveonetoomanyvowelsinthespelling!However,thefinaleispronouncedinGaelic.
7 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
OPENANDCLOSEVOWELS
Stillonvowels…Youwillhavenoticedtheuseofgrave(`)andacute(´)accentsasinFrench.InScotland,they’vegonealtogethertothegraveaccentforlong–naturallystressed–vowels.InNovaScotia,wehaveretainedtheacuteaccent,basedonthedifferenceinsoundbetweenthefollowinglongvowels:
Ò/ɔ:/:mòr,òr,òl,etc. and Ó/o:/:mór,có,bó,etc.
And(likeFrench):
Ѐ/ε:/:fèith, and É/e:/:dé,gréim
Theacuteaccentisalsotraditionallyplacedontheaofsimpleprepositioná:“outof”,“from”.
Also…Gaelicwordstressisalmostalwaysonthefirstsyllable:Ciadmìlefàilte!(Ahundredthousandwelcomes!). InScotland,thewordforonehundred isstillspelledCEUD; inNovaScotia, the spelling (CIAD) reflects that the earlier é-sound of the eu has becomediphthongizedinalmostalldialects.
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8 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
BACKTO“H”
We’vecalledh agrammaticalmarker.RememberGaelichasonlymasculine and femininenouns.SOwatchthis…
a) We’re going to put the adjective math (good) with each of these words : feasgar(masculine,m.; inGaelic, fireannta)andmadainn (feminine, f.; inGaelic,boireannta).Pleasenoticethatthenounprecedestheadjective!:
Feasgarmath!:Goodafternoon! Madainnmhath!:Goodmorning!
Similarly:
Làmath!:Goodday! Oidhchemhath!:Goodnight!
As you can see, adjectives followingmasculine nouns do not “suffer” lenition. So it’simportant as you learn vocabulary to pay attention to which nouns are treated asfeminine.
b) Ifweputtheadverbglé (very)withaseriesofadjectivesbeginningwiththe lenitableconsonants –b, c, d, f, g, m, p, s, and t – you will begin to learn how tomake thetransformedsounds:
Brònach(sad) glébhrònachBrèagh(beautiful) glébhrèaghCòir(kind) gléchòirCiallach(sensible) gléchiallachDuilich(difficult,sorry) glédhuilichDeiseil(ready) glédheiseilFuar(cold) gléfhuar(noticehowwelosebothfandhsounds!)Fliuch(wet) gléfhliuch(ditto!)Gasda(excellent,decent) gléghasdaGeal(white) gléghealMór(big) glémhórMìn(smooth) glémhìnPròiseil(proud) gléphròiseilPrìseil(precious) gléphrìseilSona(content) gléshona(noticehowweloseanys-sound!)Sìtheil(peaceful) gléshìtheil(ditto!)Toilichte(pleased,glad) gléthoilichte(noticehowwelosethet-sound!)Teth(hot) glétheth(ditto!)
Theadverbro:“too”behaveslikeglé.Forexample,rochòir,rofhuar,etc.
Isthisfun,orwhat?Afterthis,Englishmayseem–well,somewhatfunctional,butnotverycolourful…
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9 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
NAMESWhereelsecanhstrategicallyoccur?Well,here’soneplace…
a) Firstofall,takethefollowingGaelicnamesforladies:
Barabal,Catriona,Diorbhail,Flòraidh,Màiri,Poilín,Sìne,Treasag
Likelong-agoLatin,Gaelichasanaddressform.Whenyouwanttosaytoafriend,“Howareyou?”andaddressherbyname,youmightsay:
Ciamarathathu,aBharabal?(aChatriona/aDhiorbhail/aFhlòraidh/aMhàiri/aPhoilín/aShìne/aThreasag)?
b) NowtakethefollowingGaelicnamesformen–noticewhathappensafterthelastbroadvowel intheaddressformofthename–andnotethechangeofpronunciationinthefinalsyllableofeachname:
Aonghas,Brian,Calum,Dòmhnall,Fionnlagh,Murchadh,Pàdraig,Seumas,Tormod
SO…Ciamarathathu,’Aonghais?(withelisionofthevowels);Ciamarathathu,aBhriain?(aChaluim/aDhòmhnaill/’Fhionnlaigh–sincefhissilent,elisionoccurs)/aMhurchaidh/aPhàdraig/aSheumais/aThormoid)
WithAilean,Cailean,-ea➾-ei:Ciamarathathu,’Ailein?…aChailein?
WithCoinneach,-ea➾ibeforefinal-ch;sowehave:aChoinnich?
10 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
GREETINGNowlet’sseewhathappenswhentwofriendsmeet.Noticetheuseofthelittlewordann,muchusedinGaelic.Literally,itmeans“init”.Let’scheckthenewvocabularybelowfirst:
Dòmhnall:Madainnmhath,aSheumais!
Seumas: Madainnmhath,aDhòmhnaill!Ciamarathathuandiugh?
Dòmhnall:Glémhath.Ciamarathathu-fhéin?
Seumas: Thamimeadhonach.Thalàfuarann.
Dòmhnall:Tha,gudearbh!Thaangeamhradhannfhathast!
FACLAN(WORDS)andiugh:today angeamhradh:thewinter fhathast:yet,still thu-fhéin:yourself
là:day meadhonach:middling gudearbh:indeed
A-nis,feuchaibhfhéin–now,you,yourselvestry!
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11 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
FURTHERONSOUNDANDSTRUCTURE…
a) Therearethree(3)wordsinGaelicwhereinitialfhispronouncedhinsteadofbeingsilent(seeSeallagan8b,above).Twoofthemarefhathastandfhéin.You’llgetthethirdoneatthepropertime!
b) Noticethesephrases(inSeallagan10)above:Thalàfuarann(literally,“acolddayisinit”);theEnglishequivalentis“It’sacoldday”
Thaangeamhradhannfhathast(thewinterisinityet);theEnglishequivalentis“It’sstillwinter”.NoticehowEnglishneedstousethe“dummy”word“it”becauseitmustbeginadeclarativesentencewithasubject.Herearesomemoreexamples:
Thalàbrèaghannandiugh
ThaSeumasannfhathast(annfrequentlymakesbettersensetranslatedas“here”)
Thamadainnbhrèaghann
Thafeasgargléfhliuchann
NowputGaelic“on”thesesentences:
Good morning, Brian! Good afternoon, Mary! Wake up, Jim! How are you today,Donald?Iammiddlingtoday,Barbara.Howisyourself?
WakeJimup.Jimwokeup.
It’sverycoldtoday.It’sacoldday.Winterisstillhere(“winter”isdefinite;why?)I’mverysorry,Calum.Sìneisverybeautiful.You’reverykind,Sìne.
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12 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
HOWAREYOU?
Noticetheuseofthu-fhéinintheconversationinSeallagan10,above,whenDonaldcomesback with his own question whose English equivalent is “How are you?” Gaelic hasgrammaticalwaysof indicatingemphasis, inthiscasetheadditionoffhéintothepersonalpronoun;andonceagain, it isa simplerparadigmthan thecomparableEnglishonewhich(mostly)usesthepossessiveadjectivebeforeself:
mi-fhéin(mi-fhìn*):myself
thu-fhéin:yourself
e-fhéin:himself(shouldn’titlogicallybe“his-self”?),itself(“its-self”?)
i-fhéin:herself(itworksbecause“her”isbothobjectpronounandpossessivepronouninEnglish!),itself
sinn-fhìn:ourselves
sibh-fhéin:yourselves(insomedialects:sibh(p)-fhéin)
iad-fhéin:themselves(“their-selves”?)
It’sfun,Ithink,tocomparethetargetlanguagetowhateverlanguagesthelearnerknows,butmorethanfun;thiskindofcomparisonhelpstoreinforcethelearningprocessandtoimpressthenewstructuresonthebrainofthelearner.
13 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
BASIC(SUBSTANTIVE)VERB“TOBE”
Herearetheparadigmsofthebasicverb“tobe”–present,past,future.Practiceputtingthemtogetherwiththeappropriatepersonalpronouns:mi,thu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad(seeSeallagan3,above).Wewillsavetheconditionaltenseuntillater.
Noticethat“tobe”isanirregularverb.ButawonderfulfactaboutGaelicisthat,apartfromthisbasicverbandthecopula(seebelow),itonlyhasten(10)otherirregularverbs!Wow!ComparethistoFrench;compareittoRussian!Gaelicverbshavenoovertlypluralforms.SoGaelicisefficientinavoidingduplicationsincethefollowingpluralnounmakesthemeaningclear.
*Commonpronunciation.
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Present Past FuturePositiveStatementTha Bha Bithidh,bidh*NegativeStatementchaneil charobh chabhiPositiveQuestionabheil? anrobh? ambi?NegativeQuestionnacheil? nachrobh? nachbi?PositiveDependent…gubheil …gurobh …gumbiNegativeDependent…nacheil …nachrobh …nachbiRelativeForm…atha …abha …abhitheas,bhios†
Howdowesay“Yes”and“No”?Byusingthepositiveandnegativeformsoftheverbintheappropriatetense!Forexample,Abheilthufuar?Tha/Chaneil;Anrobhlàmathann?Bha/Charobh;Ambithua’dolann?Bithidh/Chabhi.
Noticehow,aftertherelativepronouna(meaning“that”,“who”,“which”),thefuturehasitsownspecialform.
Alsonote:intheImperativeforms,thesingular➾Bitoilichte!(Beglad!);theplural/polite➾Bithibhtoilichte!(Beyou(pl.)glad!);TheNegativeimperative➾Nabi/bithibh…Don’tbe…
CLEACHDADH(PRACTICE)
CuirdhanBheurla(putintoEnglish).NotethenewvocabularyintheFaclan(words)section,below:
a) Thami-fhìn’stu-fhéina’dolann.
b) Abheilsibha’dolann?c) Ciamarathaanlà?Thaegléfhliuch!
d) Nacheilangeamhradhseofuar?Tha,gudearbh!
e) Chaneilsinna’dolannidir.f) Thamigléthoilichtegubheilsibhann!
g) Thamiduilichnacheilsìdemhathannandiugh.
h) Nacheilitethandiugh!
*Unstressedform.†Unstressedform.
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FACLAN(WORDS)
a’dol:going là:today (article+noun)seo:this(demonstrativeadjective)
idir:atall(negativeintensive) a-nis:now gudearbh!:indeed!(positiveintensive)
sìde,f.:weather(finaleispronounced) agus:and(shortformsare’sandis)
A-nis…makenewsentencesbychangingtheverbsintothepasttense.
NOTES:
a) Noticehowthulosesitslenitionwhenprecededbys.b) A’dolrequirescompletionbyannifnodefinitedestinationisindicated.
c) Inmydialect(IsleofLewis),weuseefor“it”inreferencetotheweather;inNovaScotiausage,iisused(seeSeallagan4above).Soyouarerightineithercase!ALLdialectshaveequalvalidity.
14 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
QUESTIONS
It’stimeweintroducedthe“question-words”,theinterrogatives:
Ciamar: How?(literally“whatlike?”) Có: Who?
Coás: Wherefrom?(fromciaás:“outofwhat?”) Dé: What?(fromciode)
Carson: Why?(ciaairson:“whatfor?”) Cuine:When?(ciaùine:whattime?)
Càite: Where?(ciaàite:“whatplace?”)
ALLthesearefollowedbytherelativepronouna(“that”);iftheinterrogativeendsinavowel,thenbyelisiontherelativeisabsorbed,exceptwithcuineandcàitewhereitisbesttowriteitcuin’a…andcàit’a…:
Ciamarathasibhandiugh? (Howareyoutoday?)
Có(a)th’ann? (Whoisit?–literally,“whoisinit?”)
Coásathaiad? (Wherearetheyfrom?)
Dé(a)thathua’dèanamh
?
(Whatareyoudoing?)
Carsonathasibhanseo? (Whyareyouhere?)
Cuin’athaea’falbh? (Whenishegoingaway?)
Càit’abheilea’dol? (Whereishegoing?)
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Càit’alwaystakesthequestionform(abheil,anrobh,ambi–seethetableinSeallagan13)ofwhateververbfollows!
CLEACHDADH(PRACTICE)
CuirdhanBheurla(putintoEnglish).NotethenewvocabularybelowintheFaclansectionattheendofthebook,p.93.
a) Ciamarabhiosant-sìde?(ant-sìde:theweather).Moreonthearticlelater!
b) Có(a)bhiosann?c) Coásabhitheasiad?d) Dé(a)bhiossinna’dèanamh?
e) Carsonabhiostuduilich?f) Cuin’abhiosea’falbh?g) Càit’ambisibha’dol?
CuirdhanGhàidhlig(putintoGaelic):
a) Howwasthewinter?b) Itwasacoldday.c) Wereyousorry?
d) Whereweretheyfrom?
e) Whyareyou(pl.)goingaway?
f) Iwon’tbegoingawayatall!g) Whatwereyoudoing?
h) WhereisJimgoing?
15 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
CLEACHDADH(PRACTICE)
Còmhradh(Conversation):
Strainnsearana’coinneachadh(Strangersmeeting):
A.Madainnmhath!
B.Madainnmhath!Ciamarathasibh?
A.Glémhath,tapadhleibh.Ciamarathasibh(p)-fhéin?
B.Chaneildona,tapadhleibh.’SmiseRaonaidNicChoinnich–Cósibhse?
A. ’SmiseEilidhNic’IlleBhràth.Coásathasibh,aRaonaid?
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Raonaid:ThamiáDùnÉideann.Coásathasibh-p-fhéin,’Eilidh?
Eilidh:ThamiáCeapBreatainn.Déthasibha’dèanamhanseo?
Raonaid:ThamiagionnsachadhnaGàidhlig.
Eilidh:Tha’smi-fhìn.Abheilsibha’doldhanchlasandràsda?
Raonaid:Tha,gudearbh!
Eilidh:Débhiossinna’dèanamhannsa’chlasandiugh?
Raonaid:Bidhsinnagobairaircòmhradh.
Eilidh:Glémhath!
FACLAN
strainnsear,-an:stranger(s) a’coinneachadh:meeting air:on cleachdadh:practice
Eilidh:Ellen,Helen Mac:son Nic:daughter Raonaid:Rachel agobair:working
Mac/Nic’Illebhràth:MacGillivray Mac/NicChoinnich:MacKenzie dona:bad
agionnsachadh:learning andràsda:now(rightnow) dhanchlas:to(the)class
tapadhleat/leibh:thankyou(singular/pl.,polite) annsa’chlas:intheclass
còmhradh:conversation DùnÉideann:Dunedin(NZ),Edinburgh(Scotland)
CeapBreatainn:CapeBreton
16 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
EMPHATICENDINGS
A-nis(now)…I’msureyou’venoticedsomethingsinthepreviousconversation!Mise,sibhse,forexample.Yes–anotherintensifier,buttheyareactuallyemphaticendingsforthepersonalpronouns–heretheyareinfull:
mise I,me sinne we,us
thusa you(singular;actually,“thou”) sibhse you(pluralorpolite)
esan
ise
he,it
she,it
iadsan they,them
It’sconventionaltousemise,sibhseinintroductionsbetweenstrangers.Onmeetingachild,ormeetingsbetweenyoungerpeers,theinformalthusaismorelikelyusedthansibhse.Now,
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asanexercise,personalizetheaboveintroductions–yourselfandsomeoneyou’vejustmet.Andtrysomeotherresponses…
THECOPULA
Hereweintroduceourselveswithaformoftheverb“tobe”knownastheCopula–alsoknowninGaelicas“theassertiveverb ‘tobe’”,whereonething isassertedtobeequivalentwithanother;forexample,IsmiseIain(normallyshortenedto’SmiseIain–meaning“IamIain”).Moreonthecopulalater…
Moreresponsesto“Ciamarathathu/sibh?”Sofarwe’vehad:
glémhath(verygood/well)and
chaneildona(notbad)
Nowadd:
Thamigudòigheil!(I’mgreat!–dòigheilmeans“orderly”,“well-arranged”)
Thamimeadhonach(I’mmiddling)
Thamigumath(I’mwell,I’mfine–addgutoanadjectivetomakeitanadverb)
Thamicuimseachmath(I’mmoderatelywell–equivalentto“okay”)
Chaneilmia’gearan(I’mnotcomplaining)
VERBALNOUNS
We’vebeenaddingverbalnouns(alsoknownasgerunds)sowecanmakeutteranceswithprogressivetenses;forexample“Iam/was/willbegoing”,andsoon.Sofar,we’veseenthefollowingverbalnouns:a’dol(going);a’falbh(goingaway);a’coinneachadh(meeting);a’dèanamh(doing);a’gearan(complaining);agionnsachadh(learning);agobair(working)
Theprefixa’–andagbeforevowels,comesfromtheprepositionaig(at,atgoing,atmeeting,etc.), in the process of going,meeting, etc. So it is an ongoing, not a completed, action.ComparewithAppalachianEnglish“I’ma-goin’”or“I’ma-comin’”….
NoticehowGaelichandles“Yes”and“No”inthefollowingconversation.
CLEACHDADHAlasdair Abheilthua’doldhanchlasandràsda?
Cailean Chaneil.Abheilthu-fhéina’dolann?
Alasdair Tha,gudearbh.Bidhsinna’seinnandiugh.
Cailean Ambisinna’seinnaiga’chéilidh?
Alasdair Bithidh.Thasinnagionnsachadhòranluadhaidhannsa’chlas.Cailean ’Smathsin!Bidhmia’tighinn,matha.
Alasdair AmbiDòmhnalla’tighinn?
Cailean Chabhi.Thaesanannsa’bhaileandràsda.
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FACLAN
a’seinn:singing a’tighinn:coming òran:song ’smathsin!:that’sgood!
annsa’bhaile:inthetown(intown) òranluadhaidh:waulking/millingsong
matha:then;literally,“if(it)is(so)”
Note:wefindanotherexampleofthecopula,theassertiveverb“tobe”,inthephrase’Smathsin!,literally“Goodisthat”wheretheadjectiveisbroughtforwardforemphasis;inEnglish,“that’sgood!”ComparetothestructureofThasinmath(thatisgood)whichhasnospecialemphasis.Asyoucanhearfromthesoundof’Smathsin,itgavetheword“smashing!”totheEnglishlanguage.
17 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
MOREONLENITION
Wehaven’tmentionedlenitionforawhile!Tosumup,rememberingalwaysthatlenitionisindicatedbytheletterhandwrittenimmediatelyafterthefirstconsonant(exceptl,n,r),wehavelearnedsofarthatlenitionoccursinthefollowingsituations:
a) Intheadjectivefollowingafemininenoun:madainnmhath,sìdebhlàth
b) Aftertheadverbsgléandro:glébhrèagh,rofhuarc) Intheaddressformofnouns,commonlyinpropernames:aMhàiri,aSheumais
Wehavenowencounteredprepositionalphraseslikedhanchlas,annsa’chlas,annsa’bhaile,aiga’chéilidhandclearlylenitionisinplaythere.It’stimetoconsidersimpleprepositions–which,ofcourse,areneverthatsimple!Itwillbeimportanttolearnasyougowhichonesareappropriateandwhere.
Seoiad…(Heretheyare...):
aig at air on á outof de of/off mu about
le by,with ri to gu to do to,for troimh through
annan in fo under bho/o from roimh before
In indefinite prepositional phrases, the following prepositions will lenite the lenitableconsonants:fo,de,do,bho/o,mu,troimh,roimh;forexample,dochlas,bhobhaile,roimhchéilidh(toaclass,fromatown,beforeaceilidh),etc.
Most often, however, the prepositional phraseswill use the definite articlewhich usuallyappearsasa’,exceptwheretheprepositionends inavowelorasilently lenitedf+vowel
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follows. Italsooccurswhenthearticleappearsas ’n, followedbythenounwiththe initialconsonantlenited.Forexample:
aiga’chéilidh(attheceilidh) bho’nbhaile(fromthetown) do ’n chlas (to theclass) troimh’nfheasgar(throughtheafternoon)
Note:InmoderncolloquialGaelic,do’n➾dhan;forexample,dhanbhaile(tothetown),dhanchlas(totheclass).
AlsoNote:Gaelic likes vowel soundsbetween consonants (but not asmuch as does Japanesewherescrewdriver➾sekaruderaiba–myspelling!);soit’snotsurprisingifonehearsanextravowelindhana’bhaile,dhana’chlas–andevenspellsitthatway!You’veseenthishappenalreadyingudearbhwiththe“intrusivevowel”betweenrandbh.
18 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
CLEACHDADH:EADAR-THEANGACHADH(TRANSLATION)
A’leughadhagusa’curdhanBheurla(readingandputtingintoEnglish):
Nuairabhamia’coiseachddhana’bhaileandiughbhamichosona.Bhaa’ghriana’deàrrsadhannsanspeuragusbhamia’coimheadah-uileduinea’dolseachad.Bhasnodha-gàireairfeadhainnagusgruaimairfeadhainneile.Bhafeadhainnannancabhaigagusfeadhainneilea’coiseachdgumall.Bhafeadhainna’cantainn“Madainnmhath!Ciamarathathu?”agusfeadhainnnachrobha’cantainnsion.Annsa’phàirc,bhaclanna’cluichaguscoina’ruith.Bhamia’smaoineachadhgurobhiadsansonacuideachd.
FACLANnuaira:when a’coiseachd:walking chosona:sohappy/content a’ghrian:thesun
a’deàrrsadh:shining annsanspeur:inthesky a’coimhead:watching/lookingat
duine:man/person/husband seachad:past/over a’cantainn(alsoa’cantail):saying
cù(coin):(a)dog(s) snodha-gàire:smile ah-uileduine:everyone gruaim:gloom/frown
eile:other/another feadhainn:some/several mall:slow gumall:slowly
sion:anything annancabhaig:inahurry a’cluich:playing clann:children
annsa’phàirc:inthepark/field cuideachd:too/also/aswell a’smaoineachadh:thinking
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CEISDEANa) Càit’anrobhea’coiseachd?b) Cuin’abhaesona?c) Anrobhlàgrianachann?(grianach➾“sunny”)
d) Débhaea’coimhead?
e) Anrobhah-uileduinesona?f) Anrobhah-uileduinea’coiseachdgumall?
g) Anrobhah-uileduinea’cantainn,“Madainnmhath!”?
h) Càit’anrobhclanna’cluich?i) Débhacoina’dèanamh?(a’dèanamh➾“doing”)
j) Débhaea’smaoineachadh?
19 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
MOREONTHE“SMALL”,SIMPLEPREPOSITIONS
Itwasnotedabovethatdo,ri,gucanallbetranslatedas“to”;however,theycannotbeused(entirely) interchangeably.Onehas topickup the idiomaticusagesasonegoesalong; forexample:
a) ALLthefollowingcommunicativeverbsa’bruidhinn(speaking/talking),a’cantainn/a’cantail/agràdh(ainn)(saying);agéibheachd/agéigheachd(shouting);agéisdeachd(listening);a’trod(scolding))takethewordri:
Bhamia’bruidhinnriSeumas(IwasspeakingtoJim)
ALLEXCEPTaginnse:telling,whichtakesdo
BhamiaginnsesindoSheumas(IwastellingthattoJim/IwastellingJimthat–where“Jim”istheindirectobjectand“that”isthedirectobject)
TheGaelicstructureMUSTbeasinthisexample!
Also,inSeallagan17,above,youwillhavenotedthatdoleniteswithanindefinitenoun.
b) Youwillhavenoticedthatdoisgenerallythe“motiontoward”preposition:
Thamia’doldochlas/dhanchlas(I’mgoingtoaclass/totheclass)
InmodernGaelicpronunciation,do+ indefinitenoun➾a (pronounced“uh”); so,wehave:
Thamia’dolaHaileafacs/aShuidnidh/aDhùnÉideann/adh’Alba(inn)/adh’Éirinn(I’mgoingtoHalifax/toSydney/toDunedin(orEdinburgh)/toScotland/toIreland)
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Notetheoutsidelenitionofvowelusingdh’.InScottishGaelicusage,thefemininedativehasgenerallybeenlost;hence,youhaveadh’Alba(toScotland).NovaScotiaretainsthefemininedative(seeSeallagan36,below).
Note:ALLcountriesandlanguagesaretreatedasfeminine.
c) However,gucanbeusedinthesenseof“motiontoward”,mostusuallywithsingleplacenames;forexample,Thamia’dolguSuidnidh(IamgoingtoSydney–noteNOlenitionaftergu).
Most usually, gu is used before a complex placename phrase, where the secondplacenameisinthegenitive(possessive)case.Forexample:
Thamia’dolguTallaMhicLeòid(I’mgoingtoMacLeodHall–HallofMacLeod)
Gu is the preposition used in “sending (something, like a letter) to someone”. Forexample,a’curgu…
YouarealsomorelikelytosayguSealanNuadh(toNewZealand).
Note:theidiom:Thamia’falbhguruigeHaileafacs(I’mgoingasfarasHalifax).
Sofar,sogood–butthere’soh,somuchmoreinvolvedinthe“small”,“simple”prepositions!Staytuned…
20 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
CONTINUINGWITHTHESIMPLEPREPOSITIONS
A’leantainnairnaroimhearanbeaga(continuingwiththe“littleprepositions”).Note:Gaelicsays“continuingon”;Englishsays“continuingwith”:
aig,ann:at,in.
a) Withanindefinitenoun:
Thamiaigtaigh/Thamiannantaigh
Iamatahouse/Iaminahouse
b) Withdefinitenoun:
Thamiaigantaigh(Iamathome–literally,“atthehouse”)
Thoiribhanaire.Takenote:t,ddoNOTleniteinadefiniteprepositionalphrase
Thamiannsantaigh(Iaminthehouse–NOT“inthehome”!)
Notetheadditionoffinalstoanninadefinitephrase!Thisisimportant.Soannanlookslike“inthe”whenitdoesn’tmeanthatunlessansisaddedtoann.SoThamiannsantaigh(Iaminthehouse),butThamiannantaigh(Iaminahouse).
Thisisalsotrueofá➾ás;ri➾ris;le➾leis;seebelow.
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air:wesawaboveausageofairinthephrasea’leantainnair.Also,notethefollowing:
A’bruidhinnair:speakingortalkingaboutsomeoneorsomething.Englishusagehasbeguntocreep intoGaelicwith theuseofmudhéidhinn /dheóghainn (concerning,about).Apartfromanythingelse,mudhéidhinnwouldbefollowedbythepossessive(genitive)case(seebelow)whiletheGaelicconstructionwithairismuchsimpler!Forexample,Bhaiada’bruidhinnairSeumas(TheywerespeakingaboutJim)
Cóairabhasibha’bruidhinn?(Whowereyouspeakingabout?)
Coairabhasibha’bruidhinn?(Whatwereyouspeakingabout?–wherecocomesfromolderformcia,withnoaccentontheo)
Bhaea’bruidhinnaireachdraidhnanGàidheal(HewasspeakingaboutthehistoryoftheGaels)
Note:a’feitheamhair(waitingfor);agiarraidhair(requestingof)
fo,bho:under,from(dialectically,youmayhearfousedforbho):
a) Withanindefinitenoun:
Thaefobhòrd(He/itisunderatable)
Chualamibhocharaid(Iheardfromafriend)
Thamifochùram(I’munder–weigheddownby–care/anxiety)
b) Withdefinitenoun:
Thaefo’nbhòrd(He/itisunderthetable)
Chualamibho’ncharaidabh’agamannsanoilthigh…(Iheardfromthefriend(that)Ihad(literally“thatwasatme”:seeSeallagan21,below)in(the)university)
de:of,off.Thisoneisalittletrickybecauselearnersmaynotbesurewhethertheyshoulduse thepossessive (genitive) caseoraphrasewith thewordde. Somecommon (definite)phraseswithdeare:
Thamidhenbharail…(Iamoftheopinion…)
…beagandhenairgead…(…alittleofthemoney…)
…mórandhennaidheachd…(…muchofthenews…)
Onemightalsousephraseslike:
Thaglébheagdedh’airgeadagam(Ihaveverylittle(of)money)
Notelenitionofthevowelaswithdo.
Also note howde + singulararticle = dhen; compare this to do + singular article = dhan(above).
Forle,seeSeallagan21,below
Lookoutformoreexamplesfromyourreading!Ishouldmentionthatyoushouldbereadingchildren’sbooks.Theyareperfectlydesignedtoteachnewlearners.Theprideyou’llhaveinyourselfforlearningGaelicwillbewellworthit!
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Á,ás:“outof”,althoughweusuallytranslateintoEnglishas“from”.
ThamiáSuidnidh(I’mfromSydney)
ThamiásnaStàiteanAonaichte(I’mfromtheUnitedStates–theU.S.)
Notetheadditionofsbeforeadefinitenounphrase–alsoinCoásathasibh?(Whereareyoufrom?).Thisisliterally,“Whatoutof(isit)thatyouare?”
21 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
IDIOMATICEXPRESSIONS
Oneof theneatestelementsofGaelic structure is thatall thesimpleprepositionscanbedeclinedforperson!Thisleadstoallkindsofidiomaticexpressions.Sofromaig,air,ann,ri,andlewehave:
agam atme orm onme annam inme rium tome leam by/withme
agad atyou ort onyou annad inyou riut toyou leat by/withyou
aige athim/it air onhim/it ann inhim/it ris tohim/it leis by/withhim/it
aice ather/it oirre onher/it innte inher/it rithe toher/it leatha by/withher/it
againn atus oirnn onus annainn inus ruinn tous leinn by/withus
agaibh atyou(pl.) oirbh onyou(pl.) annaibh inyou(pl.) ruibh toyou(pl.) leibh by/withyou(pl.)
aca atthem orra onthem annta inthem riutha tothem leotha by/withthem
Note:alloftheseformsmaytakeemphaticendings;forexample,agamsa,agadsa,aigesan,aicese,againne,agaibhse,acasan;andthe“self”ending;forexample,agam-fhìn,agad-fhéin,aige-fhéin,aice-fhéin,againn-fhìn,agaibh-(p)-fhéin,andaca-fhéin.
a) Knowledge,having,andremembering:
Tha fiosagam (literally, “Knowledge isatme”). InEnglish,we say, “I know”when itconcernsknowledgeofthingsorevents
Thafiosagamairsin(literally,“Knowledgeisatmeonthat”➾Iknowthat)
Chaneilfiosagam(Idon’tknow).Inspeech,thisisshortenedtoChaneilfhios’am
Abheilfiosagad?(Doyouknow?)….andsoon
Cóaigathafios?(literally,“Atwhomisknowledge?”➾Whoknows?)
Gaelichasnoverb“tohave”.Wehandle“having”withthe“verb‘tobe’”andagam,etc.
Abheila’Ghàidhligagad?(literally,“IstheGaelicatyou?”➾“DoyouhavetheGaelic?”➾DoyouspeakGaelic?)
Similarly,Thacuimhn’agam(air)(literally,“Memoryisatme(on)”➾Iremember…)
Thadùilagam(ri)(literally,“Expectationisatme(to)”➾Iexpect…)
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Thaagamri(literally,“Isatmeto”➾“Ihaveto”–asin,Thaagamriruith!➾“Ihavetorun!”)
b) Keepingon,puttingon:Thamia’cumailorm(literally,“I’mkeepingonme”➾I’mkeepingon(going))
Thamia’curorm(literally,“I’mputtingonme(clothing)”➾I’mgettingdressed)
Dé(a)thaa’curort?(literally,“What’sputtingonyou?”➾What’sbotheringyou?)
You will remember how you learned to introduce yourself; for example, ’S miseDòmhnall.WiththeCopula,youhaveamoreemphaticwayofsayingwhoyouare:
’S+e➾’Se,tobeunderstoodas“it’s”,andwecanmakethefollowingsentence:
’SeDòmhnallant-ainmath’orm(literally,“It’sDonaldthenamethatisonme”➾MynameisDonald)
Answerthequestion:Dé’nt-ainmath’ort/oirbh?(What’syourname?)
c) Whoweare:
Similarly,withannam,etc.,wecanmakeanemphaticstatementastowhoweare;forexample,ourethnicity,orastowhatworkwedo:
’SeGàidhealath’annam(literally,“It’saGaelthat’sinme”➾I’maGael)
’Seoileanachath’annam(I’mastudent)
Note :dialectically, youwill commonlyhearunnam/unnad/ann/ innte/unnainn/unnaibh/unnta.SeethesectionontheCopulabelow.
d) Phraseswithri:
Cho+adjective+ri=English“as……as……”Forexample,chosonariMàiri(ascontentasMary)
Asabove,ThaMàirichosona!(Maryissocontent!)
Trobhadcòmhlarium!(Comealongwithme!)
e) Thankingsomeone:
Tapadhleat/leibh(literally,“Success(go)withyou”➾Thankyou!)
Theresponseis:
’Sedobheatha/urbeatha,whichisactuallyIsEdobheatha/urbeatha(He–God–isyourlife!Thatis,don’tthankme–thankHim!➾You’rewelcome!).WordsreferringtoGodaretraditionallycapitalised.
f) Sayinggoodbye:Beannachdleat/leibh(literally,“Blessing(go)withyou”).Theresponseis:
Marsinleat/leibh(literally,“Likethattoyou”➾Thesametoyou!)
AgainwiththeCopula:
’Sleams’e!(It’smine!Whereleams’istheabbreviatedformofleamsa,andleamsaistheemphaticformofleam).
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22 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
PREPOSITIONS
Fromdo,bho,fo,áwehave:
dhomh to/forme bhuam fromme fodham underme ásam outofme
dhut to/foryou bhuat fromyou fodhadunderyou ásad outofyou
dha to/forhim/it bhuaithe fromhim/it fodha underhim/it ás outofhim/it
dhi to/forher/it bhuaipe fromher/it foidhpe underher/it aisde outofher/it
dhuinn to/forus bhuainn fromus fodhainn underus ásainn outofus
dhuibh to/foryou(pl.) bhuaibh fromyou(pl.) fodhaibh underyou(pl.) ásaibh outofyou(pl.)
dhaibh to/forthem bhuapa fromthem fodhpa underthem ásda outofthem
a) Do:Thamis’ag innsedhut! (I’mtelling (to)you!).Notethat it’smoreappropriate inGaelictogreetsomeonewithMadainnmhathdhut/dhuibhandFeasgarmathdhut/dhuibh,ratherthanwiththebareGoodmorning/afternoon,asinEnglish.
b) Bho:Déathabhuat?(literally,“Whatisfromyou?”➾Whatdoyouneed?)
c) Fo:Thaambàtaairdolfodha(literally,“Theboatisaftergoingunder(it)”➾Theboathassunk)
d) Á:Nabi’tarraingásam(literally,“Don’tbepullingoutofme”➾Don’tteaseme!)
Notethevariantuam,uat,uaithe,uaipe,uainn,uaibh,anduapa.
23 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
MOREPREPOSITIONS
Forprepositionsde,gu,mu,roimh,troimhwehave:
dhìom offme thugam tome umam aboutme romham beforeme tromham throughme
dhìot offyou thugad toyou umad aboutyou romhad beforeyou tromhad throughyou
dheth offhim/it thuige tohim/it uime abouthim/it roimhe beforehim/it troimhe throughhim/it
dhith offher/it thuice toher/it uimpe abouther/it roimhpe beforeher/it troimhpe throughher/it
dhinn offus thugainn tous umainn aboutus romhainn beforeus tromhainn throughus
dhibh offyou(pl.) thugaibh toyou(pl.) umaibh aboutyou(pl.) romhaibh beforeyou(pl.) tromhaibh throughyou
dhiubh offthem thuca tothem umpa aboutthem romhpa beforethem tromhpa throughthem
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a) Dhìom:Bhamia’curmochòtadhìom(literally,“Iwasputtingmycoatoffme”➾Iwastakingoffmycoat).Youcanbringdhìomforwardinthesentenceforgreateremphasis:
Bhamia’curdhìommochòta.
b) Thugam!(Tome!).Thecommanderwouldshouttohistroopssothattheywouldrallyaroundhim.Ontheotherhand,Thugad!issomewhatequivalentto“Haveatyou!”
Chuirethugamlitir(Hesentmealetter).
c) Uime:Indonningakilt,itgoes“about”or“around”you:
Chuireuimeféileadh(“Heputabouthimakilt”➾Heputonakilt)
d) Romham:Beforeme:
Chuirmiromham(“Iputbeforeme”➾Idecided,Imadeupmymindto…).
Bidhfàilteromhad(“Awelcomewillbebeforeyou”➾Youwillbe(made)welcome).
e) Troimhe:throughhim/it:
Chuireanclaidheamhtroimhe(Heputtheswordthroughhim/it).
f) Eadar : We also have the preposition eadar : “between”, which governs the basicnominative(subject)andaccusative(object)formofthenoun;forexample:
Eadarmi-fhìn’stu-fhéin(literally,“Betweenmyselfandyourself”➾Betweenyouandme).
Itdeclinesintheplural:eadarainn,eadaraibh,eatorra.
Notethevariants:ugam,ugad,uige,uice,ugainn,ugaibh,uca;andchugam,chugad,chuige,chuice,chugainn,chugaibh,chuca.
CLEACHDADH–CÒMHRADH
Tormod: Bhamia’bruidhinnriut,aSheumais!Nachrobhthuagéisdeachdrium?
Seumas: Ochbha!Achchaneilmóranùineagam–feumaidhmiruith!
Tormod: Carson? Nach eil Mairead a’ dol còmhla riut – agus chan eil ise an seofhathast.
Seumas: BidhMaireada’dolannleathafhéinagusthamiseanmoch.
Tormod: Cumort,matha!’Seduinedìcheallachath’annad,aSheumais–achnabifochùram.Thamicinnteachgumbiah-uileduineaiga’choinneimhairdothaobh.
Seumas: Nabia’tarraingásam,aThormoid!Thafiosagadglémhathgubheilobairchruaidhromhamannsantaghadh…
Tormod: Déthabhuat?Bheirmidhutah-uilecuideachadh.Trobhadcòmhlariumsa–thaancàragamdìreachanseo.
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FACLAN
coinneamh(f.):meeting taghadh:election ùine(f.):time anmoch:late
obair(f.):work dìcheallach:diligent cinnteach:sure taobh:side cruaidh:hard
feumaidhmi:Imust móran:much,alot uile:every/all cuideachadh:help
dìreach:just/direct(ly)
24 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
EMPHATICPERFECTPAST
Gaelichastheneatest,simplestwayofhandlingtheso-called"perfecttenses”byputtingtousetheverb“tobe”+air+verbalnoun.InEnglishthesetenseswouldbe:
PresentinPast:theactivityiscompletebutisspokenofinthepresent.Forexample,“Ihavespoken”.
PastinPast:theactivityiscompleteatamoredistantpointinthepast.Forexample,“Ihadspoken”.
FutureinPast:theactivitywillbecompleteatadeterminedpoint inthefuture.Forexample,“Iwillhavespoken”.
airfromiar:theolderprepositioniar,meaning“after”,gottransformedtoair(whetherbysimplemetathesisorbyconfusionwithair:on).SO–inGaelic:
PresentinPast: Thamiairbruidhinn(“Iamafterspeaking”➾Ihavespoken)
PastinPast: Bhamiairbruidhinn(“Iwasafterspeaking”➾Ihadspoken)
FutureinPast: Bidhmiairbruidhinn(“Iwillbeafterspeaking”➾Iwillhavespoken)
InGaeldom,whereEnglishisspoken,youwillheartheeffectofGaelicstructureonEnglishasin “I’mafter forgetting” (Thamiairdiochuimhneachadh), or “He’saftergoing” (Thaeairfalbh),etc.
CLEACHDADH
a) Chaneileairfalbhfhathast.b) Abheiliairdùsgadh?c) Bhaiadaircoinneachadh.d) Chabhiiadairdolann.e) Bidhiadaircoiseachddhachaidh.f) Anrobhthuairbruidhinnris?g) Nachrobhsibhairtòiseachadh?
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h) ’Smathnachrobhiadairtòiseachadh!
i) Carsonnacheilthuairionnsachadh?j) Déthathuairinnsedha?
25 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
VERBALNOUNROOTSANDPASTTENSEOFREGULARVERBS
AttheverybeginningoftheseglimpsesintothestructureofGàidhlig,wefindthebasicpasttenseformoftheregularverbwake.Althoughwemayconductquitealotofourconversationusingtheverb“tobe”andverbalnouns,clearlywemustoftenuseotherverbsintheirvarioustensesaswell.SO–weneedtoknowtherootsoftheseverbsinordertoproceed.Therootistheimperativeformoftheverb.Lenitionoftherootisthesignofthepasttenseinverbs.Forexample:
VerbalNoun Root PastTensea’bruidhinn speaking bruidhinn! speak bhruidhinnmi Ispoke
a’cadal sleeping caidil! sleep! chaidilmi Islepta’coiseachd walking coisich! walk! choisichmi Iwalked
a’cumail keeping cum! keep! chummi Ikepta’cur putting/sending cuir! put/send! chuirmi Iput/sent
a’deasachadh preparing deasaich! prepare! dheasaichmi Iprepareda’dùsgadh waking dùisg! wake! dhùisgmi Iwokeagéirigh rising,gettingup éirich! getup! dh’éirichmi Igotup
agéisdeachd listening éisd! listen! dh’éisdmi Ilisteneda’fàgail Leaving fàg! leave! dh’fhàgmi Ilefta’falbh goingaway falbh! goaway! dh’fhalbhmi Iwentaway
a’gabhail taking gabh! take! ghabhmi Itooka’glanadh cleaning glan! clean! ghlanmi Icleaned
agionnsachadh learning ionnsaich! learn! dh’ionnsaichmi Ilearnedagithe eating ith! eat! dh’ithmi Iate
a’leantainn following lean! follow! leanmi Ifolloweda’nighe washing nigh! wash! nighmi Iwashed
agòl drinking òl! drink! dh’òlmi Idranka’ruith running ruith! run ruithmi Iran
a’smaoineachadh thinking smaoinich! think! smaoinichmi Ithoughta’tiormachadh drying tiormaich! dry! thiormaichmi Idrieda’tòiseachadh beginning tòisich! begin! thòisichmi Ibegan
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Theseareexamplesofregularverbs.Fornegativesandquestionsinthepasttense,wealsoaddthelittleparticledo:
Chadobhruidhinnmi/Andobhruidhinn thu?/Nachdobhruidhinn thu? (Ididn’tspeak/Didyouspeak?/Didn’tyouspeak?)
Andinthedependentformstoo:
Thaeduilichgundobhruidhinne/Thaeduilichnachdobhruidhinne (He issorry(that)hespoke/Heissorry(that)hedidn’tspeak)
Sincewehavepluralformsof“you”inGaelic,wealsohavepluralimperativeformsendingin-(a)ibh:
Dùisgibh!Leanaibh!
Notehow-dand-adhendingsofverbalnounsaredroppedinverbrootsandeaprecedingtheseendingsistransformedtoi;iftheprecedingvowelisa,theniisaddedtoachievethesame“slender”vowelsound.Also,vowel-initialrootsare“artificially”lenitedbytheadditionofdh;moreover,aninitialsm–togetherwithl,n,r–doesnotlenite.
CLEACHDADH
Dh’éirichmitràth’sa’mhadainnandiugh.Ghabhmifrasaguschuirmiormaodach–léine-tagusdinichean.Anuairsin,dheasaichmimobhracaist–ughagustost–agusdh’òlmicupatìlebainneachgunsiùcar.Aiganaonàm,dh’éisdmirinaidheachdanlathaaira’réidio:gudearbh,charobhgnothaicheana’dolromhathannsant-saoghal.Ásdéidhsin,nighminasoithicheanagusthiormaichmiiad.Chadodh’fhàgmiantaighguochd uairean; bha an t-sìde cuimseach fuar agus chuirmi ormmo chòta blàth,mobhonaidagusmomhiotagan.Bhalàtrangromhamaguschoisichmiguluathdhanoifis.
FACLAN
aodach:clothing/clothes fras:ashower léine-t:t-shirt ugh:egg gun:without
gnothaichean:matters/‘things’ aiganaonàm:atthesametime tràth:early
saoghal:world naidheachdanlatha:thenewsoftheday còta:coat bainne:milk
bonaid:bonnet,cap cuimseach:somewhat/rather dinichean:jeans
miotag(f.):glove/mitten luath:quick/fast soitheach:adish soithichean:dishes
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26 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
SCOTTISHGAELICSTRUCTURE
Thehumanmindlovespattern;sowhenthestudentcandiscernandgraspthepatterns,thenhalfthebattleiswon;theinstructormustcarefully,inaproperorder,andatthepropertimeforthatstructure,introducethestudenttothepatternsbeingtaught;andthestudenthastospendenoughtimepracticingthestructuresOUTLOUD,withdifferentvocabulary,soastogainfacilityandcomfortinusingthem.
IcouldspendtimeonhowthisveryGaelicquestion–Abheila’Ghàidhligagad?–isillustrativeofsomeaspectofwhatIcallthe“possessionprinciple”inGaelicstructure.However,Iplantodiscusstheprinciplenowonlyinrelationtotheverbalnoun;thatis,agrammaticalitemthatisbothanounandaverb(Itisalsoknownasagerund).TheverbalnounhasagreatdealofworktodoinGaelicsoitsfunctionhastobewellunderstood.Atthisstage,ofcourse,studentshave already learned the basic verb “to be”, the personal pronouns, and the simpleprepositions, and will shortly learn the possessive adjectives/pronouns; of those buildingblocks, theverb“tobe”, thesimpleprepositionsaig (at) [andann (in)]andthepossessiveadjectivesarecrucialarchitecturalelementsofthestructurewe’reabouttoexamine.
First,weneed tounderstand theway inwhich theverbalnounworks.StudentsareoftensurprisedthatScottishGaelicisactuallyquitelogical.
Let’sconsidertworegularverbsintheirverbalnounforms:a’cur–whichhasamyriadofmeanings depending on context, including “putting”, “sending”, “planting”, and agionnsachadh,“learning”.Nowatthispoint,Iwouldexpectlearnerstoask:“Whatisthata’doingthere?Andtheag?Wheredotheycomefromandwhatdotheymean?”
Theyalreadyknowthesimpleprepositionaig“at”inphraseswithdefiniteorindefinitenounslike aig an taigh and aig a’ bhòrd and have begun to cope with the idea of lenition(sèimheachadh),soit’snotagreatleaptoshowthata’/agareformsofaig,meaning“at”,precedingtheseentitiescalledgerundswhicharebothnounandverb,withtheagformusedbeforeverbalnounsbeginningwithvowels.SOwehave:
A’cur : “AT putting” andag ionnsachadh : “AT learning”…or to parse the actions : in theprocessofputting;intheprocessoflearning.Fortheseareon-goingactions:on-goinginthepresent (Thamia’cur…), in thepast (Bhaeag ionnsachadh…), in the future (Bidhsinna’dol…),orwithconditions(Bhiodhiada’cur…).
Andso,we’rebuildingthestructure–logically.Question:Whathappensiftheverbalnounmustitselfbefollowedbyanominal?Forexample,whatifyouwanttosay“sendingaletter”or“learningalanguage”.Answer:translateto:“ATsendingOFaletter”,“ATlearningOFalanguage”. The “verb-ness” of the gerund which required the preposition “AT” before it(indicatingactionabouttobeperformed)becauseofitssimultaneous“noun-ness”,requiresthepreposition“OF”afteritwhenfollowedbyanothernoun.SowehavetobringintoplaytheGenitiveCaseformof thenounthat follows–what inEnglish iscalledthePossessiveCase, in which what is named in one noun is seen in some way to be in a possessiverelationshipwithwhatisnamedintheothernoun.
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Butnow–totakeourexamplefromEnglishsothepropositionmakessense!–supposingthenominal following the gerund is not a noun at all but a personal pronoun; for example,“sendingme”,“learningit”.ThereisnowayofsayinginGaelic“ATsendingOFme”or“ATlearningOFit”.Instead,usingthepossessionprinciple,“OFme”becomes“my”and“OFit”becomes“its”;andsincewe’restillcontendingwithformsoftheprepositionaigbeforethegerund,wemustuseforms–portmanteaumorphs–thatincludethesimpleprepositionaigtogetherwiththerelevantpossessiveadjectives:mo,do,a,a,ar,ur,an/am–and,ofcourse,followthelenitionrulesofthepossessiveadjectivesastheyapply.
SO:
’gam’chur➯“atmysending”➝sendingme
’gad’chur➯“atyour(singular)sending”➝sendingyou,andsoon
Note:inthenewOrthographicConventionsforGaelicinScotland,theapostropheswouldbeomittedtherebycreatingwhat,tosomeminds,are“ghostwords”.
27 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
POSSESSIVEPRONOUNS
Asyouseeabove,theverbalnounsareprecededbyaparticle,eithera’beforeaconsonantoragbefore a vowel, both deriving from the simple prepositionaig : “at”. So literally,a’dùsgadh(atwaking(of))cannottakeasimpledirectobject.HereweseehowlogicalGaelicis – but admittedly in this case, not as straightforward as English! So howdowe say, forexample,“wakingme/you/him/her/us/you(pl.)/them”?
Inordertodothis,wemustbringthepossessivepronouns(alsocalledpossessiveadjectives)–“my,your,his,her,our,your(pl.),their”–intoplay.We’llusemàthair(mother)andathair(father)inourexamples;also,todemonstrateanf+vowelnoun,we’llusefacal(word):
momhàthairmymother m’athair myfather m’fhacal myword
domhàthairyourmother d’athair yourfather d’fhacal yourword
amhàthairhismother ’athair hisfather ’fhacal hisword
amàthairhermother ah-athair herfather afacal herword
armàthairourmother arn-athair ourfather arfacal ourword
urmàthair your(pl.)mother urn-athair yourfather urfacal yourword
ammàthairtheirmother anathair theirfather amfacal theirword
Now,putpossessiveswiththenamesofotherfamilymembers:bràthair(brother);piuthar(sister);seanair(grandfather);seanmhair(grandmother).
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Note:thepersonalpronounstendtobeusedwiththosethingsconsidered“inalienable”–inotherwords,whatweare“stuckwith”!Thisincludesfamilymembers,bodyparts,thingsthatmattertous.Weshouldnot,forexample,sayMochàrfor“mycar”;instead,sayancàragam(literally,“thecaratme”).
NOW,takeaig+mo+dùsgadh➾’g+a+m’+dùsgadh,butrememberthatmolenites,so:
’gamdhùsgadh(literally“atmywaking”➾wakingme)
So: ’gaddhùsgadh(wakingyou)
’gadhùsgadh(wakinghim)
’gadùsgadh(wakingher–seehowitobeystheappropriaterule!)
’gardùsgadh(wakingus)
’gurdùsgadh(wakingyou–pl.)
’gandùsgadh(wakingthem)
Whenaverbalnounbeginswithavowel,weget:’gamiarraidh/’gadiarraidh/’gaiarraidh/’gah-iarraidh/’garn-iarraidh/’gurn-iarraidh/’ganiarraidh(wantingme,wantingyou,etc.).
NOWifyouareaskedthefollowingquestion:
AbheilGàidhligagad?(literally,“IsGaelicatyou?”➾Doyouhave(speak)Gaelic?).Youmightcurrentlyanswer:
Thabeagan(Alittle–shortforThabeaganagam)
Thami’gah-ionnsachadh(literally,“I’matitslearning”).ThisisequivalenttotheEnglishphrase“I’mintheprocessoflearningit”➾I’mlearningit
Withaverbalnounbeginningwith f+ vowel,wehave : ’gamfhalach/ ’gad fhalach/ ’gafhalach/’gafalach/’garfalach/’gurfalach/’gamfalach(hidingme,hidingyou,etc.).
Remember, languages are treated as feminine nouns in the Indo-European languages,includingGaelic.
Notethefollowingexpressions:
’Smathdochoinneachadh/urcoinneachadh(literally,“Isgoodyourmeeting”,orinEnglish“It’sgoodtomeetyou”)
Thamitoilichted’fhaicinn/urfaicinn(I’mgladtoseeyou)
Alternatively,youmightsay:
’Smath/thamitoilichteabhith’gadchoinneachadh/’gurcoinneachadh(literally,“Isgood/I’mgladtobeatyour(singular)/your(pluralorpolite)meeting”➯It’sgoodtobemeetingyou,orincolloquialEnglish,“It’sgoodtomeetyou”
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28 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEPOSSESSIVEPRONOUNWITHANN
Theonlyotherprepositionthatmayamalgamatewiththepossessivepronoun isann.Thisgivesusaneatwayofindicatingwhatpositionorstateofbodyormindwemaybein:
a) Tha mi ’nam dhùisg (I’m awake); also, Tha mi ’nam chadal/ ’nam shuidhe/ ’namsheasamh/’namlaighe(I’masleep,sitting(seated),standing,lyingdown).Herearealltheforms:
Dùisg Cadal Suidhe Seasamh Laighe
’namdhùisg ’namchadal ’namshuidhe ’namsheasamh ’namlaighe
’naddhùisg ’nadchadal ’nadshuidhe ’nadsheasamh ’nadlaighe
’nadhùisg ’nachadal ’nashuidhe ’nasheasamh ’nalaighe
’nadùisg ’nacadal ’nasuidhe ’naseasamh ’nalaighe
’nardùisg ’narcadal ’narsuidhe ’narseasamh ’narlaighe
’nurdùisg ’nurcadal ’nursuidhe ’nurseasamh ’nurlaighe
’nandùisg ’nancadal ’nansuidhe ’nanseasamh ’nanlaighe
Note:Inthefirstcolumn,noticethatthephrasesarebasedontheimperativeformoftheverbinsteadofontheverbalnounforms.
Theseformscanalsoservetoindicatewhoweare,inethnicityorwithregardtoourwork:
b) Thami’namGhàidheal(I’maGael);Abheile’namhinistear?(Isheaminister?);Bhasinn ’nar n-oileanaich (We were students);Am bi thu ’nad thidsear? (Will you be ateacher?)
Inthisconstruction,youwillnoticethatweusethebasicverb“tobe”whereasinSeallagan21,above,youbegantolearntosay–moreemphatically–whoyouarebyusingaformoftheCopulawithannam/annad/ann/innte/annainn/annaibh/annta(inme/inyou/inhim/inher/inus/inyou(pl.)/inthem).Forexample,’SeGàidhealath’annam(literally,“It’saGaelthat’sinme”➾I’maGael).InthenextsectionwewillhaveacomprehensivelookattheCopula.
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CLEACHDADH–CÒMHRADH:
SeoBrianagusamhàthairanna’còmhradhaigàmnabracaist.
Màthair(agéibheachd):Abheilthu’nadchadalfhathast,abhalaich?Thadobhracaistdeiseil(Thaamac’nadhùisgachchaneileairaodachachurairaguschatoilleisabhith’nachabhaig).
Brian:Thamia’curorm–bidhmishìosanna’mionaid!
Màthair:Andoghabhthufras?
Brian:Chadoghabh.
Màthair:Nighd’aodannagusdolàmhan,matha–agusgreasort!(Mudheireadhthall,tha Brian ’na shuidhe aig a’ bhòrd anns a’ chidsin ag ithe a bhracaist. Tha ’athair a’deasachadhairsonfalbh).
Athair : Feuch gum bi thu ag éisdeachd ri do mhàthair, a Bhriain – agus ’gacuideachadh.Ceart?
Brian:Ceart!
Athair: ’Smathsin!Thaearbs’agamásad–’segillemathath’unnad.Beannachdleibh–bidhmi’gurfaicinnfeasgar.Masdodh’fhalbhBriandhansgoil,chuidicheamhàthair–chuirea-machansoitheach-sgudaildhi.
FACLAN
agéibheachd:shouting balach:boy deiseil:ready/right cabhag(f.):hurry
shìos:down aodann:face làmh(-an)(f.):hand(s) greasort:hurryup(“onyou”)
mudheireadh:atlast mudheireadhthall:atlonglast a’suidhe:sitting bòrd:table
cidsin:kitchen feuch:see/try earbsa(f.):confidence,trust soitheach-sgudail:trashcan
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29 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THECOPULA:THE“ASSERTIVE”VERB“TOBE”THEPRESENTTENSE:
TheCopulainthePresentTense:
Is:am,is,are
IsmiseSeumas(I’mJames).Somise=Seumas.Cha:amnot,isnot,arenot
ChamhiseIain(I’mnotJohn)
An?Am?:am?is?are?
Antusaanduine?(Areyoutheman?)
Nach?:amnot?isnot?arenot?
Nachiseantè?(Isn’tshetheone?)
…gur:thatam,thatis,thatare
Thaea’cantainngurtusaanduine(Hesays(that)you’retheman)
…nach:thatamnot,thatisnot,thatarenot
Thaea’cantainnnachiseantè(Hesays(that)she’snottheone)
IdiomswiththeCopulaandPrepositionalPronouns:
Notethat“periphrasis”–a“roundabout”wayofsayingit–isputtouse:’Stoigh(toil)leam(literally,“ispleasingwithme”➾Ilike);
’StoilleamSeumas(IlikeJames)
Cuideachd,’scaomhleam;’smathleam–“Ilike”insomedialects
’Sfheàrrleam(literally,“isbetterwithme”➾Iprefer)
’Slugh’orm(literally,“isleastonme”➾Idetest)
’Scòirdhomh(literally,“isrightforme”➾Ishould)
’Surrainndhomh(literally,“ispossibleforme”➾Ican)
’Sàbhaistdhomh(literally,“iscustomforme”➾Iusually…)
ExamplesofExpressions:
’Smathsin!(“Goodisthat”➾That’sgood!)
’Sbochdsin!(“Pooristhat”➾That’sapity!)
’Smatharinnthu!(literally,“Isgoodthatyoudid”➾Youdidwell!)
’Smathgubheilsibhann!(It’sgood(that)you’rehere(init)!)
’Sbrèaghanlà!(literally,“Beautifulistheday”➾It’sabeautifulday!)
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Ismaraichemi(I’masailor)
Nowtoconsiderthecopulainanemphaticconstructionwheretheinflectedprepositionannisputtouse,togetherwitharelativeclause(introducedbyrelativepronouna:who,that).Forexample:
’Semaraicheath’unnam(literally,“It’sasailorthatisinme”➾I’masailor)
TheCopulainthePresentTensewith“it”:
’Se:Itis
Chane:Itisnot
Ane?:Isit?
Nache?:Isn’tit?
…gure:…thatitis
…nache:...thatitisn’t
“Yes”=’Se;“No”=Chane
Note:wemayuseseadh(’seadh)asapositiveresponseinagreementtowhatisbeingsaid.
Sometypicalexamplesofthisconstruction:
’Selàbrèaghath’ann!(literally,“It’sabeautifuldaythatisinit”➾It’sabeautifulday!)
’Sespòrsath’ann!(It’sfun!)
’SeDòmhnallant-ainmath’orm(literally,“It’sDonaldthenamethat’sonme”➾MynameisDonald).
Dé ’n t-ainma th’ort? (literally, “What is thename that’sonyou?”➾What’s yourname?)
Note : immediatelyafter ’Se,Chane,etc.,wemusthaveanounphrase–forexample, làbrèagh,spòrs,Dòmhnallant-ainm–whichrequirestheclausethatcompletesthesentence.
Butwhenastatementiscontradicted,whenanadjective,prepositionalphraseorclauseisstressed,notethatitis’sann/b’annthatareusedinsteadof’se/b’e.Forexample:
’Sannfuarathaanlà!(“It’scoldthatthedayis”➾It’sacoldday!)
’Sannaigantaighathae(“It’satthehouseheis”➾He’sathome!)
’Sanngubheilmisgith–chanannnacheilmiairsonadholann!(“It’sthatI’mtired,notthatI’mnotforgoing!”➾It’sbecauseI’mtired–notthatIdon’twanttogo!).
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30 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEPAST/CONDITIONALTENSEOFTHECOPULA
Hereisthecopulainthepasttense:
Bu:was/wouldbe
Butoilleam
Buchòirdhomh
Chabu:wasnot/wouldnotbe
Chabutoilleam
Chabuchòirdhomh
Ambu?:was?wouldbe?
Ambutoilleat?
Ambuchòirdhut?
Nachbu?:wasn’t?wouldn’tbe?
Nachbutoilleat?
Nachbuchòirdhut?
Notethatlenitionoccursafterbuexceptwithconsonantsd,t,l,n,r;also,usuallybutoilleammeans“Iwouldlike”insteadof“Iliked”.
Ifthispasttensecopulaformiscombined,asshownabove,with“it”,wehave:
B’e:Itwas;
Chab’e:Itwasn’t;
Amb’e?:Wasit?;
Nachb’e?:Wasn’tit?
…gurab’e:…thatitwas
…nachb’e:…thatitwasn’t
“Yes”=B’e;“No”=Chab’e
B’eMàiriabh’ann(ItwasMary(thatwasinit)).
CLEACHDADH
’Sefeasgarcarceòthachabh’annnuairadh’fhosgailmidorusantaigh-òsda.Bhamochàirdeanannmuthràthagusglainneaiggachduine.
Cailean: Sinthu,aMhurchaidh!Marathathua’faicinn,chadodh’fhuirichsinnort!Débutoilleat?
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Murchadh: Chabuchòirdhomhòlidirandràsda–’seanco-là-breithaigmomhàthairath’annandiugh’sbidhmia’tadhaloirreannochd.
Uilleam: Aneprèasantdhiath’agadansin’nadlàimh?
Murchadh: ’Se.SmaoinichmigurabutoilleathaanleabharùrlePeadarMay.
Uilleam: Glémhath!’Stoilleams’ecuideachd.
Cailean: Och,adhuine!Nachb’fheàrrleathaflùraicheannostuthcùbhraidh?
Murchadh: Chab’fheàrr.Chanannnachtoilleathanarudansinachthafhios’amgumbiitoilichteleisa’leabharseo.Codhiùbh,feumaidhmifalbh–bidhmi’gurfaicinn!
FACLAN
car:somewhat ceòthach:foggy/misty a’fosgladh:opening taigh-òsda:inn,tavern
rud(-an):thing(s) codhiùbh:anyway muthràth:already glainne(f.):aglass
mar:as/like gach:each a’tadhalair:visiting(on) andràsda:(right)now
co-là-breith:birthday flùr(-aichean):flower(s)stuthcùbhraidh:“fragrantstuff”,perfume
idir:atall(negativeintensive) caraid:friend càirdean:friends(inplural,“relatives”)
31 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
REGULARVERBS:FUTURETENSEAsalways,webeginfromtherootoftheverb:
a) Caidil!:Sleep!
Caidlidhmi:Iwillsleep
Chachaidilmi:Iwon’tsleep
Ancaidilthu?:Willyousleep?
Nachcaidilthu?:Won’tyousleep?
Thaea’cantainnguncaidile:Hesays(that)hewillsleep.
Thaea’cantainnnachcaidile:Hesays(that)hewon’tsleep.
Cóachaidleas?:Whowillsleep?
Cuin’achaidleastu?:Whenwillyousleep?
Càit’ancaidilmi?:WherewillIsleep?
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b) Dùisg!Wake!
Dùisgidhmi:Iwillwake
Chadùisgmi:Iwon’twake
Andùisgthu?:Willyouwake?
Nachdùisgthu?:Won’tyouwake?
Thaea’cantainngundùisgetràthammàireach:Hesayshe’llwakeearlytomorrow
Thaea’cantainnnachdùisgetràthidir:Hesayshewon’twakeearlyatall
Cóadhùisgeas?:Whowillwake?
Cuin’adhùisgeastu?:Whenwillyouwake?
Càit’andùisgthu?:Wherewillyouwake?
c) Éirich!:Rise!Getup!
Éirichidhmi:Iwillgetup
Chanéirichmifhathast:Iwon’tgetupyet.
Anéirichthu,’Iain?:Willyougetup,Iain?
Nachéirichthu,aMhàiri?:Won’tyougetup,Mary?
Thaea’cantainngunéiricheanna’mionaid:Hesays(that)he’llgetupinaminute.
Thaea’cantainnnachéiricheandràsda:Hesays(that)hewon’tgetupjustnow.
Cóadh’éiricheas?:Whowillrise?
Cuin’adh’éiricheastu?:Whenwillyougetup?
Càit’anéirichthuammàireach?:Wherewillyourisetomorrow?
Carsonnachéirichthu?:Whywon’tyougetup?
d) Cuir!Put!
Cuiridhmiormm’aodach:I’llputon(me)myclothes➾I’llgetdressed.
Chachuirmiormm’aodachfhathast:Iwon’tgetdressedyet.
Ancuirthuortd’aodach?:Willyouputon(you)yourclothes?Willyougetdressed?
Nachcuirthuortd’aodach?:Won’tyougetdressed?
Thaeagràdhguncuireair’aodach:Hesayshe’llgetdressed.
Thaiagràdhnachcuirioirreah-aodachandràsda:Shesaysshewon’tgetdressedjustnow.
Cóachuireasseoair?:Whowillputthisonhim?➾Whowillwearthis?
Cuin’achuireastuandinnearaira’bhòrd?:Whenwillyouput(the)dinneronthetable?
Càit’ancuirmiseo?:WherewillIputthis?
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e) Fàg!Leave!
Fàgaidhmiantaighaigochduaireanannsa’mhadainn:I’llleavethehouseateightinthemorning.
ChanfhàgmiCeapBreatainnrim’bheò:Iwon’tleaveCapeBretonaslongasIlive.
Amfàgthusin?:Willyouleavethat?
Nachfhàgthuantaigh?:Won’tyouleavethehouse?
Thaea’cantainngumfàgeandùthaich:Hesays(that)hewillleavethecountry.
Thaea’cantainnnachfhàgethuachaoidh:Hesays(that)hewillneverleaveyou➾thathewillnotleaveyouever
Cóadh’fhàgas…?:Whowillleave…?
Cuin’adh’fhàgastu?:Whenwillyouleave?
Càit’amfàgmiseo?:WherewillIleavethis?
CLEACHDADH“Caidlidhmigusunndachannochd,aMhàiri!”dh’éibhFionnlaghagusea’tighinna-steachdhantaighaca.“Gedachuireasiaddhethfeadhainndhenluchd-obrachanathsheachdain,chabhimise’nammeasg!”
“O,aghràidhort!”ghlaodhMàiri,“nachmathsin!Abairnaidheachdmhath!Cuiridhmiaira’choire–bidhfeumagadaircupatì.”ThaMàiria’creidsinngubheilfeumairsrùbaguairsambith.
ChumFionnlaghaira’bruidhinn.
“Gearraidhiadandreuchdaigmocharaid,Iain.Fàgaidheandùthaich,bhaeaginnsedhomh.”
“ChachòrdsinriEilidh”.B’eEilidhbeanIain.
“Och,chaneilfhios’am–madh’fhalbhasiad, ’sdòchagumbicothromannasfheárraca’’.
“Codhiùbh,aghràidh,caidlidhsinnegusunndachannochdaguséirichidhsinnleceumaotromammàireach”.
FACLANgusunndach:joyfully(English“soundly”) a’tighinn:coming a-steach:inside
luchd-obrach:“workpeople”,staff gràdh :love a’glaodhadh :cryingout
dreuchd(f.):job,workposition coire(f.):kettle a’creidsinn:believing
feum:need,use srùbag(f.) :“acuppa” uairsambith:(at)anytime ceum:step
a’gearradh:cutting bean(f.):woman,wife a’còrdadhri:agreeingwith
’sdòcha:“ispossible”,perhaps abair:say!(imperativeofirregularverbagràdh)
cothrom(-an):opportunity(-ies) aotrom:light(adj.)
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32 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THECONDITIONALTENSE:A)BASICVERB“TOBE”;ANDB)REGULARVERBS
Theconditionaltenseisuniqueinhavingasinglewordforthe1stPerson:
a) Bhithinn:IwouldbeBhitheadh/bhiodhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:You,he,she,it,we,you(pl.),theywouldbe.
Bhitheamaid/bhiomaid:Wewouldbe
Chabhithinn:Iwouldn’tbe
Cha bhitheadh/bhiodh tu, e, i, sinn, sibh, iad : You, he, she, it, we, you (pl.), theywouldn’tbe
Ambithinn?:WouldIbe?
Ambitheadh/biodhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?:Wouldyou,he,she,it,we,you(pl.),theybe?
Nachbithinn?:Wouldn’tIbe?
Nachbitheadh/biodhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?:Wouldn’tyou,he,she,it,we,you(pl.),theybe?
…gumbithinn:…thatIwouldbe
…gumbitheadh/biodhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:…thatyou,he,she,it,we,you(pl.),theywouldbe
…nachbithinn:…thatIwouldn’tbe
…nachbitheadh/biodhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:…thatyou,he,she,it,we,you(pl.),theywouldn’tbe
Bhitheadh:Yes;Chabhitheadh:No
b) Webeginfromthepasttenseformandaddtheendings:
a’tòiseachadh:beginning;tòisich!:begin!Thòisichmi:Ibegan
Thòisichinn:Iwouldbegin;thòisicheadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad(thòisicheamaid:wewouldbegin)
Chatòisichinn:Iwouldn’tbegin;chatòisicheadhtu,etc.
Antòisichinn?:WouldIbegin?;antòisicheadhtu,etc.?
Nachtòisichinn?:Wouldn’tIbegin?;nachtòisicheadhtu,etc.?
…guntòisichinn:…thatIwouldbegin;…guntòisicheadhtu,etc.
…nachtòisichinn:…thatIwouldn’tbegin;…nachtòisicheadhtu,etc.
Note:wesawhowthu➾tubefore-sintherelativefuture;forexample,Cóabhiostua’coinneachadh?Thisalsooccursafter-dhand-a(seeIrregularVerbs).
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Note:traditionally,the1stpersonpluralhadasingleform;todaythisisrarelyused.
IF-CLAUSES
WiththeConditionalTense:
Bhithinnsonaanna’Torontonanrobhthusacòmhlarium(IwouldbehappyinTorontoifyouwerealongwithme).
Chabhithinnsonaanna’Toronto,murrobhthusacòmhlarium(Iwouldn’tbehappyinTorontoifyouwerenotalongwithme–orunlessyouwerewithme).
Nantòisicheadhtu,chabhiodhtufadaris!(Ifyouwouldbegin,youwouldn’tbelongatit!)
Muritheadhtu,bhiodhant-acrasort(Ifyouwouldn’teat,you’dbehungry).
WithOtherTenses:
Our basic positive “if” with all tenses but the conditional isma, sometimes called theconsequential“if”;ontheotherhand,thenegative“if” forALLtenses ismur (this isoftenmura,usuallywhenfollowedbyaconsonant):
Mathathusgith,dèansuidhe(Ifyouaretired,“dositting”➾haveaseat).
Mabhaeann,chanfhacamis’e(Ifhewasthere,Ididn’tseehim).
Mabhiossìdemhathann,gabhaidhsinncuairt(Iftherewillbegoodweather,we’lltakeawalk).
Mureilthua’tighinn,théidmiannleamfhìn(Ifyou’renotcoming,I’llgobymyself).
Murrobhthua’dolann,carsonnachdodh’innisthudhomh?(Ifyouweren’tgoing,whydidn’tyoutellme?)
Murabilàmathann,chanfhalbhsinn(Ifitwon’tbeagoodday,wewon’tgo).
CLEACHDADH
Ròsg-ranntaichean–Sentences:
a) Bhithinna’tadhalairmosheanair’smosheanmhairah-uilesamhradhnuairabhamiòg(Iwouldbevisiting/usedtovisitmygrannyandgrandfathereverysummerwhenIwasyoung)
b) Thamis’aginnsedhutgumbithinnsonaanna’Toronto(I’mtellingyouthatIwouldbehappyinToronto)
c) Cóabhiodhsonaa’fuireachda’sin?(Whowouldbehappylivingthere?).
d) Achambitheamaidsona?(Butwouldwebehappy?)
e) Dh’innisidhomhgumbiodhea’tighinndhachaidhammàireach(Shetoldme(that)hewouldbecominghometomorrow)
f) Càit’ambiodhiada’fuireachd?(Wherewouldtheybeliving?)
g) Ciamarabhiodhfiosaigesan?(Howwouldheknow?)
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h) Ambitheadhclasanndo luchd-ionnsachaidh?Bhitheadh (Would therebeaclass forlearners?Yes)
Còmhradh–Conversation:
Ghabhainncupatìandràsdananrobhùineagam!
Angabhadhtu-fhéinsrùbag?Ghabhadh,gudearbh!
Ghabhadheòrandhutnaniarradhtuair!
Càit’antogadhtuantaigh?(a’togail:lifting/building/raising)
Thogainnea’seonanrobhairgeadguleòragam!
Nachtogadhtuanleanabhanna’CeapBreatainn?Thogadh!(leanabh:child)
Déadh’ionnsaicheadhtunanrobhancothromagad?
Dh’ionnsaichinncainntmomhàthar(cainnt(f.):speech/language)
NachionnsaicheadhtuFraingis?Chanionnsaicheadh!
Chanithinnsin!Thaeromhilis.
Achdh’ithinnpìosarancoirce,mathasinagad(arancoirce:oatcake;literally,“bread-ofoat”)
Thaea’cantainngunitheadhegréimbidhe(gréimbidhe:“abitoffood”,asnack)
Choisicheadheah-uilelàannsant-samhradh
Ancoisicheadhtucòmhlarium?Choisicheadh
Choisichinncòmhlariutmurrobhmitrang
Dh’fhàgadheantaighah-uilemadainnaigochduairean
Chanfhàgainnant-àiteseo–amfàgadhtu-fhéine?
Thaea’cantainnnachfhàgadhesanant-àitecodhiubh
Chanfhalbhainnásd’aonais(ásd’aonais:“withoutyou”)
Thaea’cantainngumfalbhadheairsaor-láitheanmurrobhcusaigeridhèanamh(cus:
“toomuch”)
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33 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
RETURNINGTOTHEDEFINITEARTICLEANDTOTHENOUNS
Asnotedearlier,GaelicnounsaredividedintoMasculine(m.)andFeminine(f.)–seeprefaceto Module One ofGàidhlig troimh Chòmhradh for nouns most likely to be masculine orfeminine.Asyou learnnewvocabulary,youMUST learnwhich iswhichsince theybehaveaccordingtotheirownconventions.Wewillbeginwiththemen’snameswehadearlier.Theseare,asyoumightexpect,masculinenouns.Andwenowaremoving toexaminesentencestructure–Nabithibhfochùram!(Don’tbedismayed!).’Sespòrsath’ann!(It’sfun!)Thetraditionalterms(basedonLatinusage)areontherightinparenthesis.Thecorresponding,moremoderngrammaticaltermistotheleft:
A’CHIADCHLÀRFIREANNTA:TheFirstDeclensionMasculine
AinmearanFireannta:AinmeanFhireannach–MasculineNouns:Men’sNames:
SUBJECT DhùisgSeumas Jimwoke (NominativeCase)
DIRECTOBJECT DhùisgIainSeumas IainwokeJim (AccusativeCase)
ADDRESSFORM Dùisg,aSheumais! Wake(up),Jim! (VocativeCase)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
BhaancadalairSeumasfhathast Jimwasstillsleepy (DativeCase)
(Literally,“thesleepwasonJimyet/still”)
POSSESSIVE DhùisgbràthairSheumaise Jim’sbrotherwokehim
(GenitiveCase)
NoticehowGaelicusestheSlenderization(Palatalization)Principle–showninspellingbytheadditionof“i”afterthelastbroadvowel–todifferentiatestructuraldifferencesinthenoun,togetherwiththeuseoflenition.
Now replace “Seumas”with theappropriate formsofBrian,Calum, Fionnlagh,Murchadh,Pàdraig(Pàdruig),Tormod.
Rememberwhatyou learned inSeallagan9? i)Coinneach :ea➾ i before -ch; ii)Cailean,Ailean,Uilleam:ea➾eibefore-nor-mwhereinthenamesabove,iisinsertedafterthelastbroad vowel in the Address form (Vocative) and Possessive (Genitive), unless it is therealready,asinPàdraig,Iain,etc.
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34 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
CONTINUINGWITHTHE1STDECLENSIONMASCULINE+THEARTICLE
CommonMasculine(m.)Nouns,oneortwosyllables,broadvowels :simpleadditionof iafterlastbroadvowelasseeninpatternbelow:
aran,aodach,aodann,bàrd,blàths,balach,bodach,bradan,cadal,caolas,cat,cladach,cosnadh,dòchas,dorus,eagal,earrach,eòlas,facal,feadan,feasgar,foghar,fraoch,Gàidheal, geamhradh, giomach, gràdh, laogh, laochan, leasan,mac,maol,mullach,òran,rionnach,samhradh,saoghal,seanchas,siùcar,solus,torman
Note :nonounsending inavowelbelong in thisgroup!Somethree-syllable,broad-vowelnounsbelonghere;forexample,boireannach,oileanach,adhartas.
We will sample these together with the Article (see nouns WITHOUT the article, plusadjectives,inSeallagan35;indefinitenounsoccurlessofteninGaelic).Althoughmostofthevocatives(addressforms)willseldombeused,exceptpossiblybyabard,theyareincludedforcompleteness.
a) Vowel-initialNouns:
Noticehow,andwhere, t- andh- areput touse; the insertionof i takesplacewhereexpected.
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT Bhaant-òranceòlmhor Bhanah-òrainceòlmhor (NominativeCase)
DIRECTOBJECT Ghabhsinnant-òran Ghabhsinnnah-òrain (AccusativeCase)
ADDRESSFORM ’Òrain! ’Òrana(ibh)! (VocativeCase)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
Dh’éisdiadrisanòran Dh’éisdiadrisnah-òrain (DativeCase)
POSSESSIVE ’Stoilleamfaclananòrain ’Stoilleamfaclannanòran (GenitiveCase)
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b) Nounsbeginningwithb,c,g,m,p:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT DhùisgambalachIain DhùisgnabalaichIain (NominativeCase)
DIRECTOBJECT DhùisgIainambalach DhùisgIainnabalaich (AccusativeCase)
ADDRESSFORM Dùisg,abhalaich! Dùisgibh,abhalacha(ibh)! (VocativeCase)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
Bhaancadalaira’bhalach Bhaancadalairnabalaich (DativeCase)
POSSESSIVE Dhùisgmàthaira’bhalaiche
Dhùisgmàthairnambalachiad
(GenitiveCase)
c) Nounsbeginningwithd,t:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT Dhùinandorus Dhùinnadoruis(dorsan) (NominativeCase)
DIRECTOBJECT DhùinIainandorus DhùinIainnadoruis(dorsan) (AccusativeCase)
ADDRESSFORM Dùin,adhoruis! Dùinibh,adhorusa(ibh)!(adhorsan!)
(VocativeCase)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
BhaIainaigan*dorus BhaIainaignadoruis(dorsan)
(DativeCase)
POSSESSIVE Càit’abheiliuchairan*doruis?
Càit’abheiliuchraicheannandorsan?
(GenitiveCase)
*Thereisnolenitionofdandtinthesingularprepositionalphraseandgenitiveforms.
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d) Nounsbeginningwithf+vowel:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT Bhaamfeadanaira’bhòrd Bhanafeadainaira’bhòrd (NominativeCase)
DIRECTOBJECT Thogambalachamfeadan Thognabalaichnafeadain (AccusativeCase)
ADDRESSFORM ’Fheadain! Fheadana(ibh)! (VocativeCase)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
Chluichambalachportairanfheadan
Chluichnabalaichportairnafeadain
(DativeCase)
POSSESSIVE ’Stoilleamfuaimanfheadain!
’Stoilleamfuaimnamfeadan
(GenitiveCase)
e) Nounsbeginningwiths+vowel,sl,sn,sr:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT Thaansolusair Bhanasoluisair (NominativeCase)
DIRECTOBJECT Chunnaicmiansolus Chunnaicminasoluis (AccusativeCase)
ADDRESSFORM Asholuis! Asholusa(ibh!) (VocativeCase)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
Annsant-solus,… Leisnasoluis,…. (DativeCase)
POSSESSIVE blàthsant-soluis blàthsnansolus (GenitiveCase)
f) Nounsbeginningwithl,n,r:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT Thaanlaoghmireagach Thanalaoighmireagach (NominativeCase)
DIRECTOBJECT ChuirIainanlaogha-mach ChuirIainnalaoigha-mach (AccusativeCase)
ADDRESSFORM Alaoigh! Alaogha(ibh)! (VocativeCase)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
ThugIainbiadhdhanlaogh ThugIainbiadhdhanalaoigh (DativeCase)
POSSESSIVE Thugmàthairanlaoighdeochdha
Thugmàthairnanlaoghdeochdhaibh
(GenitiveCase)
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MasculineNounswithtwoormoresyllablesbelongingtothisdeclensionwhenhavingeainthelastsyllable:
aoibhneas,càirdeas,fìdhlear,inneal,gàirdean,ministear.Asyoumightexpect,ea➾ei in thepossessive (genitive);and except foraoibhneas, and càirdeas, these othernounshavepluralendingsin-an:fìdhlearan,gàirdeanan,innealan,ministearan.Notetheexception:airgead,whereea➾i(comparethesetothemen’snamesabove).
Note:withthenounmac,a➾i.Sincethisisawordthatisoftenused,itmightbeinstructivetoseeitsdeclensioninbrief:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT ammac namic (NominativeCase)
DIRECTOBJECT ammac namic (AccusativeCase)
ADDRESSFORM amhic! amhaca(ibh)! (VocativeCase)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’mhac aignamic (DativeCase)
POSSESSIVE taigha’mhic taighnammac (GenitiveCase)
35 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEFIRSTDECLENSIONMASCULINEWITHDEFINITEARTICLE,CONTINUED
Witha1stdeclension,masculinenounwithadefinitearticle,vowelchangesmayoccuralso:
a) òtoù:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT ambòrd:thetable nabùird:thetables
DIRECTOBJECT ambòrd:thetable nabùird:thetables
ADDRESSFORM Abhùird!:Otable! Abhòrda(ibh)!:Otables!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’bhòrd:atthetable aignabùird:atthetables
POSSESSIVE ceanna’bhùird:theheadofthetable meudnambòrd:thesizeofthetables
Similarwordsinclude:òrd(hammer);cnoc(hill);fonn(tune);tonn(wave);sonn(hero).
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b) eatoi:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT anceann thehead nacinn theheads
DIRECTOBJECT anceann thehead nacinn theheads
ADDRESSFORM Achinn! Ohead! Acheanna(ibh)! Oheads!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’cheann atthehead aignacinn attheheads
POSSESSIVE meuda’chinn thesizeofthehead meudnanceann
thesizeoftheheads
Similarwordsinclude:gleann(glen);fear(man).
c) eòtoiù:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT anseòl thesail nasiùil thesails
DIRECTOBJECT anseòl thesail nasiùil thesails
ADDRESSFORM Ashiùil! Osail! Asheòla(ibh)! Osails!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aigant-seòl atthesail aignasiùil atthesails
POSSESSIVE meudant-siùil thesizeofthesail meudnanseòl thesizeofthesails
d) eutoeò:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT ansgeul thestory nasgeòil thestories
DIRECTOBJECT ansgeul thestory nasgeòil thestories
ADDRESSFORM Asgeòil! Ostory! Asgeula(ibh)! Ostories!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aigansgeul atthestory aignasgeòil atthestories
POSSESSIVE feadhansgeòil thelengthofthestory feadhnansgeul theextentofthestories
Note:sgdoesnotlenite.
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Similarwordsincludebeul:mouth;neul:cloud
e) iatoéi:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT amfiadh thedeer naféidh thedeer(pl.)
DIRECTOBJECT amfiadh thedeer naféidh thedeer(pl.)
ADDRESSFORM ’fhéidh! Odeer! ’fhiadha(ibh)! Odeer!(pl.)
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiganfhiadh atthedeer aignaféidh atthedeer(pl.)
POSSESSIVE meudanfhéidh thesizeofthedeer meudnamfiadh thesizeofthedeer(pl.)
THEFIRSTDECLENSIONMASCULINEWITHADJECTIVES
a) WithouttheDefiniteArticle:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT bàrdmór agreatpoet bàirdmhóra greatpoets
DIRECTOBJECT bàrdmór agreatpoet bàirdmhóra greatpoets
ADDRESSFORM — — — —
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aigbàrdmór atagreatpoet aigbàirdmhóra atgreatpoets
POSSESSIVE bàirdmhóir agreatpoet’s bhàrdmóra greatpoets’
b) WiththeDefiniteArticle:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT ambàrdmór thegreatpoet nabàirdmhóra thegreatpoets
DIRECTOBJECT ambàrdmór thegreatpoet nabàirdmhóra thegreatpoets
ADDRESSFORM ABhàirdMhóir! Ogreatpoet! ABhàrda(ibh)M(h)óra! Ogreatpoets!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’bhàrdmhór atthegreatpoet aignabàirdmhóra atthegreatpoets
POSSESSIVE maca’bhàirdmhóir thesonofthegreatpoet
micnambàrdmóra thesonsofthegreatpoets
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Thinkagainofthemeaningoftheverbalnouns;forexample,a’togail(atlifting(of)).Ifyouputanounafterit,itmustgointothepossessive(genitive)case,asina’togaila’chinn.
Hereareafewmore:a’cluinntinna’bhàird,aginnseansgeòil,a’marbhadhanfhéidh,andsoon.
Itshouldbenotedthattraditionally,whenanindefinitenounfollowedaverbalnoun,thatnounwouldbeputinthegenitivecase;today,especiallyinScotland,thatisnolongerdoneexceptperhapsinformalwriting.
Alsonote:mostoften,theadjectivefollowsthenoun.BUTwithdroch(bad);deagh(good);sean (old), the adjective comes first. For example, droch shìde, deagh dhùrachd, seanndaoine;thiscanalsooccurinwordslikemór-chuid(greatportion,majority).Youmayhavenoticedthatintheexampleofseanndaoine,whenawordendsin-nandthefollowingwordbeginswithd-ort-,theselasttwoconsonantswillnotlenite.Thinkofthesong“Horo,monigheandonnbhòidheach”.
ThislastexamplebringstomindanothergrammaticalconditioninGaelic.Whentwoormorenounsfolloweachotherinaseries,usuallyonlythelastonemaybeinthegenitivecase;forexample,meudmacSheumais(thesizeofJames’sson);bòidhcheadGleannBharraigh(thebeautyofBarraGlen).However,dependingonthemeaning,boththesecondandthirdnounsmay be in the possessive (genitive) case; for example, bàrdachd cogaidh Dhòmhnaill(Donald’swarpoetry,orliterally,“thepoetryofwarofDonald”).
CLEACHDADH
BhamacSheumaisa’teagasgaigSgoila’Chnuicabhasuidhichteairbarra’rathaidpìosa-machása’bhaile.’SeCoinneachant-ainmabh’air;bhae’nadhuineàrd,tapaidhaguschòrderisabhith’nathidsear,guh-àraidhgurab’iadluchd-ionnsachaidhògabh’aige,abhaèasgaidhagusmeasailairionnsachadh.Dh’fhosgailedorusant-seòmairaguschuireleabharnansgeulabh’aigeairandeasg:andiugh,bhiodhea’curanaithnenansgoilearaneachdraidhnanGàidheal,páirtdheneachdraidhacafhéin;agusbhiodhiada’leughadhSgeulAonghais,aruithairfalbhgumuirásanEileanSgitheanachnuairabhae’naghilleògagusabha,mudheireadh,’nabhàrddoChomannGàidhligSealainNuaidhe.“BidhnacuairteansiubhailaigAonghasinntinneachdhanasgoilearanagam”,smaoinichCoinneachrisfhéin.
FACLANa’teagasg:teaching cnoc:hill(possessive.cnuic) rathad:road comann:society,club
muir:sea Ant-EileanSgitheanach:theIsleofSkye a’leughadh:reading
eachdraidh(f.):history,tradition,story àrd:high,tall èasgaidh:willing,nimble,active
tapaidh:smart/manly seòmar:room measailair:fondof,keenon barr:top,summit
cuairt(f.):circuit,excursion luchd-ionnsachaidh:learners a’siubhal:travelling
guh-àraidh:especially SealanNuadh(f.):NewZealand inntinneach:interesting
cuairtsiubhail:adventure aithne(f.):knowledge/acquaintance
suidhichte:situated(pastparticipleofa’suidheachadh) pìos:“apiece”,ashortdistance
48
36 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEFIRSTDECLENSIONFEMININE
a) Hereisanexampleofa1stdeclension,feminine(f.)nounwithoutthedefinitearticle:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT beinn amountain beanntan mountains
DIRECTOBJECT beinn amountain beanntan mountains
ADDRESSFORM — — — —
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aigbeinn atamountain aigbeanntan atmountains
POSSESSIVE meudbeinne thesizeofamountain meudbheanntan thesizeofmountains
b) Hereisanexampleofa1stdeclension,femininenounwiththedefinitearticle:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT a’bheinn themountain nabeanntan themountains
DIRECTOBJECT a’bheinn themountain nabeanntan themountains
ADDRESSFORM Abheinn! Omountain! Abheanntan! Omountains!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’bheinn atthemountain aignabeanntan atthemountains
POSSESSIVE meudnabeinne thesizeofthemountain meudnambeann(tan)
thesizeofthemountains
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THEFIRSTDECLENSIONFEMININEWITHADJECTIVES
a) Hereisanexampleofa1stdeclension,indefinitefemininenounwithanadjective:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT beinnmhór abig/greatmountain beanntanmóra bigmountains
DIRECTOBJECT beinnmhór abigmountain beanntanmóra bigmountains
ADDRESSFORM — — — —
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aigbeinnmhóir atabigmountain aigbeanntanmóra atbigmountains
POSSESSIVE meudbeinnemóire thesizeofamountain meudbheanntanmóra thesizeofmountains
b) Hereisanexampleofa1stdeclension,definitefemininenounwithanadjective:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT a’bheinnmhór thebigmountain nabeanntanmóra thebigmountains
DIRECTOBJECT a’bheinnmhór thebigmountain nabeanntanmóra thebigmountains
ADDRESSFORM Abheinnmhór! Obigmountain! Abheanntanmóra! Obigmountains!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’bheinnmhóir atthebigmountain aignabeanntanmóra atthebigmountains
POSSESSIVE meudnabeinnemóire thesizeofthemountain
meudnambeanntanmóra
thesizeofthebigmountains
Noticehowthearticlechangesnotjustbetweensingularandplural,butwithineachone;soit isna thatweuse inthegenitivesingular,butthat’swhatwealsouse inthenominativeplural.Intheplural,thearticlechangesfromnatonaminthegenitiveplural.Also,thearticleinthepluralcasescoincideswithitsuseinthemasculinepluralcases.
Noticetoothattheadjectiveagreeswiththenouninthefemininedativecasesingular.
Otherfemininenounsinthisdeclension:
làmh–pl.làmhan(hand);glùn–pl.glùintean(knee);rann–pl.rannanorranntaichean(verse);bròg–pl.brògan(shoe).
Wordswithvowelsoundchange:
cas/cois/coise/casan;fras/frois/froise/frasan;clann/cloinn/cloinne;grian/gréin/gréine;crìoch/crìch/crìche/crìochan; creag/creig/creige/creagan; caileag/caileig/caileig(e)/caileagan
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Note:seehowifiguresinthedativecaseinthisdeclension:
’namlàimh(inmyhand);aira’ghlùin(ontheknee);annsa’bhròig(intheshoe);airchois(onfoot);fo’nghréin(underthesun);aiga’chaileig(atthegirl)
ThefemininedativecasehasallbutdisappearedinScottishGaelicusage–exceptforfixedphrases (’nam làimh,air chois); however, it is still found in Nova Scotiawhere themoretraditionalformsareoftenpreferred.
Alsonote:thewordabhainn (river) losesasyllable inthegenitivecasebeforeaddingtheending:aibhne,(pl.)aibhnichean.
CLEACHDADH
Seònaid:Défo’nghréinath’agada’sin,aChaluim?
Calum: Chaneilannachseannfhìdheallalorgmiaira’lobhtaidh(ShuidhCalumsìos,chuireanfhìdheallairaghlùin,agusshuatheamheuranairteudannafìdhle).
Seònaid:Cóannsanteaghlachabhiodha’seinnnafìdhle,aChaluim?
Calum: Mosheanair–amfearachaillabheathaaigàma’ChogaidhMhóir.
Seònaid:Bhiodh mo sheanair-sa a’ seinn na pìoba anns a’ réisimeid aige – NaSìophortaich.
Calum: Ambitheadh?Bhamis’airsonabhith’namphìobairachcharobhancothromagam.
Seònaid:Carson nach ionnsaich thu fìdhlearachd air an fhìdhill a lorg thu? (Las ashùilean).
Calum: Abheilthua’smaoineachadh…?
Seònaid:Thagudearbh,aChaluim!Siuthadthusa–thaearbs’agamásad.
FACLAN
fìdheall(f.):fiddle airanfhìdhill:onthefiddle ceòlnafìdhle:themusicofthefiddle
a’call:losing teud(-an):string(s) a’lorg:finding/discovering àm:time
beatha(f.):life a’suathadh:touching/rubbing siuthad!:goon! cogadh:war
NaSìophortaich:TheSeaforthHighlanders lobht(aidh):loft cothrom:opportunity
a’lasadh:lighting(up)/kindling
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37 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THE“SMALL”DECLENSIONS
Thedefinitearticlecontinuestofollowtherulesthatbelongtothetwomaindeclensions.
a) Familynamesloseiinthegenitivesingular;here’sanexamplewithoutadefinitearticle:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT/DIRECTOBJECT màthair amother màthraichean mothers
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aigmàthair atamother aigmàthraichean atmothers
POSSESSIVE macmàthar amother’sson micmhàthraichean mothers’sons
b) Withthedefinitearticle:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT/DIRECTOBJECT a’mhàthair themother namàthraichean mothers
ADDRESSFORM amhàthair! Omother! amhàthraichean! Omothers!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’mhàthair atthemother aignamàthraichean atthemothers
POSSESSIVE macnamàthar themother’sson micnammàthraichean themothers’sons
c) Thewordsathair,bràthair,seanair,seanmhairbehavesimilarly,BUTpiutharisirregular.
Withnodefinitearticle,wehave:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT/DIRECTOBJECT piuthar asister peathraichean sisters
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aigpiuthair atasister aigpeathraichean atsisters
POSSESSIVE macpeathar asister’sson micpheathraichean sisters’sons
Withthedefinitearticle:
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Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT/DIRECTOBJECT a’phiuthar thesister napeathraichean thesisters
ADDRESSFORM aphiuthair! Osister! apheathraiche! Osisters!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’phiuthair atthesister aignapeathraichean atthesisters
POSSESSIVE macnapeathar thesister’sson micnampeathraichean thesisters’sons
d) Nouns,masculineorfeminine,withgenitivesingularendingin-abehaveabitstrangely;someofthosenounsloseasyllablebeforetheendingisaddedandotherschangethevowel:
loch(m.):meudanlocha(thesizeoftheloch)
dùthaich(f.):a’moladhnadùthcha(praisingthecountry)
feòil(f.):blasnafeòla(thetasteofthemeat)
fuil(f.):dathnafala(thecolouroftheblood)
sùil(f.):solusnasùla(thelightoftheeye)
druim(m.):neartandroma(thestrengthoftheback)
Samhainn(f.):OidhchenaSamhna(Halloweennight)
mil(f.):blasnameala(thetasteofhoney)
e) Possessive(genitive)singularendingin-(e)ach:
Nounsendingin-r:litir(f.):naidheachdnalitreach(thenewsoftheletter);obair(f.):dìthobrach(lackofwork);suipear(f.),dinnear(f.):àmnasuipearach/nadinnearach(thetimeofthesupper/dinner➾suppertime/dinnertime);caora (f.) :cloimhnacaorach(thesheep’swool–seeDwelly’sDictionaryforthefulldeclension).
Nounsendingin-l:anail(f.)becomesanalach
Note:todayyouwillalsohearàmnadinneir/suipeir.
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f) Irregularnouns:piuthar(f.)(sister–seeabove)
bean(f.)(woman,wife):
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT/DIRECTOBJECT a’bhean thewoman namnathan women
ADDRESSFORM abhean! Owoman/wife! amhnathan! Owomen!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’mhnaoi atthewoman aignamnathan atthewomen
POSSESSIVE macnamnà thewoman’sson micnammnathan thewomen’ssons
muir(m./f.)(sea):
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT/DIRECTOBJECT ammuir(a’mhuir) thesea namarannan theseas
ADDRESSFORM amhuir! Osea! Amharannan! Oseas!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’mhuir atthesea aignamarannan attheseas
POSSESSIVE sealladhnamara theviewofthesea cunnartnammarannan
thedangeroftheseas
bó(f.)(cow):
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT/DIRECTOBJECT a’bhó thecow nabà thecows
ADDRESSFORM abhó! Ocow! — —
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’bhó(bhoin) atthecow aignabà atthecows
POSSESSIVE ainmnabà thecow’sname àireamhnambó thenumberofthecows
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cù(m.)(dog):
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
SUBJECT/DIRECTOBJECT ancù thedog nacoin thedogs
ADDRESSFORM achoin! Odog! achona! Odogs!
PREPOSITIONALPHRASE(IndirectObject)
aiga’chù atthedog aignacoin atthedogs
POSSESSIVE ainma’choin thedog’sname obairnancon theworkofthedogs
Alba(f.):Scotland:
InScotlanditself➾annanAlba,Gàidhlignah-Alba
InNovaScotia–andtraditionally➾annanAlbainn,Gàidhlignah-Albann.
ComparewithÉire(f.):Ireland;➾annanÉirinn,Gàidhlignah-Éireann.ScotlandtendstouseÉirinnforthesubjectform.
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38 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
ADDENDUMTOTHEPOSSESSIVE(GENITIVE)CASE
Complexprepositionslikethefollowingexamplestakethepossessive(genitive)caseinGaelic:
Ásdéidh,ásdeoghaidh(after):
ásdéidhSheumais;ásdéidhant-samhraidh;ásdéidhnamàthar
Ásaonais(without):
ásaonaisDhòmhnaill;ásaonaisnancompanach;ásaonaisa’bhalaich
Airfeadh(throughout):
airfeadhant-saoghail;airfeadhnabeinne;airfeadhnadùthcha
Airbeulaibh(infront(of)):
airbeulaibhantaighe;airbeulaibhm’athar
Aircùlaibh(behind):
aircùlaibhant-sabhail;aircùlaibhnacreige
Airson(forthesake(of)):
airsona’ghille;airsonnacaileige;airsonmopheathar
Ammeasg(among,inthemidst(of)):
ammeasgdhaoine;ammeasgant-sluaigh
Adh’ionnsaidh(towards):
adh’ionnsaidhnamara;adh’ionnsaidha’rathaidmhóir
A-réir(accordingto):
a-réirChaluim;a-réircholtais;a-réirmosheanar
Athaobh(concerning):
athaobha’chùrsa;athaobhnaGàidhlig;athaobhdobhràthar
Ritaobh(beside):
ritaobha’ghàraidh;ritaobha’chladaich;ritaobhnah-aibhne
Mudhéidhinn,mudheoghainn(about,onthesubjectof):
mudhéidhinna’bhalaich
Muchoinneimh(opposite):
muchoinneimha’bhùird;muchoinneimhandoruis
Ochionn,bhochionn(since):
bhochionnbhliadhnaichean;bhochionngreiseig
Thar(across):
thara’chuain
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Note : inEnglish,wewouldsay“afterme”,“afteryou”,etc. InGaelic,wemustresorttoapossessiveadjectivephrase:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
FIRSTPERSON ásmodhéidh afterme ásardéidh afterus
SECONDPERSON ásdodhéidh afteryou ásurdéidh afteryou
THIRDPERSON(M.) ásadhéidh afterhimásandéidh afterthem
THIRDPERSON(F.) ásadéidh afterher
Noticehowtherulesofthepossessiveadjectiveareobeyed.
Here’sanotherexamplethatonlyworksintheplural:
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
FIRSTPERSON – – ’narmeasg inourmidst
SECONDPERSON – – ’nurmeasg inyour(pl.)midst
THIRDPERSON(M.) – –’nammeasg intheirmidst
THIRDPERSON(F.) – –
CLEACHDADH
a) RuithIainguluathásdéidhabhràthar.b) Charobhabheanairsondolaira’bhàtaidir(bàta:boat).c) BhaEilidhbheag’nasuidheairglùinah-atharagéisdeachdriSgeula’ChoinGhlice.d) Chaneilmiairsondolannásd’aonais!
e) Bhiodhm’athaira’bleoghannnabàgachmadainn(a’bleoghann:milking).
f) AneGàidhlignah-Albannathathuagionnsachadh?g) Bhruidhinnmirisantidsearathaobhadhartasmomhic(adhartas:progress).
h) Thaantaigh-shamhraidhagamritaobhnamara.
i) Cóbhaaigcoinneimhnammnathananraoir?(coinneamh(f.):meeting)
j) ’SeLochNisainmanlochasin.
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39 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
IRREGULARVERBS:THEPASTTENSE
Apartfromthebasicverb“tobe”andthecopula(assertiveverb“tobe”),wehaveonlyTENirregularverbsinGaelic:a’dol(going);a’tighinn(coming);a’ruigsinn(reaching,arrivingat);a’cluinntinn(hearing);agràdh(saying);a’dèanamh(doing,making);a’faicinn(seeing);a’faighinn(finding,receiving,getting);a’breith(bearing–achild),andusingair–a’breithair(catching); a’ toirt (giving, taking, bringing).This last verb is a transactional verb; you willrecognizethemeaningfromthepreposition–do,bho,le–thataccompaniesit.Asonewouldexpect,theseareallfrequently-usedverbs.
a) VerbalNoun:a’dol Root:rach!(inLewisdialects:theirig)
Chaidhmidhachaidh:Iwenthome
Chadeachmiann:Ididn’tgo(init–there)
Andeachthudhanchoinneimh?:Didyougotothemeeting?
Nachdeachthucòmhlarithe?:Didn’tyougowithher?
Chaidh:Yes;Chadeach:No
Thaea’cantainngundeacheann:Hesays(that)hewent.
Thaea’cantainnnachdeacheann:Hesays(that)hedidn’tgo.
b) VerbalNoun:a’tighinn Root:thig!
Thàinigmidhachaidh:Icamehome
Chad’thàinigiaddhanchoinneimh:Theydidn’tcometothemeeting
And’thàinigidhachaidhanraoir?:Didshecomehomelastnight?
Nachd’thàinigambus?:Didn’tthebuscome?
Thàinig:Yes;Chad’thàinig:No
Thaeagràdhgund’thàinigambus:Hesays(that)thebuscame.
Thaeagràdhnachd’thàinigambus:Hesays(that)thebusdidn’tcome.
c) VerbalNoun:a’ruigsinn Root:ruig!
Ràinigmiantaigh:Ireached/arrivedatthehouse.
Chad’ràinigmigudeichuairean:Ididn’tarriveuntil10o’clock.
And’ràinigefhathast?:Didhearriveyet?
Nachd’ràinigiadantaigh?:Didn’ttheyreachthehouse?
Ràinig:Yes;Chad’ràinig:No
BhaIainagràdhgund’ràinigMàiriantaighanmochanraoir:IainwassayingthatMàirireachedthehouse(arrivedhome)latelastnight.
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NachrobhIainagràdhnachd’ràinigMairiantaighfhathast?:Wasn’tIainsayingthatMàirididn’treachthehouse(arrivehome)yet?
d) VerbalNoun:a’cluinntinn Root:cluinn!
Chualamiannaidheachd:Iheardthenews(story).
Chachualamiguth:Ididn’thearaword(literally,“avoice”)
Ancualatucóbh’ann?:Didyouhearwhowasthere?(init)
NachcualasibhgurobhMàiria’tighinndhachaidh?:Didn’tyouhearthatMàiriwascominghome?
Chuala:Yes;Chachuala:No
BhaIainagràdhguncual’eannaidheachdmuthràth:Iainwassaying(that)heheardthenewsalready/earlier.
Cóbhaagràdhnachcual’Iainannaidheachd?:Whowassaying(that)Iaindidn’thearthenews?
Note:afterthefinal-a,tu.
e) VerbalNoun:agràdh Root:abair!
Thuirtminachdochaidilmiglémhath:Isaid(that)Ididn’tsleepverywell.
Chad’thuirtmifacal:Ididn’tsayaword.
And’thuirtesin?:Didhesaythat?
Nachd’thuirtamministearsin?:Didn’ttheministersaythat?
Thuirt:Yes;Chad’thuirt:No
Dh’innisMàiridhomhgund’thuirtIainsin:MàiritoldmethatIainsaidthat.
Thamis’ ag innse dhut nach d’ thuirt Iain sion : I’m telling you that Iain didn’t sayanything.
f) VerbalNoun:a’dèanamh Root:dèan!
Rinnmim’obair:Ididmywork.
Chad’rinnmision:Ididn’tdoanything.
And’rinnthusin?:Didyoudothat?
Nachd’rinnthud’obair?:Didn’tyoudoyourwork?
Rinn:Yes;Chad’rinn:No
Thaea’cantainngund’rinne’obair:Hesays(that)hedidhiswork.
Thaia’cantainnnachd’rinnision:Shesays(that)shedidn’tdoanything.
g) VerbalNoun:a’faicinn Root:faic!
Chunnaicmieandé:Isawhimyesterday.
Chanfhacamieidir:Ididn’tseehimatall.
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Amfacatuefhathast?:Didyouseehimyet?
Nachfhacatuandotair?:Didn’tyouseethedoctor?
Chunnaic:Yes/Chanfhaca:No
Thaeagràdhgumfac’eMàirianraoir:Hesays(that)hesawMàirilastnight.
ThaIainagràdhnachfhac’eMàiriidir:Iainsays(that)hedidn’tseeMàiriatall.
h) VerbalNoun:a’faighinn Root:faigh!
Fhuairmiannaidheachd:Ireceived/gotthenews
Chad’fhuairmianlitir:Ididn’tgettheletter.
And’fhuairthulitirbhodomhàthair?:Didyougetaletterfromyourmother?
Nachd’fhuairthuanlitir?:Didn’tyougettheletter?
Fhuair:Yes;Chad’fhuair:No
Tham’athaira’cantainngund’fhuaireannaidheachd :Myfathersayshegotthenews.
Thamomhàthair a’ cantainn nach d’ fhuair i fios :Mymother says she didn’t getknowledge/word.
Remember fhathast and fhéin –where fh ispronouncedh?Fhuair is the thirdwordwherethisoccurs.
i) VerbalNoun:a’breith Root:beir!
Rugileanabh:Sheboreachild.
Chad’rugianleanabhfhathast:Shedidn’tbearthechildyet➾Shedidn’thavethebabyyet.
And’rugthuaira’bhàla?:Didyoucatchtheball?
Nachd’rugthuaira’bhàla?Didn’tyoucatchtheball?
Rug:Yes;Chad’rug:No
Thaea’cantainngund’rugeoirre:Hesayshecaught(upwith)her.
Thaea’cantainnnachd’rugeorra:Hesayshedidn’tcatch(upwith)them.
j) VerbalNoun:a’toirt Root:thoir!
Thugmidhute:Igaveittoyou;Thugmibhuate:Itookitfromyou;
Thugmileame:Itook/broughtit/himwithme.
Chad’thugmidhute:Ididn’tgiveittoyou.
And’thugmidhute?:DidIgiveittoyou?
Nachd’thugmidhute?:Didn’tIgiveittoyou?
Thug:Yes;Chad’thug:No
Thamiaginnsedhutgund’thugmidhute:I’mtellingyou(that)Igaveittoyou.
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Thaea’cantainnnachd’thugedhute:Hesays(that)hedidn’tgiveittoyou.
CLEACHDADH–CÒMHRADH:
ThàinigMòraga-staighairandorusaguschunnaiciAnnaa’nigheadaireachd.
“Thathutrangandiugh!”thuirti.“Thalàbreaghann–bidhant-aodachtioramannanùineghoirid!”
“Bithidh,”fhreagairAnna.“Dèansuidhe–bidhfeumagadaircupatì!”
ChuirAnnaa’choireairagusthugibriosgaideana-machása’phreas.Fhuairibainneagussiùcaraguschuiriaira’bhòrdiad.Thòisicha’choirea’feadalaichagusdhòirtAnnaant-uisgeannsa’phoit.
“Chanithmisionleisantì,”thuirtMòrag.“Thamiagithecusrudanmilis.”
Charobhefadagusanrobhandithis’nansuidheagòltì.
“Déa’sùr?Ancualatunaidheachdsambith?”dh’fhaighnichAnna.
“ChualamigundochaillMurchadhanobairaige–bidhesana’dola-mach‘west’marachaidhiomadhduin’eile”.
“’Sbochdsin!”fhreagairAnna.“Nachmathgubheilanduineagadfhéinagobairah-uilelà!”
“’Smath!”
CEISDEAN
Cóthàiniga-staigh?
Cóbhaannsantaigh?
Débhaia’dèanamh?
Anrobhitrang?
Dé’nseòrsalàabh’ann?
DéthuirtAnna?
DérinnAnna?
DéthuirtMòragnuairathugAnnaa-machnabriosgaidean?
Dé’nnaidheachdachualaMòrag?CiamarafhreagairAnna?
FACLANa'nigheadaireachd:washing(clothes),doingawash preas:cupboard
a'feadalaich:whistling rudanmilis:"sweetthings" andithis:thepair,thetwo(people)
Déa'sùr?:What'snew?(literally,“whatisitthatisnew?”) a'faighneachd:asking
a’call:losing caill!:lose iomadh:manya.....
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40 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
IRREGULARVERBS:THEFUTURETENSE
Aswiththepasttenseofirregularverbs,therootwillnotnecessarilyhelpyoutofigureoutthefutureverbforms!However,a’ruigsinn,a’cluinntinn,agràdh,anda’breithdobehaveregularlyinthefuture,allderivingfromtheroot.
a) Rach!Go! Theirig!Go!
Théidmidhanchéilidh:Iwillgototheceilidh.
Chatéidmiann:Iwon’tgo(there/init/toit).
Antéidthucòmhlarium?:Willyougo(along)withme?
Nachtéidthuann?:Won’tyougo?
Théid:Yes;Chatéid:No
Thaea’cantainnguntéideann:Hesays(that)he’llgo.
Thaia’cantainnnachtéidiseann:Shesaysshewon’t(willnot)go.
Có(a)théidann?:Whowillgo?
Càit’antéidthu?:Wherewillyougo?
b) Thig!Come!
ThigMàiridhachaidhannochd:Marywillcomehometonight.
Chatigidhachaidhgusammàireach:Shewon’tcomehomeuntiltomorrow.
Antigthucòmhlarium?:Willyoucomewithme?
Nachtigthu?:Won’tyoucome?
Thig:Yes;Chatig:No
Thaeagràdhguntige:Hesayshe’llcome.
Chaneileagràdhnachtige:Hedoesn’tsayhewon’tcome.
Cuin’athigthu?:Whenwillyoucome?
Carsonnachtigthu?:Whywon’tyoucome?
c) Ruig!Reach!Arrive!
Ruigidhmiammàireach:I’llarrivetomorrow.
Charuigegusanathsheachdain:Hewon’tarriveuntil(the)nextweek.
Anruigthuantaighannochd?:Willyoureach/arriveatthehousetonight?
Nachruigeandiugh?:Won’thearrivetoday?
Ruigidh:Yes;Charuig:No
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Thaeagràdhgunruigeanmoch:Hesayshe’llarrivelate.
Thaeagràdhnachruigegumeadhonoidhche:Hesayshewon’tarriveuntilmidnight.
Cuin’aruigeastu?:Whenwillyouarrive?
Carsonnachruigeandiugh?:Whywon’thearrivetoday?
d) Cluinn!Hear!
Cluinnidhmianceòl:Iwillhearthemusic.
Chachluinnmifacal:Iwon’thearaword.
Ancluinnthumi?:Willyouhearme?
Nachcluinnthuanfhuaim?:Won’tyouhearthenoise?
Cluinnidh:Yes;Chachluinn:No
Thaeagràdhguncluinnemi:Hesayshe’llhearme.
Thaeagràdhnachcluinnemi:Hesayshewon’thearme.
Cóachluinneassinn?:Whowillhearus?
Càit’ancluinnsinnanceòl?:Wherewillwehearthemusic?
e) Abair!Say!
Abraidhmisinrithe:Iwillsaythattoher.
Chanabairmision:Iwon’tsayanything.
Anabairthusinris?:Willyousaythattohim?
Nachabairthuamfacal?:Won’tyousaytheword?
Abraidh:Yes;Chanabair:No
Thaea’cantainngunabairesinrithe:Hesayshe’llsaythattoher.
Thaea’cantainnnachabairesion:Hesayshewon’tsayanything.
Déadh’abrastu?:Whatwillyousay?
Ciamaradh’abrastu“word”annsa’Ghàidhlig?:Howwillyou(doyou)say“word”inGaelic?
Càit’anabairthue?:Wherewillyousayit?
NOTE:thefutureformofa’cantainnisusedinmanydialectsinsteadofthefutureformofagràdh.However,a’cantainnhasnopasttenseforms;sothuirt,etc.arealwaysusedinstead.
f) Dèan!Do!Make!
Nimimodhὶcheall:Iwilldomyutmost/best.
Chadèanmision:Iwon’tdoanything.
Andèanthusindhomh?:Willyoudothatforme?
Nachdèanthusindhomh?:Won’tyoudothatforme?
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Ni:Yes;Chadèan:No
Thaeagràdhgundèanesindhomh:Hesayshe’lldothatforme.
Thaeagràdhnachdèanesiondhomh:Hesayshewon’tdoanythingforme.
Dé(a)nimi?:WhatwillIdo?
Càit’andèanmie?:WherewillIdoit?
g) Faic!See!
Chìmithuammàireach:I’llseeyoutomorrow.
Chanfhaicmithugusammàireach:Iwon’tseeyouuntiltomorrow.
Amfaicmithuannochd?:WillIseeyoutonight?
Nachfhaicmithuaiga’chéilidh?:Won’tIseeyouattheceilidh?
Chì:Yes;Chanfhaic:No
Thaeagràdhgumfaicesinnannsa’chlas:Hesayshewillseeusin(the)class.
Thaeagràdhnachfhaicesinngusannochd:Hesayshewon’tseeusuntiltonight.
Cuin’achìmithu?:WhenwillIseeyou?
Càit’amfaicmithu?:WherewillIseeyou?
h) Faigh!Get!Receive!Find!
Gheibh/Gheobhmianleabhardhut:I’llgetthebookforyou.
Chanfhaighmifois:Iwon’tget/findrest.
Amfaighmilitirbhuat?:WillIget/receivealetterfromyou?
Nachfhaighthusindhomh?:Won’tyougetthatforme?
Gheibh(Gheobh):Yes;Chanfhaigh:No
Thaea’cantainngumfaighefios:Hesayshe’llgetword(knowledge/info).
Thaea’cantainnnachfhaighefois:Hesayshe’llnotfindrest.
Cuin’agheibh(gheobh)militirbhuat?:WhenwillIgetaletterfromyou?
Càit’amfaighmiSeumas?:WherewillIfindJames?
i) Beir!Bear(achild)!Catch!
Beiridhileanabh:Shewillbearachild.
Chabheireort:Hewon’tcatch(upwith)you.
Ambeirthuairsindhomh?:Willyoucatchthatforme?
Nachbeirsinnorra?:Won’twecatch(upwith)them?
Beiridh:Yes;Chabheir:No
Thaeagràdhgumbeireoirnn:Hesayshe’llcatch(upwith)us.
Thaeagràdhnachbeirsinnair:Hesayswewon’tcatchhim.
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Cóabheireasaira’bhàla?:Whowillcatchtheball?
Càit’ambeirianleanabh?:Wherewillshebear(have)thechild?
j) Thoir!Give!Take!Bring!
Bheirmidhute:I’llgiveittoyou.
Chatoirmibhuate:Iwon’ttakeitfromyou.
Antoirmileame?:WillIbringhim/itwithme?
Nachtoirthuleatmi?:Won’tyoutakemewithyou?
Bheir:Yes;Chatoir:No
Thaea’cantainnguntoireleissinn:Hesayshe’lltakeuswithhim.
Thaea’cantainnnachtoirebhuame:Hesayshewon’ttakeitfromme.
Déabheirthudhuinn?:Whatwillyougiveus?
Càit’antoirthusinn?:Wherewillyoutakeus?
CLEACHDADH–CÒMHRADH:
BhalàbrèaghannagusbhaEilidhagusCaileana’smaoineachadhairdolairturasannsa’chàr.
Eilidh: Càit’antéidsinn,aChailein?
Cailean: Antoirsinnsgrìobdhana’ChladachaTuathathadhalairarcàirdean?
Eilidh: FónaidhmiagusinnsidhmidoMhàirigubheilsinna’tighinn.Bheirsinnleinnbiadh–nachtéidthudhanghàradhagusfaighglasraich?Càl,curranan,iseile.
Cailean: Nimisin–agusantoirsinnleinnantrosgsàillte?
Eilidh: Bheir.Còrdaidhsinriutha.Antoirmileammochòta?
Cailean: Chaneilmia’creidsinngumbifeumaircòta.Thairobhlàth.
Eilidh: Thathuceart.Siuthad,matha–greasort!
CEISDEAN
a) Dé’nseòrsalàabh’ann?DébhaEilidhagusCaileana’smaoineachadh?
b) DéthuirtEilidh?DéthuirtCailean?
c) DéniEilidh?Débheiriadleotha?
d) Déacheisdabh’aigCailean?AncòrdantrosgriteaghlachMàiri?
e) Carsonnachbifeumaircòta?DéthuirtEilidhriCailean?
f) Antoilleatfhéinabhitha’dolairturasannsa’chàr?
FACLAN
turas:trip sgrìob(f.):jaunt,excursion càl:cabbage curran(an):carrot(s) trosg:cod
glasraich(f.):greens,vegetables sàillte:salted iseile:andother(things),etc.
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41 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
IRREGULARVERBS:THECONDITIONALTENSEForSEVENoftheirregularverbs,thistenseisbuiltontherootoftheverb;fora’faicinn,a’faighinn,anda’toirt,thepositiveformisbasedonthefuturetensepositiveformwhiletheancillaryformsreverttobeingbuiltontheroot(seebelow).Aswiththebasicverb‘tobe’,1stpersonformsincludethepronoun.
a) a’dol:going; rach!:go!
Singilte/Singular Iolra/Plural
FIRSTPERSON Rachainn Iwouldgo (Rachamaid)Rachadhsinn
Wewouldgo
SECONDPERSON Rachadhtu You(thou)wouldgo Rachadhsibh You(all)wouldgo
THIRDPERSON(M.) Rachadhe He/itwouldgoRachadhiad Theywouldgo
THIRDPERSON(F.) Rachadhi She/itwouldgo
Andso:
Charachainn/charachadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:I,you,etc.wouldn’tgo.
Anrachainn?/anrachadhtu,e,isinn,sibh,iad?:WouldI,you,etc.go?
Nachrachainn?/nachrachadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?:Wouldn’tI,you,etc.go?
Rachadh:Yes;Charachadh:No
…gunrachainn:thatIwouldgo;…gunrachadhtu,etc.
…nachrachainn:thatIwouldn’tgo;…nachrachadhtu,etc.
Also:rachamaid/charachamaid/anrachamaid/nachrachamaid/...gunrachamaid/…nachrachamaid.
Note:intheLewisdialect,theirigisusedinsteadofrach;so,theiriginn,chateiriginn,anteiriginn?,nachteiriginn?…gunteiriginn,…nachteiriginn;theirigeadhtu,etc.
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b) a’tighinn:coming; thig!:come!
Thiginn:Iwouldcome;thigeadhtu,etc.:you,etc.,wouldcome
Chatiginn:Iwouldn’tcome;chatigeadhtu,etc.:you,etc.,wouldn’tcome
Antiginn?:WouldIcome?;antigeadhtu,etc.?:wouldyou,etc.,come?
Nachtiginn?:Wouldn’tIcome?;nachtigeadhtu,etc.?:wouldn’tyou,etc.,come?
Thigeadh:Yes;Chatigeadh:No
…guntiginn:…thatIwouldcome;…guntigeadhtu,etc.
…nachtiginn:…thatIwouldn’tcome;…nachtigeadhtu,etc.
c) a’ruigsinn:reaching/arrivingat; ruig!:reach!
Ruiginn:Iwouldreach;ruigeadhtu,etc.:you,etc.,wouldreach
Charuiginn:Iwouldn’treach;charuigeadhtu,etc.:you,etc.,wouldn’treach
Anruiginn?:WouldIreach?;anruigeadhtu,etc.?:wouldyou,etc.,reach?
Nachruiginn?:Wouldn’tIreach?;nachruigeadhtu,etc.?:wouldn’tyou,etc.,reach?
Ruigeadh:Yes/Charuigeadh:No
…gunruiginn:…thatIwouldreach;…gunruigeadhtu,etc.
…nachruiginn:…thatIwouldn’treach;…nachruigeadhtu,etc.
Cleachdadh
i. RuiginnanAbhainnMheadhonachtràth’sanfheasgar.
ii. Charuigeadheantaighguanmoch.
iii. Anruigeadhtusinsìosdhomh?Ruigeadh.
iv. NachruigeadhsibhanAbhainnaTuathfeasgar?v. Thaea’cantainngunruigeamaidmastigeadhanoidhche.
vi. Bhaea’cantainngunruigeadh iaddhachaidhannochdnanrobhsìdemhathann.
vii. Ruigeadhiaddhachaidhannochdmurrobhdrochshìd’ann.
d) a’cluinntinn:hearing; cluinn!:hear!
Chluinninn:Iwouldhear;chluinneadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Chachluinninn:Iwouldn’thear;chachluinneadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Ancluinninn?:WouldIhear?;ancluinneadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Nachcluinninn?:Wouldn’tIhear?;nachcluinneadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Chluinneadh:Yes;Chachluinneadh:No
…guncluinninn:…thatIwouldhear;…guncluinneadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
…nachcluinninn:…thatIwouldn’thear;…nachcluinneadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
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e) agràdh:saying; abair!:say!
Dh’abrainn:Iwouldsay;dh’abradhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Chanabrainn:Iwouldn’tsay;chanabradhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Anabrainn?:WouldIsay?;anabradhtu,tu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Nachabrainn?:Wouldn’tIsay?;nachabradhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Dh’abradh:Yes;Chanabradh:No
…gunabrainn:…thatIwouldsay;…gunabradhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
…nachabrainn:…thatIwouldn’tsay;……nachabradhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
f) a’dèanamh:doing/making; dèan!:do/make!
Dhèanainn:Iwoulddo;dhèanadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Chadèanainn:Iwouldn’tdo;chadèanadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Andèanainn?:WouldIdo?;andèanadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Nachdèanainn?:Wouldn’tIdo?;nachdèanadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Dhèanadh:Yes;Chadèanadh:No
…gundèanainn:…thatIwoulddo;…gundèanadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
…nachdèanadh:…thatIwouldn’tdo;…nachdèanadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
g) a’faicinn:seeing; faic!:see!
Chìthinn:Iwouldsee;chìtheadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Chanfhaicinn:Iwouldn’tsee;chanfhaiceadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Amfaicinn?:WouldIsee?;amfaiceadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Nachfhaicinn?:Wouldn’tIsee?;nachfhaiceadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Chìtheadh:Yes;Chanfhaiceadh:No
…gumfaicinn:…thatIwouldsee;…gumfaiceadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
…nachfhaicinn:…thatIwouldn’tsee;…nachfhaiceadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
h) a’faighinn:getting/receiving/finding; faigh!:get!/receive!/find!
Gheibhinn/gheobhainn:Iwouldget;gheibheadh/gheobhadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Chanfhaighinn:Iwouldn’tget;chanfhaigheadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Amfaighinn?:WouldIget?;amfaigheadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Nachfhaighinn?:Wouldn’tIget?;nachfhaigheadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Gheibheadh/Gheobhadh:Yes;Chanfhaigheadh:No
…gumfaighinn:…thatIwouldget;…gumfaigheadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
…nachfhaighinn:…thatIwouldn’tget;…nachfhaigheadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
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i) a’breith:bearing; beir!:bear(achild)!(withairitmeanscatching/catch!)
Bheirinn:Iwouldbear;bheireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Chabheirinn:Iwouldn’tbear;chabheireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Ambeirinn?:WouldIbear?;ambeireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Nachbeirinn?:Wouldn’tIbear?;nachbeireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Bheireadh:Yes;Chabheireadh:No
…gumbeirinn:…thatIwouldbear;…gumbeireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
…nachbeirinn:…thatIwouldn’tbear;…nachbeireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
j) a’toirt:giving/taking/bringing; thoir!:give!/take!/bring!
Bheirinn:Iwouldgive/take/bring;bheireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Chatoirinn:Iwouldn’tgive,etc.;chatoireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
Antoirinn?:WouldIgive?etc.;antoireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Nachtoirinn?:Wouldn’tIgive,etc.;nachtoireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?
Bheireadh:Yes;Chatoireadh:No
…guntoirinn:…thatIwouldgive,etc.;…guntoireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
…nachtoirinn:…thatIwouldn’tgive,etc.;…nachtoireadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad
TWOINCOMPLETEVERBS:MAY,MUST
These verbs are sometimes called “defective”; however, it’s better to think of them as“incomplete” since theyareonly available in imperative (root) and futureand conditionalforms.
Future:
a) faod!:may!
Faodaidhmi,tu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:I,you,he/it,she/it,we,you(pl.),theymay
Chanfhaodmi,thu,etc:I,you,etc.,maynot
Amfaodmi,thu,etc.?:MayI,you,etc.?
Nachfhaodmi,thu,etc.?:MayI,you,etc.,not?
Faodaidh:Yes;Chanfhaod:No
…gumfaodmi,thu,etc.:…thatI,you,etc.,may
…nachfhaodmi,thu,etc.:…thatI,you,etc.,maynot
Amfaodmisuidheanseo?Faodaidh.MayIsithere?Yes.
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b) feum!:must!
Feumaidhmi,tu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:I,you,he/itshe/it,we,you(pl.),theymust/needto
Chanfheummi,thu,etc.:I,you,etc.,mustn’t
Amfeummi,thu,etc.?:MustI,you,etc.?
Nachfheummi,thu,etc.?:Mustn’tI,you,etc.?
Feumaidh:Yes;Chanfheum:No
…gumfeummi,thu,etc.:…thatI,you,etc.,must
…nachfheummi,thu,etc.:…thatI,you,etc.,mustn’t
Feumaidhmifalbh:Imustgo
Conditional:
a) faod!:may!
Dh’fhaodainn:Imight;dh’fhaodadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:you,etc.,might
Chan fhaodainn : I might not (use for English “I would not be permitted”); chanfhaodadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:you,etc.,mightnot
Amfaodainn?:MightI?;amfaodadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?:mightyou,etc.?
Nachfhaodainn?:MightInot?;nachfhaodadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?:mightyou,etc.,not?
Dh’fhaodadh:Yes;Chanfhaodadh:No
…gumfaodainn:…thatImight;…gumfaodadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:thatyou,etc.,might
…nachfhaodainn:…thatImightnot;…nachfhaodadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:thatyou,etc.,mightnot
b) feum!:must!
Dh’fheumainn:Iwouldneedto;dh’fheumadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:you,etc.,wouldneedto
Chanfheumainn:Iwouldn’tneedto;chanfheumadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:you,etc.,wouldn’tneedto
Amfeumainn?:WouldIneedto?;amfeumadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad?:wouldyou,etc.,needto?
Nach fheumainn? :Wouldn’t I need to?;nach fheumadh tu, e, i, sinn, sibh, iad? :Wouldn’tyou,etc.,needto?
Dh’fheumadh:Yes;Chanfheumadh:No
…gumfeumainn:…thatIwouldneedto;…gumfeumadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:…thatyou,etc.,wouldneedto
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…nachfheumainn:…thatIwouldn’tneedto;…nachfheumadhtu,e,i,sinn,sibh,iad:…thatyou,etc.,wouldn’tneedto
CLEACHDADH–CÒMHRADH:
Anna: Déadhèanadhtu,aSheumais,nanrobhairgeadguleòragad?
Seumas:Bheirinndhut-fhéine!
Anna: Och–anfhìrinna-nis.Déadhèanadhtu?
Seumas:Uell,rachainnairturasdhant-seanndùthaich–tìrmoshinnsearan.
Anna: Antoireadhtumisecòmhlariut?
Seumas:Bheireadhgucinnteach!
Anna: Agusdé–nocó–achìtheadhsinna’sin,aSheumais?
Seumas:Nan rachadhsinndhanEileanSgitheanach, thamicinnteachgumfaiceadhsinncàirdeanann–agusAnCuilthionn,beanntanbrèagha,àrd’aneilein.
Anna: Smaoinich! Agus bhiodh sinn a’ bruidhinn na Gaidhlig ri a chéile, nachbitheadh?
Seumas:Bhitheadh,gudearbh!GheobhadhsinncàrairaneileanagusrachamaidairanaiseigdhaNaHearadh–agusanuairsin,aLeódhas….Anna’Steòrnabhagh,chìtheadhsinnancaisteal.
Anna: Cuin’adh’fhaodadhsinnfalbh?
Seumas:Nuairabhiosairgeadguleòragainn,aghràidh!
FACLANfìrinn,f.:truth tìr:land sinnsear:ancestor Ant-EileanSgitheanach:theIsleofSkye
cinnteach:sure,certain AnCuilthionn:TheCuillins smaoinich!:think!imagine!
achéile:eachother aiseag,f.:ferry NaHearadh:Harris Leódhas:(Isleof)Lewis
Steòrnabhagh:Stornoway
42 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEPASSIVEVOICE:REGULARVERBSBasic–butmoreformal/lesserused,passiveformsofregularverbs:
PASTPASSIVE:add-(e)adhtopositivepastform.Forexample:
Thòisicheadhanobair(Theworkwasbegun);chadothòisicheadhanobairguanmoch(theworkwasn’tbegununtillate);andothòisicheadhanobairfhathast?(wastheworkbegunyet?);nachdothòisicheadhanobairfhathast?:(wasn’ttheworkstartedyet?);
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chualamigundothòisicheadhanobair(Iheardtheworkwasstarted);chualaminachdothòisicheadhanobairfhathast(Iheardtheworkwasn’tstartedyet)
Thòisicheadh:Yes;Chadothòisicheadh:No
FUTUREPASSIVE:add-(e)artotherootoftheverb.Forexample:
Tòisichearanobairammàireach(theworkwillbestartedtomorrow);chatòisichearanobairgusammàireach(theworkwon’tbestarteduntiltomorrow);antòisichearanobairandiugh?(willtheworkbestartedtoday?);nachtòisichearanobairandiugh?(won’t the work be started today?); tha e a’ cantainn gun tòisichear an obair anceartuair (he says that the work will be started shortly); tha e a’ cantainn nachtòisichearanobairgusanathsheachdain(hesaysthattheworkwon’tbestarteduntilnextweek)
Tòisichear:Yes;Chatòisichear:No
CONDITIONALPASSIVE:add-t(e)adhtopositivepastform;actually,the-adhgetsdropped.Forexample:
Chuirteanlitir(the letterwouldbesent);chachuirteanlitir (the letterwouldn’tbesent);ancuirteanlitir?(wouldtheletterbesent?);nachcuirteanlitir?(wouldn’ttheletterbesent?);thuirteguncuirteanlitir(hesaidtheletterwouldbesent);thuirtenachcuirteanlitir(hesaidtheletterwouldn’tbesent)
Chuirte:Yes;Chachuirte:No
43 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEPASSIVEVOICE:IRREGULARVERBSBasicpassiveformsofirregularverbs;
Notea’dolanda’tighinndonothavetheseforms:
PASTPASSIVE:
a’ruigsinn:
Ràinigeadh/Chad’ràinigeadh,etc.:wasreached/wasn’treached,etc.
Ràinigeadhantaighaigmeadhonoidhche(Thehousewasreachedatmidnight)
a’cluinntinn:
Chualas/Cha(do)chualas,etc.:washeard/wasn’theard
Chualas an fhuaimair feadhan taighe (The sound/noisewasheard throughout thehouse)
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a’faicinn:
Chunnacas/Chanfhacas/Amfacas?/Nachfhacas?:wasseen/wasn’tseen/wasseen?etc.
Amfacasantaibhs’annsa’chladh?(Wastheghostseeninthegraveyard?)
a’dèanamh:
Rinneadh/Chad’rinneadh,etc.:wasdone/wasn’tdone,etc.
Rinneadha’chùis/angnothachair!(literally“thematterwasdoneonhim”–Hewasdefeated)
a’faighinn:
Fhuaras,Fhuaradh/Chad’fhuaradh:wasreceived,found/wasn’treceived,etc.
FhuarasannaidheachdbhoMhàiri(ThenewswasreceivedfromMary)
agràdh:
Thuirteadh/Chad’thuirteadh:wassaid/wasn’tsaid,etc.
Thuirteadhrudannachbuchòir(Thingsweresaidthatweren’tright/just)
a’breith:
Rugadh/chad’rugadh:wasborn/wasn’tborn,etc.
Rugadheannsa’PhonMhór(HewasborninBigPond)
a’toirt:
Thugadh/Chad’thugadh:wastaken,given,brought/wasn’ttaken,etc.
Thugadhcomhairledhomh(Advicewasgiventome–Iwasgivenadvice)
FUTUREPASSIVE:
a’ruigsinn:
Ruigear/Charuigear:willbereached/won’tbereached,etc.
Charuigearambailegusannochd(Thetownwon’tbereacheduntiltonight)
a’cluinntinn:
Cluinnear/Chachluinnear:willbeheard/won’tbeheard,etc.
Cluinnearanùpraid(Theuproarwillbeheard)
a’faicinn:
Chìthear/Chanfhaicear:willbeseen/won’tbeseen,etc.
Chìthearchofurasda’sathae((It)willbeseenhoweasyitis)
a’dèanamh:
Nìthear/Chadèanar:willbedone/won’tbedone,etc.
Chadèanarsinachaoidh(Thatwon’teverbedone/thatwillneverbedone)
a’faighinn:
Gheibhear,Gheobhar/Chanfhaighear:willbereceived,found/won’tbefound,etc.
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Gheobharfàilt’aigantaighsin(Awelcomewillbereceivedatthathouse)
agràdh:
Theirear/Chanabairear:willbesaid/won’tbesaid,etc.
Theirearm’adhéidhinngureduineglicath’ann(Itwillbe(it’s)saidabouthimthathe’sawiseman)
a’breith:
Beirear/Chabheirear:willbeborn,caught/won’tbeborn,caught,etc.
Beirearaira’bhàlaleIain(TheballwillbecaughtbyIain)
a’toirt:
Bheirear/Chatoirear:willbetaken,given,brought/won’tbetaken,etc.
Antoirearsinbhuam?(Willthatbetakenfromme?)
CONDITIONALPASSIVE:
a’ruigsinn:
Ruigte/Charuigte:wouldbereached/wouldn’tbereached
Charuigtenah-amasanacagunoidhirpmhór(Theiraimswouldn’tbereachedwithoutgreateffort)
a’cluinntinn:
Chluinnte/Chachluinnte:wouldbeheard/wouldn’tbeheard
Chluinntea’chlannairfeadhanàite(Thechildrenwould/couldbeheardallovertheplace)
a’faicinn:
Chìte/Chanfhaicte:wouldbeseen/wouldn’tbeseen
Chanfhaictesionannsandorchadas(Nothingwould/couldbeseeninthedarkness–anythingwouldn’tbeseen…)
a’dèanamh:
Dhèanta/Chadèanta:wouldbedone/wouldn’tbedone
Chadèantadaddhent-seòrsasinleothasan!(Nothingofthatkindwouldbedonebythem!–anythingofthatkindwouldn’tbedone...)
a’faighinn:
Gheibhte/Chanfhaighte:wouldbefound/received/wouldn’tbefound/received
Gheibhte tiodhlacan (prèasantan) aig àm na Nollaig (Gifts would be received atChristmastime)
agràdh:
Theirte/Chanabairte:wouldbesaid/wouldn’tbesaid
Chanabairtesinleduinemodhail!(Thatwouldn’tbesaidbyapoliteperson!)
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a’breith:
Bheirte/Chabheirte:wouldbeborn/wouldn’tbeborn
Bheirte Ìosa anna’ stàball ammeasgnambeathaichean (Jesuswouldbeborn in astableamongsttheanimals)
a’toirt:
Bheirte/Chatoirte:wouldbegiven,taken,brought/wouldn’tbegiven,taken,brought
Chatoirtebhuaitheachliù(Hisfame(goodname)wouldn’tbetakenfromhim)
CLEACHDADH
a) RugadhAileanannanAlbainnachthogadheannanAlbainnNuaidh.b) Ancuirearanlitirthuigecholuath’sasurrainn?c) DheasaicheadhandinnearlemàthairChoinnich.
d) Chluinntefuaimnapìobaairfeadha’bhaile.
e) Chad’fhuarasannaidheachdguanmoch.
f) ChualamiguntoirteduaisdoDhòmhnall(duais(f.):prize/award).
g) GheobharfiosbhoChalumnuairathillease(fios:knowledge/information;a’tilleadh:returning).
h) Nachd’rugadhcuideachddomhàtharannanÉirinn?(cuideachd(f.):company,people)
i) Chadèanarsinleisesan.j) Ràinigeadhmullachnabeinnemudheireadhthall(mullach:top/summit).
44 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
ALTERNATIVE“PASSIVE”FORMSWITHA’DOL
Thesestructureswitha’dolarecommonlyusedandessentiallyrenderthepassiveasactive:
a) Chaidhadhèanamh(literally,“Itsdoingwent”–itsdoinghappened–itwasdone)
Chadeachabhreithgusanathlà(Hisbirthingdidn’thappenuntilthenextday–Hewasn’tbornuntilthenextday)
Andeachinnsedha?(literally,“Didtellingtohimhappen?”–Washetold?)
Nachdeachathoirtbhuaithe?(Wasn’tittakenfromhim?)
Théidinnsedhi(literally,“Tellingtoherwillhappen”–Shewillbetold)
Chatéidaràdh((It)willnotbesaid)
Rachadh(theirigeadh)adheasachadhguluath(Itwouldbepreparedquickly)
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Anrachadhadhùnadh?(Wouldit/coulditbeclosed?)
b) Nowthrowanounphraseintothemix:
Wemaintainthefixedphrasesadhèanamh,abhreith(“itsdoing”,“itsbirthing”),etc.Itmakesnodifferenceiftheprecedingnounismasculineorfeminineinthisconstruction.
Chaidhanobairadhèanamh;chadeachanleanabhabhreithgusanathlà;andeachannaidheachdinnsedha?;nachdeachant-airgeadathoirtbhuaithe?;théidansgeulinnsedhi;chatéidgutharàdh;rachadhambiadhadheasachadhguluath;anrachadhanuinneagadhùnadh?
c) Nowsupposingthenounisomitted–andthatnounreferredtointhecontextisfeminine–asarethesenounsused inexamplesabove:obair,naidheachd,uinneag;whenyourefertoanounusingapersonalpronoun,itmustagreeincaseandgender.Soifthenounis feminine, you must refer to it as “she”. In Gaelic (and most other Indo-Europeanlanguages),languages,nations,land,andwordsaboutnature(weather,sea,wind,etc.)arefeminine.ThisisstillquitecommoninNovaScotiawhereEnglishisspokenwithGaelicgrammaticaltraits.Forexample,“She’swarm”meaningthattheweatheriswarm;thegenderof“weather”inGaelicisfeminine,sothere’saninclinationtosay“she”andnot“it”.Withthisismind,herearesomeexamples:
Chaidhadèanamh(literally,“Herdoingoccurred”;“her”referstoobair,butitmeans“itwasdone”).
Andeachah-innsedhi? (literally, “Was she (naidheachd, thenews) told toher?”–meaningwasit(thenews)toldtoher?Wasshetoldthenews?)
Anrachadhadùnadh?(Would/Couldshe/it(uinneag,thewindow)beclosed?)
CLEACHDADH
NOW–byusing theappropriate formsof theverba’dol, transform the sentences in thepracticesectionattheendofSeallagan43!
45 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
MODALS
ModalverbphrasesinGaelicareauxiliary(helping)structureswhichalsoobeytheaboverulesofbehaviour.Modalsexpressability(can,can’t),obligation(should,ought),customaryaction(Iusually;Iusedto…)possibility,andpermission(may,might),orobligation(must,haveto,needto).
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Herearesomeexamples:
a) Presenttense–can,can’t:’Surrainndhomh/Chanurrainndhomh/Anurrainndhut?etc.
’Surrainndhomhadhèanamh(itsdoingispossibleforme–Icandoit).Noticethat“itsdoing”=“doingit”andisthesubjectoftheGaelicsentence.SoyouhavetogetusedtothinkinginadifferentwordorderfromthatusedinEnglish;thewordorderisactually,“Ispossibleformeitsdoing”.
Now add the nominal which indicates what the person can do; please note that adhèanamhisnotaninfinitiveformbutmeans“itsdoing”asinthepreviousexample.
‘Surrainndhomhanobairadhèanamh(Icandothework–literally,“ispossibleformetheworkitsdoing”)
b) Past/conditionaltense–could,couldn’t:b’urrainndhomh/chab’urrainndhomh/amb’urrainndhut?etc.
Amb’urrainndhutsinadhèanamhdhomh?(Couldyoudothatforme?)
c) Presenttense–isright,should:’Scòirdhomh/Chachòirdhomh/Ancòirdhut,etc.
’Scòirdhaantaighathogailannsa’bhaile(Isrightforhimthehouseitsbuildinginthetown–Heshouldbuildthehouseintown)
d) Past/conditional tense –was/would be right, ought :Bu chòir dhomh / cha bu chòirdhomh/Ambuchòirdhut?,etc.
Buchòirdhiant-òranaghabhail(Sheoughttosingthesong)
e) Presenttense–(I)usually…:’Sàbhaistdhomh/Chanàbhaistdhomh/Anàbhaistdhut?etc.
’Sàbhaistdhomhdinnearaghabhailtràth(literally,“iscustomformedinneritstakingearly””➾Iusuallyhavedinnerearly)
f) Past/conditionaltense–(I)usedto…:B’àbhaistdhomh/Chab’àbhaistdhomh/Amb’àbhaistdhut?etc.
B’àbhaistdhomhfìon’òl(literally,“wascustomformewineitsdrinking””➾Iusedtodrinkwine).
g) Futuretense–may(withpresenttenseimplication):Faodaidhmi/chanfhaodmi/amfaodmi?etc.
Amfaodmiancòt’agam’fhàgailanseo?(MayIleavemycoathere?)
h) Conditionaltense–might:dh’fhaodainn/chanfhaodainn/amfaodainn?etc.Noticehowthe2ndpersonthu➾tu:dh’fhaodadhtu/chanfhaodadhtu/amfaodadhtu?etc.
Dh’ fhaodainnsinadhèanamhdhut (Imight (usually translated“could”)dothat foryou)
Amfaodadheanuinneag’fhosgladh?(Mightheopenthewindow?)
i) Futuretense–must,haveto,needto:feumaidhmi/chanfheummi/amfeummi?,etc.
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Amfeummiseo’ionnsachadh?(MustIlearnthis?)
j) Conditional tense – must, have to, need to : dh’fheumainn / chan fheumainn / amfeumainn?etc.Also:dh’fheumadhtu/chanfheumadhtu/amfeumadhtu?etc.
Amfeumainnlitirasgrìobhadh?(WouldIneedtowritealetter?)
Nachfheumadhiadbiadhadheasachadh?(Wouldn’ttheyneedtopreparefood?)
Analternativewayofhandlingnecessityiswiththa/bha/bidh/bhiodh–agam/agad,etc.+ri:
Bidhaigerisachùrsasinaleantainn(Hewillhavetofollowthatcourse)
Note:addthestructureair/ásdéidh–dhomh/dhut/dha/dhi/dhuinn/dhaibh+theverbalnounphrase(airderivesfromiar➾after):
Airdhomhadhèanamh/ásdéidhdhomhadhèanamh(“Afterformeitsdoing”➾after(my)doingit–afterIdidit,I…)
Air/ásdéidhdhaanobairachrìochnachadh(“Afterforhimtheworkitsfinishing”➾after(his)finishingthework–afterhefinishedthework,he…)
Noticehowthefollowingprincipalclausehasthesamesubjectasintheprecedingphrase.
CLEACHDADH
a) Chanfheumdhutanobairsinadhèanamhandràsda.
b) B’àbhaistdhuinnadholgutaighmosheanarah-uilesamhradh.
c) Ambuchòirdhutannaidheachd’innsedhi?
d) Nachfheumadhtusgrìobhadhthuca?
e) Dh’fhaodainnlitirachurairdoshon.f) ’Scòirdhomhbruidhinnris.
g) Anurrainndhutseo’fhosgladhdhomh?
h) Àsdéidhdhuinnsuidhe,chaidhbiadhathoirtdhanah-uileduine.i) Carsonabh’agadrifalbh?j) Chanfhaodthusinadhèanamhidir!
46 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THECARDINALNUMBERS:TRADITIONALGaelicnumbersworkintensandtwenties.ThisistraditionalalloverEuropeastwentyisaboutthesizeofaherdofcattleorsheep.ThiswasdoneinEnglish-speakinglandsaswellwhereshepherdswould count large flocksby twentyand then scorea stick (tally) tokeep track.
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Hence theword “score” in Englishmeans “twenty”. Technically, it’s called a vigesimalismsystem.You’llseethisinamomentwhentheexpressionfor“forty”is“twotwenties”.
a) Counting:
ah-aon,adhà,atrì,aceithir,acóig,asia,aseachd,ah-ochd,anaoi,adeich,ah-aondeug,adhàdheug,atrìdeug,aceithirdeug,acóigdeug,asiadeug,aseachddeug,ah-ochddeug,anaoideug,afichead.
Note:neoini=zero.
b) Usedadjectivally:aon➾one,dà➾two,trì➾three,etc.
i. One:aonbhliadhna,aonchat,aonfhacal,aonghàradh,aonmhìos,aonphutan
But:
aondorus,aontaigh,aonseòmar–and,ofcourse,aonlide,aonrìgh,aonnead
ii. Two:Dàlenitesaswell,butdoesnotpluralize.It’saremnantoftheolddualthatexistedinOldIrish,OldEnglish,andotherIndo-Europeanlanguagesandactuallytakesthedativecase.However, this isonlyobvious in the femininedative; forexample,dàlàimh,dàchois.Sowehave:
dàbhliadhna,dàchat,dàfhacal,dàdhorus,dàthaigh,dàsheòmar,etc.
iii. Threetoten:trì,ceithir,cóig,sia,seachd,ochd,naoi(naodh),deich:withpluralswehavesuchthingsastrìsgadain,ceithirleabhraichean,etc.
iv. Eleventotwenty:aon-deug, dà-dheug, trì-deug, ceithir-deug, cóig-deug, sia-deug, seachd-deug,ochd-deug,naoi-deug,fichead
Usedadjectivally:
aonbhliadhnadeug,dàbhliadhnadheug,trìbliadhnadeug,etc.
fichead : alongwith large numbers ceud (hundred) andmìle (thousand), ficheadtakesa singularnoun. Forexample, ficheadbliadhna.Dusan (dozen)also takesasingularnoun.
v. Twenty-onetothirty:
Traditionally:
aonairfhichead,adhàairfhichead,trìairfhichead,…deichairfhichead
Usedadjectivally:
aon bhliadhna fichead, dà bhliadhna fichead, trì bliadhna fichead, …deichbliadhnafichead
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Commontoday:
fichead’sah-aon,fichead’sadhà,fichead’satrì,…fichead’sadeich
Usedadjectivally:
ficheadbliadhna ’sah-aon, ficheadbliadhna ’sadhà,…ficheadbliadhna ’sadeich
vi. Thirty-onetoforty:aon-deugairfhichead,dà-dheugairfhichead,trì-deugairfhichead,…dàfhichead
Usedadjectivally:
aonbhliadhnadeugairfhichead,dàbhliadhnadheugairfhichead,…dàfhicheadbliadhna
vii. Forty-onetofifty:dàfhichead’sah-aon,dàfhichead’sadhà,dàfhichead’satrì,…dàfhichead’sadeichnoleth-cheud
Usedadjectivally:
dà fhicheadbliadhna ’sah-aon,…dà fhicheadbliadhna ’sadeich/leth-cheudbliadhna
viii. Fifty-onetosixty:dàfhichead’sah-aon-deug/leth-cheud’sah-aon,…trìfichead
Usedadjectivally:
dà fhichead bliadhna ’s a h-aon-deug / leth-cheud bliadhna ’s a h-aon, …trìficheadbliadhna
ix. Sixty-onetoseventy:trìfichead’sah-aon,trìfichead’sadhà,…trìfichead’sadeich
Usedadjectivally:
trìficheadbliadhna’sah-aon,…trìficheadbliadhna’sadeich
x. Seventy-onetoeighty:trìfichead’sah-aondeug,trìfichead’sadhàdheug,…ceithirfichead
Usedadjectivally:
trìficheadbliadhna’sah-aon-deug,…ceithirficheadbliadhna
xi. Eighty-onetoninety:ceithirfichead’sah-aon,ceithirfichead’sadhà,…ceithirfichead’sadeich
Usedadjectivally:
ceithirficheadbliadhna’sah-aon,…ceithirficheadbliadhna’sadeich
xii. Ninety-onetoahundred:ceithirfichead’sah-aon-deug,ceithirfichead’sadhà-dheug,…ceud(ciad)
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Usedadjectivally:
ceithirficheadbliadhna’sah-aon-deug,…ceudbliadhna
Note:exampleofusinglargenumbers:
ceudbliadhnatrìfichead’sacóig:165years
mìle:thousand;millean:million;billean:billion
c) InScotland:
AccordingtoDwelly’sIllustratedGaelictoEnglishDictionary:trithead/triochad(thirty);ceathrad (forty);caogad (fifty); seasgad (sixty);seachdad (seventy);ochdad (eighty);naochad(ninety).
47 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEORDINALNUMBERS:TRADITIONALOrdinalnumbersgivethepositionofthingsinaseries.
First:
anciadfhear(thefirstman),a’chiadbhean(thefirstwoman–seeDwelly’sDictionary).
Usuallytoday,onewritesa’chiadwhetherthefollowingnounismasculineorfeminine.
Likeaon,ciadlenitesthefollowingconsonantunlessit’sd,t,s;forexample,a’chiadtaigh.
SecondtoTenth,withFollowingMasculineNouns:
Whenanumberisfollowedbyamasculinenoun,thereisnofollowinglenition.
an dàrna/ dara : the second; an treas : the third; an ceathramh : the fourth; ancóigeamh:thefifth;ansiathamh;thesixth;anseachdamh:theseventh;ant-ochdamh:theeighth;annaoidheamh:theninth;andeicheamh:thetenth
Also,andara*fear(thesecondman);ant-ochdamhmìos(theeighthmonth)
SecondtoTenth,withFollowingFeminineNouns:
ceathramh/cóigeamh/siathamh/seachdamh/ochdamhareaffectedwhenprecedingafemininenoun:
a’ cheathramh bliadhna, a’ chóigeamh seachdain, an t-siathamh nighean, an t-seachdamhbeinn,anochdamhcaora(inthiscase,thet-isomitted)
Higherordinals:
Higherordinalsfollowthepatternyouwouldexpect:
a’chiadfheardeug;amficheadamhduine;antreaslàfichead;anceathramhlàdeugairfhichead…
*Formoreondara,seeDwelly’sDictionaryundercuid.
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48 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
THEWATCH,TIMEPIECE:THECLOCKHereweusetheinformationabovetotellthetime.Let’sstartwithsomecommonwordsandexpressionstotellthetime:
THEHOURS:
TELLINGTHETIME:
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CLEACHDADH
a) Feumaidhmiabhithannaigleth-uairásdéidhochd.
b) Tòisichidha’choinneamhanna’cóigmionaidean.
c) Thigmi’gadiarraidhaigmeadhonlatha.
d) Thuirteriumgumbiodha’chéilidhseachadanna’cairtealnah-uarach.
e) Dé’nuairabhaenuairadh’fhalbhiad?
FACLAN
Dé’nuairathae?:Whattime(hour)isit? Namionaidean:theminutes
Nah-uairean:Thehours uair,-ean(f.):(an)hour mionaid,-ean(f.):minute(s)
meadhonlatha:noon,mid-day cairteal:quarter uair-a-thìde(f.):hour(oftime)
meadhonoidhch’:midnight leth-uair(f.):ahalfhour ásdéidh,andéidh:after,past
uairguleth:anhourandahalf cairtealnah-uarach:quarterofanhour
49 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
SUBORDINATECLAUSES
RELATIVECLAUSES:
Relativeclauseshavethreemaingroups:
TypeA
a. Therelativepronouna (who,whom, that,which)+PositiveStatement (Independent)formofverb:
Sinanduinearinne(That’sthemanwhodidit)
b. ln the dative, a gives way to the preposition followed by the Positive Question(Dependent)formoftheverb:
Sinanduineleisanrobhmi’falbh(“That’sthemanwithwhomIwasgoing(out)”➾That’sthemanIwasgoingoutwith)
Sinduineaigabheilanguth!(“That’samanatwhomisthevoice”➾That’samanwhohas(agood)voice)
TypeB
a. Nach+NegativeQuestionformoftheverb:
Sinanduinenachdeachann(That’sthemanwhodidn’tgo)
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b. HereisanexampleintheDativecase:
Sinanduinerisnacheilmi’bruidhinn(“That’sthemantowhomI’mnotspeaking”➾That’sthemanl’mnotspeakingto)
TypeC
a. Na(what,allthat,thatwhich)+PositiveStatementformoftheverb:
Thugedhomhnabhaaige(Hegavemethatwhich(all)thathehad)
Bitoilichteleisnath’agad!(Bepleasedwithwhatyouhave!)
Note:remembertheuseoftherelativefutureformoftheverb:Bheiredhomhnabhiosaige.Inothertenses,therelativeclauseformoftheverbcoincideswiththePositiveStatement/Independentform.
NOUNCLAUSES
Afterverbsofsaying,thinking,believing,andunderstanding,usegu/gun(befored)/gum(+labialconsonants)forapositivestatement,nachforanegativestatement,+dependentformoftheverb.Forexample:
Thaeagràdhgubheile’dolann(Hesays(that)he’sgoing)
Thaea’creidsinngundodh’fhalbhi(Hebelieves(that)shewentaway)
Smaoinichegumfalbhadhe(Hethought(that)hewouldgoaway)
Thuirtenachrobhe’tighinn(Hesaid(that)hewasn’tcoming)
CONSEQUENTIALANDCONDITIONALCLAUSES
Useof“if”:
a. Ma :positive form+positivestatement formofverb inpresent,past,or therelativefutureform.
Mathathusgith,leigd’anail(literally,“Ifyou’retired,letyourbreath”➾takearest)
Mabhiostusgithasdéidhsin,dèansuidhe(Ifyou’re–literally“willbe”–tiredafterthat,sitdown)
Machualatue,innisdhomh(Ifyouheardit,tellme)
b. Nan,nam(+labialconsonants):positiveformwithconditionaland“pluperfect”tenses,dependentform.“Pluperfect”meansthepastinpast–forexample,“Ihadleftbeforehearrived”,wherehadrepresentsamoredistantpastthanarrived.
Nantigeadhtu,bhithinntoilichte(Ifyoucame–literally,“wouldcome”–Iwouldbeglad)
Namfaighinndhachaidh,chaniarrainnaisde(literally,“IfIwould/couldgethome,Iwouldn’twantoutofit”➾Iwouldn’twanttoleaveit)
Nan robh thu air éisdeachd, cha bhiodh tu air tuiteam (literally, “If youwere afterIistening,youwouldn’tbeafterfalling”➾IfyouhadIistened,youwouldn’thavefallen)
c. Mur(a):Negative“ifnot,unIess”+dependentformofverb,alltenses
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Muradèanthusin,bidhmiriut!(literally,“Ifyoudon’t(willnotdo)that,l’IIbeatyou(ortoyou)”➾l’IIscoldyou).
Murdorinnthud’obair,chanfhaighthupàidheadh(Ifyoudidn’tdoyourwork,youwon’tgetpayment)
d. Margu/gun/gum:“asif”+dependent:
Ruithemargurobhduineasadhéidh(Heranasifsomeonewereafterhim)
CONCESSIVECLAUSES
a. geda“although”+Relativeformofverb
Gedadh’iarrastu,chanfhaighthu(Althoughyou(will)ask,youwon’tget)
b. gednach“although––not”+Dependentformofverb.
Gednachdodh’iarrthu,fhuairthu(Althoughyoudidn’task,youreceived)
ADVERBIALCLAUSES
a. Oftime:
i. anuaira*,’nuaira,“when”+Relative
’nuairnach,“when–not”+Dependent
Nuairadh’fhalbhase,bidhmibrònach(Whenhegoes–literally“willgo”–l’Ilbesad)
Nuairnachtille,thigleamsa(Whenhedoesn’treturn–literally,“won’treturn”–comewithme)
ii. mus,mas,mun,‘before’+Dependent
Chuirmithuigelitirmasdodh’fhalbhmi(IsenthimaletterbeforeIwentaway)
iii. gus,“until”+Dependent
Bidhmianngusantillthu(l’Ilbehereuntilyou(will)return)
iv. gun,“until”+Dependent
Bidhmiannguntillthu(I’Ilbehereuntilyou(will)return)
b. OfPlace:
i. faran,am(beforelabials),“where”+Dependent
Thesong(Strathspey)“Farambimi-fhin’sannannabhiosmodhòchas”(WhereImyselfwillbe,therewillmylove–literally“hope”,be)
*Thereisalsothedialecticalform:dara.
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ii. farnach,“where–not”+Dependent
Thami’dolfarnachrobhmiriamh(I’mgoingwhereIneverwasbefore)
c. OfReason:Compoundconjunctionswithgu/gun/gum/nach+Dependent,orRelativePronoun+Independent
i. “Because”:Achionn’sgu(n)/nach,Airtàilleabhgu(n)/nach,airsongu(n)/nach
Chaidhmiathadhalairairsongurobhetinn(Ivisitedhim–literally,“wentvisitingonhim”,becausehewassick)
ii. “Since”:Seachgu(n)/nach+Dependent
Seachgund’thàinige,b’urrainndhuinntòiseachadh(Sincehecame,wewereabletobegin)
iii. Compare:ona/bhona+RelativePronoun+Independent
(Bh)onathàinigedhachaidh,chaneilMàirifochùramtuilleadh(Sincehecamehome,Maryisnolongerworried–literally,“underanxiety”)
and
iv. Compare:onach/bhonach+Dependent
(Bh)o nach d’thàinig e dhachaidh, thaMàiri fo chùram (Since he didn’t comehome,Maryisworried)
d. OfPurpose:“Sothat”,achum’sgu(n)/nach+Dependent
Thami ’sgriobhadhthugadachum’sguntig thudhachaidh (l’mwritingyouso thatyou’lIcomehome)
e. OfManner:“As”,mara+Relative
Rinnmiemaradh’iarrthu(Idid(made)itasyouasked)
INDIRECTQUESTIONS
Thesecomeafterverbsofaskingorwondering.
a. Useparticlesan,am,nach+Dependent
Dh’fhaighnicheamfaighinndhana’chéilidh(literally,“HeaskedwouldIgettotheceilidh”).ThisisexpressedinEnglishas,“HeaskedifIwouldget(beabletogo)totheceilidh”
b. However,withquestionwords,usetheirusualconstructions
Dh’fhaighnicheciamaragheibhinndhana’chéilidh(Heaskedhow–literally“bywhatmeans”,Iwouldgettotheceilidh)
Dh’fhaighnichecàit’andodh’fhàgmiansgian(HeaskedwhereIlefttheknife)
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c. Notetheidiom:feuchan+dependent
Chaidheannfeuchandèanadhesith(Hewenttosee(try)ifhewould(could)makepeace)
d. Lookforspecialidiomaticusesofagus:
Chunnaicmi i ’smi’coiseachdritaobhnah-aibhne (Isawherwhile Iwaswalking–literally,“andIwalking”,bytheriver)
“Seodhut,”arsise’si’toirtdhomhcupa(“Hereyouare”,shesaid,givingme–literally,“andshegivingme”,acup)
e. Lookforspecialidiomaticusesofasdéidh:
Asdéidhdhuttilleadh,théidsinndhana’chéilidh(Afteryoureturn–literally,“afterforyoureturning”,we’llgototheceilidh)
Asdéidhdhàbruidhinn,dh’fhàgeantaigh(Afterspeaking–literally,“afterforhimspeaking”,heleftthehouse)
50 SEALLAGAN–GRAMMARATAGLANCE
COMPARISONOFADJECTIVES
Thebasicrule:forcomparativeandsuperlativeformsofregularadjectives:
Add-i afterthelastbroadvowelsameasforthegenitivesingularfeminine
Add-e attheendoftheword
Prefixthecomparativewithnas(presenttense),orwithnabu(pasttense)
Prefixthesuperlativewithas(presenttense),orwithabu(pasttense)
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Hereisageneralisationofhowtomakecomparativesandsuperlativesofadjectives:
Positive
Comparative Superlative
Presenttense(-er,more) Presenttense(-est,most)
PastTense(-er,more) PastTense(-est,most)
BasicRule:“Slender”(front)vowel glic:wise
nasglice asglice
nabughlice abughlice
BasicRule:“Broad”(backorcentral)vowel
àrd:highnasàirde asàirde
nab’àirde ab’àirde
naomh:holynasnaoimhe asnaoimhe
nabunaoimhe abunaoimhe
Polysyllablesin-achcudthromach:important
nascudthromaiche ascudthromaiche
nabuchudthromaiche abuchudtromaiche
Vowelchange:a/o➾ui bog:soft,dampnasbuige asbuige
nabubhuige abubhuige
ea/io➾i sean:oldnassine assine
nabushine abushine
ea/eu/ia➾ei geur(giar):sharpnasgéire asgéire
nabughéire abughéire
a➾oi mall:slownasmoille asmoille
nabumhoille abumhoille
Disyllabicswithcontraction
bòidheach:handsome
nasbòidhche asbòidhche
nabubhòidhche abubhòidhche
ìosal/ìseal:lownasìsle asìsle
nab’ìsle ab’ìsle
milis:sweetnasmilse asmilse
nabumhilse abumhilse
uasal:noblenasuaisle asuaisle
nab’uaisle ab’uaisle
cumhang:narrownascuinge ascuinge
nabuchuinge abuchuinge
àlainn:lovelynasàille asàille
nab’àille ab’àille
blasda:tasty nasblasda asblasda
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Someindeclinabledisyllabics
seenotea)
nabubhlasda abubhlasda
gasda:excellentnasgasda asgasda
nabughasda abughasda
sona:contentednassona assona
nabushona abushona
Disyllabicsin-each cinnteach:certainnascinntiche ascinntiche
nabuchinntiche abuchinntiche
Irregulars
beag:smallnaslugha* aslugha
nabulugha abulugha
mór:bignasmotha asmotha
nabumhotha abumhotha
math:goodnasfheàrr asfheàrr
nab’fheàrr ab’fheàrr
olc:evil/dona:bad
nasmiosa asmiosa
nabumhiosa abumhiosa
làidir:strongnastreasa† astreasa
nabutreasa abutreasa
goirid,geàrr:shortnasgiorra asgiorra
nabughiorra abughiorra
leathann:broadnasleatha
nabuleatha
asleatha
abuleatha
furasda,fearasda:easy
nasfhasa asfhasa
nab’fhasa ab’fhasa
duilich:difficultnasduilghe asduilghe
nabuduilghe abuduilghe
teth:hotnasteotha asteotha
nabuteotha abuteotha
Withcopulaonly
toigh:agreeable,pleasant,loved
’sdocha ’sdocha
budocha budocha
ionmhainn:beloved
’sannsa ’sannsa
b’annsa b’annsa
*Alsonas/asbige,nabu/abubhige†Alsonaslàidire,etc.
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Note:
a) Usena:than,incomparison:
Thaseonaslughanasin(Thisissmallerthanthat)
b) Bufollowsitsregularrulesoflenition,exceptthatitdoeslenites.
c) Notecommonmodernusage:
’Sfheàirrdemisin!(“Iam/willbethebetterofthat”➾Ifeelbetterafterthat)
B’fheàirrdemisin!(“Iwasthebetterofthat“➾Ifeltbetterafterthat)
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BRIATHRANA’GHRÀMAIR:GRAMMATICALTERMS
Note:onlythefemininenounsaremarkedinthefollowing(asboir.whichistheabbreviationofboireannta),butallunmarkednounsaretobeunderstoodasmasculine.
facal(faclan/facail) word(s)fuaimreag,-an(boir.) vowel(s)stràc,-an(boir.) accent(s)(onvowels)stràcgheur acuteaccentstràcmhall graveaccent(alsostràcthrom)consan(consain) consonant(s)fuaimneachadh,-aidhean pronunciation(s)litreachadh,-aidhean spelling(s)sèimheachadh,-aidhean lenition(s)ainmear,-an noun(s)gnè,-ithean(boir.) gender(s)fireannta masculineboireannta feminineclàr,-an(ainmeir) declension(s)a’chiadchlàrfireannta thefirstdeclensionmasculinea’chiadchlàrboireannta thefirstdeclensionfemininetuiseal(tuislean) grammaticalcase(s)antuisealainmeach thenominative(subject)caseantuisealgairmeach thevocativecase(theaddressform)antuisealtabhartach thedativecase(theobjectofthepreposition)antuisealginideach thegenitivecase(thepossessiveform)singilte singular(number)iolra,-n plural(s)buadhair,-ean adjective(s)coimeasbhuadhairean comparisonofadjectivescoimeasach comparativefeabhasach superlativegnìomhair,-ean verb(s)gnìomhairriaghailteach regularverbgnìomhairmì-riaghailteach irregularverbfreumh,-an root(s)(ofaverb)ambith-ghnìomhair thesubstantive(basic)verb“tobe”ancopail thecopula(theassertiveverb“tobe”)tràth,-an tense(s)antràthlàthaireach thepresenttenseantràthcoileanta thepasttenseantràthteachdail thefuturetense
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antràthclaon theconditionaltense(alsoantràthcumhach)anguthspreigeach theactivevoiceanguthfulangach thepassivevoiceco-ghnìomhair,-ean adverb(s)ainmear(an)gnìomhaireach verbalnoun(s)ròsg-rann,-taichean sentences(s)abairt,-ean(boir.) phrase(s)clàs,-an clause(s)roinn,-tean(boir.) clause(s),section(s),paragraph(s)roinniochdarach subordinateclauseroinndhàimheach relativeclauseroinnainmearach nounclauseroinnairchumha conditionalclauseroinnghéilleachail concessiveclauseroinncho-ghnìomhaireach adverbialclauseceisd,-ean(boir.) question(s)ceisd(-ean)neo-dhìreach indirectquestion(s)earrann,-earrainn(boir.) extract(s),paragraph(s)alt,-an (definite)article(s)riochdair,-ean pronoun(s)riochdair(-ean)pearsanta personalpronoun(s)riochdair(-ean)dàimheach relativepronoun(s)riochdair(-ean)sealbhach possessivepronoun(s)roimhear,-an preposition(s)ro-riochdair(ean) prepositionalpronoun(s)abairt(-ean)(boir.)módach modalexpression(s)àireamh(-an)àrdail cardinalnumber(s)àireamh(-an)òrdail ordinalnumber(s)dual-chainnt,-ean(boir.) dialect(s)gnàthas(-an)-cainnte idiom(s)
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FACLAN:VOCABULARY
’sdòcha:“ispossible”,perhaps’smathsin:that’sgood!(takeninto
Englishas“smashing”)á:outof,fromabheil?:is?ah-uileduine:everyonea-mach:outa-nis:nowa-steach:inside(withverbofmotion)a’breith:bearinga’bruidhinn:speaking,talkinga’cadal:sleepinga’call:losing(caill!:lose)a’cantainn/a’cantail/agràdh(ainn):
sayinga’chiadchlàrboireannta:thefirst
declensionfemininea’chiadchlàrfireannta:thefirst
declensionmasculinea’cluich:playinga’cluinntinn:hearinga’coimhead:watching,lookingata’coinneachadh:meetinga’coiseachd:walkinga’còrdadhri:agreeingwitha’creidsinn:believinga’cumail:keepinga’cur:putting,sendinga’dèanamh:doinga’deàrrsadh:shininga’deasachadh:preparinga’dol:goinga’dùsgadh:wakinga’fàgail:leavinga’faicinn:seeinga’faighinn:receivinga’faighneachd:askinga’falbh:goingawaya’feadalaich:whistlinga’feitheamh:waitinga’fosgladh:opening
a’gabhail:takinga’gearan:complaininga’gearradh:cuttinga’ghrian:thesuna’glanadh:cleaninga’glaodhadh:cryingouta’lasadh:lighting(up),kindlinga’leantainn:followinga’leughadh:readinga’lorg:finding,discoveringa’nighe:washinga’nigheadaireachd:washing(clothes)a’ruigsinn:reachinga’ruith:runninga’seinn:singinga’siubhal:travellinga’smaoineachadh:thinkinga’suathadh:touching,rubbinga’suidhe:sittinga’tadhalair:visiting(on)a’teagasg:teachinga’tighinn:cominga’tiormachadh:dryinga’toirt:givinga’tòiseachadh:beginninga’trod:scoldingabair:say!(imperativeofirregularverbag
ràdh)abairt,-ean(boir.):phrase(s)abairt,-ean(boir.)módach:modal
expression(s)aca:atthemagéibheachd/agéigheachd:shoutingagéirigh:rising,gettingupagéisdeachd:listeningagiarraidh:wanting,requestingaginnse:tellingagionnsachadh:learningagithe:eatingagobair:working
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agòl:drinkingagad:atyouagaibh:atyou(pl.)againn:atusagam:atmeagus:and(shortformsare’sandis)aice:ather/itaig:at(aiganaonàm–atthesametime)aige:athim/itainm:nameainmear,-an:noun(s)ainmear,-angnìomhaireach:verbal
noun(s)air:on(airanfhìdhill–onthefiddle)air:onhim/itàireamh,-anàrdail:cardinalnumber(s)àireamh,-anòrdail:ordinalnumber(s)airgead:money(literally“silver”)aisde:outofher/itaiseag(boir.):ferryaithne(boir.):knowledge,acquaintanceAlba(boir.):Scotlandallt:stream,brook(possessive:uillt)alt:joint,conditionalt,-an:(definite)article(s)àm:timeambi?:will...be?ambith-ghnìomhair:thesubstantive
(basic)verb“tobe”an:thedefinitearticle“the”ancopail:thecopula(theassertiveverb
“tobe”)andiugh:todayandràsda:now(rightnow)anguthfulangach:thepassivevoiceanguthspreigeach:theactivevoiceanrobh?:was?AnCuilthionn:TheCuillinsAnt-EileanSgitheanach:theIsleofSkyeantràthclaon:theconditionaltense(also
antràthcumhach)antràthcoileanta:thepasttenseantràthlàthaireach:thepresenttenseantràthteachdail:thefuturetense
antuisealainmeach:thenominative(subject)case
antuisealgairmeach:thevocativecase(theaddressform)
antuisealginideach:thegenitivecase(thepossessiveform)
antuisealtabhartach:thedativecase(theobjectofthepreposition)
anail(boir.):air,breathanmoch:lateann:inhim/itannan:inannad:inyouannaibh:inyou(pl.)annainn:inusannam:inmeannsa’chlas:intheclassannta:inthemaodach:clothing,clothesaodann:faceaon:oneaotrom:light(adj.)aran:breadàrd:high,tallás:outofhim/itásdéidh,andéidh,ásdeoghaidh:after,
pastásad:outofyouásaibh:outofyou(pl.)ásainn:outofusásam:outofmeásda:outofthemath:nextathair:fatherbaile:town(originallymeantfarmer’s
enclosedhomestead)bainne:milkbalach:boybarail(boir.):opinionbàrd:poet(lowestrankofthefilidh)barr:top,summitbàta:boatbeag:littlebean(boir.):woman,wife
94
beannachd(boir.):blessingbeatha(boir.):lifebeinn(boir.):mountainbha:wasbho/o:frombhuaibh:fromyou(pl.)bhuainn:fromusbhuaipe:fromher/itbhuaithe:fromhim/itbhuam:frommebhuapa:fromthembhuat:fromyoubithidh,bidh:willbeblàth:warm,kind,tenderbó(boir.):cowbodach:oldmanboireannta:femininebonaid(boir.):bonnet,capbòrd:tablebradan:salmonbrèagh:beautifulbròg,-an(boir.):shoe(s)brònach:sadbuadhair,-ean:adjective(s)cabhag(boir.):hurrycabhaig:hurry,dativefeminineformcadal:sleepcaileag(boir.):girlcàirdean:friends(inpluralalso
“relatives”)cairteal:quartercàite:where?(ciaàite:whatplace?)càl:cabbagecala:harbourcaolas:astrait(ofwater)caora(boir.):sheepcar:somewhatcaraid:friendcarson:why?(ciaairson:whatfor?)cas(boir.):footcat:cat(possessive:cait)ceann:headcèarr:wrong(dialectally:left)
ceart:right(adj.)céilidh(boir.):meetingceisd,-ean(boir.):question(s)ceisd,-eanneo-dhìreach:indirect
question(s)ceithir:fourceòlnafìdhle:themusicofthefiddleceòlmhor:grandmusicceòthach:foggy,mistyceum:stepchabhi:willnotbecharobh:wasnotchaneil:isnotchosona:sohappy,contentciad(alsoceud):hundredciallach:sensibleciamar:how?(literally“whatlike”?).
Ciamarathathu?(Howareyou?)cidsin:kitchencinnteach:sure,certaincladach:shoreclann(boir.):childrenclàr,-an(ainmeir):declension(s)clas:classclàs,-an:clause(s)cleachdadh:practicecnoc:hill(possessive:cnuic)có:who?coás:wherefrom?(fromciaás:outof
what?)codhiùbh:anywayco-ghnìomhair,-ean:adverb(s)co-là-breith:birthdaycogadh:warcóig:fivecoimeasbhuadhairean:comparisonof
adjectivescoimeasach:comparativecoin:dogscoinneamh(boir.):meetingcòir:kind(adj.)coire(boir.):kettlecomann:society,clubcòmhradh:conversation
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consan(consain):consonant(s)cosnadh:winning,earningcòta:coatcothrom,-an:opportunity(-ies)creag(boir.):rock,cragcrìoch(boir.):end,boundarycruaidh:hardcù:dog(possessive:coin)cuairt(boir.):circuit,excursioncuairtsiubhail:adventurecuideachadh:helpcuideachd:too,also,aswellcuimhne,cuimhn’(boir.):memorycuimseach:somewhat,rathercuimseachmath:moderatelywell
(equivalentto“okay”)cuine:when?(ciaùine:whattime?)cùram:care,anxietycurran,-an:carrot(s)dà:twode:of,offdé:what?(fromciode?)deich:tendeiseil:ready,right(direction)deoch(boir.):drinkdha:to,forhim/itdhaibh:to,forthemdhanchlas:to(the)classdheth:offhim/itdhi:to,forher/itdhibh:offyou(pl.)dhinn:offusdhìom:offmedhìot:offyoudhith:offher/itdhiubh:offthemdhomh:to,formedhuibh:to,foryou(pl.)dhuinn:to,forusdhùisg:woke(verb),pasttenseofdùisgdhut:to,foryoudìcheallach:diligentdinichean:jeans
dinnear(boir.):dinnerdìreach:just,direct(ly)(an)dithis:thepair,thetwo(people)do:to,fordòchas:hope,confidencedona:baddorus:doordreuchd(boir.):job,workpositiondruim:backduais(boir.):prize/awarddual-chainnt,-ean(boir.):dialact(s)dùil(boir.):expectationduilich:difficult,sorryduine:man,person,husbandDùnÉideann:Dunedin,Edinburghdùthaich(boir.):countrye:he,him,ite-fhéin:himselfeachdraidh(boir.):history,tradition,storyeagal:fearearbsa(boir.):confidence,trustearrach:springtimeearrann,-earrainn(boir.):extract(s),
paragraph(s)èasgaidh:willing,nimble,activeeile:other,anotherEilidh:Ellen,HelenÉirinn(boir.):Irelandeòlas:knowledge,acquaintanceshipesan:he,it(emphatic)facal(faclan/facail):word(s)fàilte(boir.):salute,salutation,welcome,
hail!feabhasach:superlative(coimeasach:
comparative)feadan:chanter(ofabagpipe)feadhainn:some,severalfeasgar:evening(feasgarmath:good
evening)fèith(boir.):sinewfeòil(boir.):meatfeuch:see,tryfeuchaibhfhéin:you,yourselvestryfeum:need,use
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feumaidhmi:Imustfhathast:yet,stillfiadh:deerfìdheall(boir.):fiddlefios:knowledgefireannta:masculinefìrinn,(boir.):truthfliuch:wetflùr,-aichean:flower(s)fo:underfodha:underhim/itfodhad:underyoufodhaibh:underyou(pl.)fodhainn:underusfodham:undermefodhpa:underthemfoghar:autumn,fallfoidhpe:underher/itfraoch:heatherfras(boir.):ashowerfreumh,-an:root(s)(ofaverb)fuaimneachadh,-aidhean:
pronunciation(s)fuaimreag,-an(boir.):vowel(s)fuar:coldfuil(boir.):bloodgach:eachGàidheal:aGaelgasda:excellent,decentgeal:whitegeamhradh:wintertimegin(boir.):anything,anygiomach:lobsterglainne(boir.):aglassglasraich(boir.):greens,vegetablesglùn(pl.glùintean)(boir.):knee(s)gnàthas-cainnte(gnàthasan-cainnte):
idiom(s)gnè,-ithean(boir.):gender(s)gnìomhairmì-riaghailteach:irregularverbgnìomhairriaghailteach:regularverbgnìomhair,-ean:verb(s)gnothaichean:matters,"things"gràdh:love
greasort:hurryup("onyou’")gréim:amorsel(offood)grian(boir.):sungruaim(boir.):gloom,frowngu:togudearbh:indeed!(positiveintensive)gudòigheil:“great”(thamigudòigheil–
I'mingoodtrim)guh-àraidh:especiallygumall:slowlygumath:well,finegusunndach:joyfully,"soundly"gun:withoutguth:voiceHaileafacs:Halifaxi:she,her,iti-fhéin:herselfiad:they,themiad-fhéin:themselvesiadsan:they,them(emphatic)idir:atall(negativeintensive)innte:inher/itinntinneach:interestingiolra,-n:plural(s)iomadh:manya...iseile:andother(things),etcise:she,it(emphatic)là(latha):day(làmath:goodday)làmh,-an(boir.):hand(s)làn:full,complete,filled,satisfiedlaochan:littlehero–goodboylaogh:calf(ofacow)le:by,withleam:by,withmeleann:beerleasan:lessonleat:by,withyouleatha:by,withher/itleibh:by,withyou(pl.)léine-t(boir.):t-shirtleinn:by,withusleis:by,withhim/itLeódhas:(Isleof)Lewis
97
leotha:by,withthemleth-uair(boir.):ahalfhourlitir(boir.):letterlitreachadh,-aidhean:spelling(s)lobht,-aidh:loftloch:lakeluath:quick,fastluchd-ionnsachaidh:learnersluchd-obrach:"workpeople",staffmatha:then;literally,"if(it)is(so)"mac:sonMac/Nic’Illebhràth:MacGillivrayMac/NicChoinnich:MacKenziemadainn(boir.):morning(madainn
mhath:goodmorning)mall:slowmaol:baldmar:as,likemara:ofthesea(possessiveofmuir)math:goodmàthair:mothermeadhonlatha:noon,mid-daymeadhonoidhch':midnightmeadhonach:middlingmeasailair:fondof,keenonmeasg:midstmeud:sizemi:I,memi-fhéin(mi-fhìn):myselfmil(boir.):honey(rudanmilis:“sweet
things”)mìle(boir.):thousandmìn:smoothmionaid,-ean(boir.):minute(s)miotag(boir.):glove,mittenmireagach:playful,sportingmise:I,me(emphatic)mór(alsomòr):bigmóran:much,alotmu:aboutmudhéidhinn/dheóghainn:concerning,
aboutmudheireadh:atlastmudheireadhthall:atlonglast
muthràth:already,earliermuir:seamullach:top,summitNaHearadh:HarrisNaSìophortaich:TheSeaforthHighlandersNaStàiteanAonaichte:TheUnitedStates
(ofAmerica)naidheachd(boir.):newsnaidheachdanlatha:thenewsofthedaynaoi(naodh):ninenead:nestnic:usedinsurnameswithreferenceto
female–fromnigheanmhicnòs:style,tradition,usagenuaira:whenobair(boir.):workobh!:oh!:agroanochd:eightoidhche:night(oidhchemhath:good
night)oilthigh:universityoirbh:onyou(pl.)oirnn:onusoirre:onher/itòr:goldòran:songòranluadhaidh:waulking,millingsongorm:onmeorra:onthemort:onyoupàirc(boir.):park,fieldpìos:"apiece",ashortdistancepiuthar(boir.):sisterpreas:cupboardprìseil:preciouspròiseil:proudrann(pl.rannanorranntaichean)(boir.):
verse(s)Raonaid:Rachelrathad:roadri:toriochdair,-ean:pronoun(s)riochdair,-eandàimheach:relative
pronoun(s)
98
riochdair,-eanpearsanta:personalpronoun(s)
riochdair,-eansealbhach:possessivepronoun(s)
rionnach:mackerelris:tohim/itrithe:toher/itrium:tomeriut:toyouriutha:tothemro:too(usedwithadjective)ro-riochdair,-ean:prepositional
pronoun(s)roimh:beforeroimhe:beforehim/itroimhear,-an:preposition(s)roimhpe:beforeher/itroinnainmearach:nounclauseroinnairchumha:conditionalclauseroinncho-ghnìomhaireach:adverbial
clauseroinndhàimheach:relativeclauseroinnghéilleachail:concessiveclauseroinniochdarach:subordinateclauseroinn,-tean(boir.):clause(s),section(s),
paragraph(s)romhad:beforeyouromhaibh:beforeyou(pl.)romhainn:beforeusromham:beforemeromhpa:beforethemròsg-rann,-taichean(boir.):sentences(s)rud,-an:thing(s)ruibh:toyou(pl.)ruinn:toussàillte:saltedSamhainn(boir.):Hallow-tide;Novembersamhradh:summertimesaoghal:worldseachad:past,overseachd:sevenSealanNuadh(boir.):NewZealandseanchas:tale,story,conversation,
discourse,history
sèimheachadh,-aidhean:lenition(s)seo:this(demonstrativeadjective)seòl:asailseòmar:roomsgeul:storysgrìob(boir.):jaunt,excursionshìos:downsia:sixsibh:you(plural,alsoformal)sibh-fhéin:yourselves(insomedialects:
sibh(p)-fhéin)sibhse:you(pluralemphatic)sìde(boir.):weathersingilte:singular(number)sinn:we,ussinn-fhìn:ourselvessinne:we,us(emphatic)sinnsear:ancestorsion:anythingsìth(boir.):peace,quietness,tranquilitysìtheil:peacefulsiùcar:sugarsiuthad!:goon!slàn:healthy,wholesmaoinich!:think!imagine!snodha-gàire:smilesoitheach:dishsoitheach-sgudail:trashcansoithichean:dishessòlas:solace,comfort,consolation,
contentmentsolus:light,knowledgesona:contentsonas:happiness,contentmentspeur:skysrùbag(boir.):"acuppa"(tea)Steòrnabhagh:Stornowaystràcgheur:acuteaccentstràcmhall:graveaccent(alsostràc
throm)stràc,-an(boir.):accent(s)(onvowels)strainnsear,-an:stranger(s)stuthcùbhraidh:"fragrantstuff":
perfume
99
suidhichte:situated(pastparticipleofa’suidheachadh)
Suidnidh:Sydneysùil(boir.):eyesuipear(boir.):suppertaghadh:electiontaigh-òsda:inn,taverntaobh:sidetapadhleat/leibh:thankyou(singular/pl.,
polite)tapaidh:smart,manlytarraing:pullingteth:hotteud,-an:string(s)tha:am,is,arethu:you(thou)thu-fhéin:yourselfthuca:tothemthugad:toyouthugaibh:toyou(pl.)thugainn:tousthugam:tomethuice:toher/itthuige:tohim/itthusa:you(singular,emphatic)tighinn:comingtìr:landtoilichte:glad,happy,pleasedtorman:rumblingsoundtràth:early
tràth,-an:tense(s)trì:threetroimh:throughtroimhe:throughhim/ittroimhpe:throughher/ittromhad:throughyoutromhaibh:throughyou(pl.)tromhainn:throughustromham:throughmetromhpa:throughthemtrosg:codtuiseal(tuislean):grammaticalcase(s)turas:trip,journey,voyage;time(period)tùs:beginning,front,commencement,
originuairsambith:(at)anytimeuair,-ean(boir.):(an)hour(s)ugh:egguile:every,alluime:abouthim/ituimpe:abouther/itùine(boir.):timeuinneag(boir.):windowumad:aboutyouumaibh:aboutyou(pl.)umainn:aboutusumam:aboutmeumpa:aboutthem
2632087809959
ISBN 9780995263208
A native Gaelic speaker born in the Isle of Lewis and a graduate of Edinburgh
University, Scotland, Catrìona NicÌomhair Parsons has been involved in the teaching of Gaelic language and song in North America for decades. For thirty summers, she taught Scottish Gaelic at the Gaelic College, St. Ann’s, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, where she was
commissioned to prepare Gàidhlig troimh Chòmhradh, a Gaelic course in three volumes with recorded text. For many years, she taught in the Celtic Studies Department of St. Francis Xavier University, Nova Scotia; after retiring, she spent six years working for the newly constituted Nova Scotia Office of Gaelic Affairs. She has written well over a hundred Gaelic-English articles for local newspapers. Her poetry has been published in Scottish Gaelic periodicals GAIRM and GATH, and she has produced her solo CD of Gaelic songs entitled “Eileanan mo Ghaoil” in tribute both to Cape Breton and Lewis. From Seattle, Washington, to Grandfather Mountain, North Carolina; from Toronto to Nova Scotia, Canada; from Sydney, Australia, to Dunedin, New Zealand, Catrìona has been privileged to share her beloved language and culture with motivated students, many of whom are now instructors themselves.
This, her most recent work, is a synthesis of all of the grammatical insights garnered from decades of experience
teaching Scottish Gaelic to learners around the world. It clearly demonstrates in easy-to-read chapters, tables, and examples how the Gaelic language is structured. Rules, forms, pronunciation, and a host of other issues are all logically and systematically explained. Furthermore, this book can act as a handy reference for either the beginner or native speaker.
ISBN 978-0-9952632-0-8