ELEMENTAfiY
COURSE OF ,
GAELIC . . .
^ i
By
DUNCAN REJP,
R«-arratiged an<f finlsrc I
By
NORMAN M\CLm^\
; Ì
if
*- n^t
ARCH, SÌNCLAÌE
:: GLASGOW :
\Ò.iaù- ^\<\
ELEMENTARY
COURSE OF GAELIC.
BY
DUNCAN REID
RE-ARRANGED AND ENLARGED
BY
NORMAN MACLEOD,
(GAELIC MASTER, THE GLASGOW HIGH SCHOOl).
PUBLISHED BY
AN COMUNN GAIDHEALACH
FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND GAELIC CLASSES.
GLASGOW:
ARCHIBALD SINCLAIR. "CELTIC PRESS, '
47 W.'i.TERLOo Street.
•913-
PREFACE.
HTHE "Elementary Course of Gaelic" on which the
present text is based was primaril}' intended for
the use of students and school pupils. I have tried,
therefore, both in the new matter introduced and in the
changes made, to keep the needs of such learners before
my mind and to make the book more useful to them.
The Subject -Matter is arranged so as to break the
ground gradually. This explains why I have given
a little ''on the verb," "on the adjective," etc., in the
earlier sections and returned to a fuller treatment of
each later on.
Considerable space has been devoted to the discussion
of the Article. One might plead in excuse the great
difficulty which the average learner experiences in mas-
tering the elfish evolutions of this troublesome "part
of speech." I am hopeful, however, that if the prin-
ciple of division which I have followed is given a
fair trial it will repay all the time spent on it, since,
by the time these sections have been studied, the pupils
should not only have got a good gi'ip of the forms
of the Article, but also picked up' a considerable vocab-
ulary by the way. The best results will be obtained
if these sections — ^and the same applies to many others
— are taught on the Direct Method.
Personally, I do not see the advantage at this time
of day of dividing the nouns into Five Declensions.
But among my own and other pupils I have met
with a very general liking for this classification — the
merit of simplicity being strongly advanced in its
favour. I have, therefore, adhered to the Five Declen-
sions in this text; but with advanced pupils a more
scientific classification ought to be made.
In the illustrative examples and in each "Leuo-hadh"
I have, throughout, insisted on the principle of learn-
ing- by Sentences ; I have no faith in exercises on
single words or their isolated cases.
The Proverbs in the original grammar have been
removed from the present text; they are not food for
babes — not even Gaelic babes, whatever their ages.
I have piuch pleasure in formall}- acknowledging-
my indebtedness to the other Gaelic Grammars on the
market; of these I have made lar^ use.
I am exceedingly grateful to many friends (members
of An Comunn and others) who have ungrudgingly
assisted me mth many valuable suggestions. There
remains only to express my obligations to Messrs John
MacLeod and Malcolm MacLeod, M.A., for valuable
hints and assistance in preparing the vocabularies, and
to Messrs Wallace MaeCallum Conley, M.A.,and Gteorge
Thomson, M.A., for revising the proof sheets.
N. M. L.
Glasgow.
October, 1913.
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
SECTIONS. SUBJECT MATTER. PAGE.
1 — 3. Letters: Vowel and Consonant Sounds, J
4. Order of Words. Case, ... ... ... 5
5 — 6. The Article. Nouns with the Article, G
7. The Article. Noun^ with Initials B, P,
M, F, 11
8. The Article. With Initials C and G, 15
9. The Article. With Initial Vowel, ... 19
10. The Article. Nouns with Initial S
(general), ... ... ... ... 23
11. The Article. Nouns with Initial S, fol-
lowed bv a vowel or 1, n, r, ... ... 25
12. General Summary of Article Forms.
Eeading-, 29
13. Spelling and Aspiration, ... ... 32
J 4 — 16. Pronouns: Personal and Possessive, ... 34
17. Verb "BZ "—Dependent Fonn, ... 39
18. The Verb. Two Groups. Ten.se Form-
ation, ... ... ... ... 41
19. The Adjective, Position of, etc., 46
20. The Forms of the Verb, 49
21. The Verb 'B/ "—Independent Form, ... 50
22. The Verb 'B/ "—Dependent Form (in
Full), 53
22a. Illustrative Example^ of Dependent Form
(in Fidl), 54
23 — 24. Pronouns: Demons., Relat., Inter., Indef., 57
25. Nouns. Numbers and Cases, ... ... 63
VI. TABLE 01' CONTENTS.
SECTIONS. PAGE.
26. Declensions of Nouns. First, ... ... 65
27. The Government of Noons, ... ... 69
28. Appendix to First Declension, ... ... 74
21». Second Declension, ... ... ... 7.)
oO. Third Declension, ... ... ... 77
31. Fourth Declension, ... ... ... 81
32. Irregular Declension, ... ... ... 83
33. The Adjectives. Inflections of, etc 8o
34. The Adjectives. Comparison of, ... 91
35. Numerals. Cardinals, ... ... ... 94
36. Numerals. Ordinals. Numerical Nouns, 99
37. Prepositions. Simple and Compound, ... 103
38. Prepositional Pronouns, ... ... 108
39. Adverbs. Simple and Compound, ... Ill
40. The Verb. Formation of Tenses and
Persons, 114
41. The Verb. Independent Form of "Buail," U.j
42. The Verb. Pa^ssive Voice of "Buail."
Buail and Tog, 116
43. The Verb. Dependent Form of "Buail," 120
44. The Verb. Present Tense Formations, 123
45. The Verb. Verbal Nomis. Types and
Methods, 130
46. The IrregTilar Verbs, 136
47.\. The Conjug-ation of Irreg-idar Verbs :
"Abair," 137
47b. The Conjug-ation of Irregidar Verbs :
Beir, Faigh, 139
47c. The Conjugation of Irregular Verbs :
Faio, Cluinn, ... 142
47d. The Conjugation of Irreg-ular Verbs :
Tabhair, Thig, 143
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
sections
47e.
48.
49.
50.
The Coujug-at.ion of Irregiilar Verbs :
Each, Ruig-, Dean,
Defective Verbs aud Defective Auxiliary
Verbs,
Idioms,
Ge neral Readings ,
English -Gaelic Exercises,
Graelic-Eug'lish Vocabulary,
English -Graelic Vocabulary ,
145
148
150
154
161
173
196
A Junior Gaelic Grammar.
1 LETTERS.
There are eig-hteeu letters iu the Gaelic Alphabet,
namely : —
Five Vowels, a, o, u, e, i.
Thirteen Consonants, b,p, f, m; c, g-; 1, n, r, t, d, s; h.
The vowels are divided into two classes:
Broad, a, o, u ; Small, e, i.
They have a long^ and a short sound. The long-sound
vowels have a duration mark over them; the short-
sound vowels have no such mark, thus: —
Short-sound Vowels, a, o, u, e, i.
Long-sound Vowels, a, ò, 6, ù, è, è, ì.
Two and three vowels coming together, with the
sound of the one passing- into the other, are called
Diphthongs and Triphthongs; as, uan, uaigh.
Some have but one simple sound; as, gaol, ceum.
H is called the aspirate letter, and when used after
the consonants, b, p, f, m, c, g-, d, t, s, it forms
the aspirates, bh, ph. fh, mh, ch, gh, dh, th, sh.
When used at the beginning of a Avord it is written
thus, h-; as, a h-uan\ and has a strong- breathing'
sound.
The letters, sg-, sm, sp, st, have no aspirated form.
VOWEL SOUNDS.
Short
Gaelic.
Eng-lish i
Equi-
valent.
Long'
Gaelic.
English
Equi-
valent.
Sounds.
Example
Sounds.
Example.
a
has
1
cat
à
bàs
far
a
]a>g\i
—
à
lòdhran
—
a
batff
hut
—
—
—
mol
hot
ò
òl
lord
bqg
home
ò
mòr
more
u
cur
pwt
ù
C2t
moor
u
solus
hut
—
—
—
e
fear
net
è
nèamh
where
e
fead
rate
p
fein
rain
e
gile
run
—
—
—
i
mil
meet
ì
tri
tree
3. CONSONANT SOUNDS.
B, sounds almost as sharp as p iii Eng-lish.
Bh, is like v ; sometimes the sound of bìì in the
middle and at the end of certain words is like u, and
sometimes it is silent.
F, is like / in English.
Fh, is silent, except in the three words, fheiu, ihuair.
jiiathast, when it has the sound of h.
M, is like m in English.
Mh, is like v, and more nasal than hh. It is silent
in the middle and end of some words, and gives a
nasal sound to the vowel. In some districts it has
the sound of u\ as, samhradh, pronounced sauradh.
3
P, is like p iu Eug-lish.
Ph, is like / in English.
C, is always hard; before a, o, u, it has the souiwl
of c in can ; after a, o, u, it has the same sound in
some districts; as, cnoc, like ck in lock; but more
generally the sound of chk; before e, i, and after i,
like c in came.
Ch, preceded or foUowed by a, o, u, has a guttural
sound like ch in loch; in contact with e, i, it has a
more slender sound.
Chd, has the sound of chk; as, luchd, pronounced
luchk.
G, has a flatter sound than c, before and after a,
o, u, it is like g in got; in contact wdtJi e, i, it
sounds nearly like g in get.
Gh, is flatter than ch; before and after e, i, it
has the sound of y in Eng-lish; in contact with a, o,
u. it has a broader sound. In the middle and end
of certain words it is silent.
T, has a flatter sound than t in Eng^lish; when
preceded or followed by a, o, u, the sound is like Ih
in th^n, but stronger, and is produced by putting' the
point of the tongue against or between the teeth ;
in contact with e, i, it has the sound of ch iu chin.
Th, beg-inning a word has the sound of h; silent
in the pronoun thu, and in certain tenses of irregular
verbs when preceded by d'. In the middle of some
words it ha^ a slight aspiration, in others it is silent.
D, is the flat sound of ^ ; in the same position it
has almost the same sound as i. but softer.
Dh, is equal to gh in the same position.
S, in contact with a. o. u, is like s in Eng^lish; be-
fore or after e, i, like sh ; after t- (with hyphen) it
is silent.
Sh, has the sound of h.
L, before or after a. o. u. and 11 after a. o, u.
have a flatter sound than I in Eng-lish, and is produced
by pressing- the point of the tongue ag-ainst the teeth
as in the word that ; in contact with e. i, the sound
is like U in million. It has a simple sound after i..
and when aspirated it is like I jn English.
N, in conjunction with a. o. u, is like ?? in Eng-lish;
nn has a flatter sound ; with e, i, it ha.s a slender
sound like n in pinion: n aspirated has the sound of
n in English; after c, g, m, t, it resembles the
sound of r.
R. r r. like r in Eng-lish.
Monosyllables ending- in lb. Ibh. Ig. Im. nm. rg. rb
rbh, rm, are sounded as two syllables ; thus, jearg
(fearug), dealbh (^dealuvj, marbh (maruv;.
The letters I, n, have an aspirated sound, though
the aspirate letter is not used, so also has r though
much slighter. They are tlie only three letters that
may be doubled in spelling.
4. The Order of Words in a Sentence.
The g-eneral order of \yords in a Gaelic sentence is: -
First, the Predicate; next, the Subject ; then, the
Object; finally, the Extensions of the Predicate: —
E.G. 1. Bha an duine anns an dorus | t.e., the man
Literallv^Was the man in the door. ) was in the door.
2. Chuunaic an duine each an <?e. ) z".(-.,themausawa
Saw the man (a) hor.se yesterday.) horse yesterday.
CASE.
A noun or pronoun is in the Xominative Case when
it is the subject word, such as the person or thing-
mentioned as the subject; as, bliuail each e=a horse
kicked him; each is the subject word; and in the
Accusative Case when it is the object word; as, bhuail
e each=he kicked a horse; each is the object word.
The Accusative takes the same form as the Nominative.
The Genitive Case denotes possession, and is gov-
erned (1) by nouns; as, ceann eich=a horse's head ;
eich is in the Genitive Case after the noun ceann:
(2) by compound prepositions; as, air muin eich=on
a horse's back; eich is Genitive Case after the pi-eposi-
tion 'air muin": (3) by verbal nouns; as, a' bualadh
an eich=literally, at the striking of the horse; eich is
Genitive Case after the verbal noun "a' bualadh."
The Dative Case follow^s most of the simple preposi-
tions ; as, air craoibh, on a tree ; le cloich, with a
stone, where 'craoibh" and 'cloich" are the datives of
craohh and cladi, respectively.
The Vocative Case is used in addressing persons
or things directly;
E.G. A dhuine!, Oh! man! A choin!. Oh! dog!*
* Exclamation Marks need not always be used after \'ocative Case.
5 THE ARTICLE.
In English we speak of — man ; a man; the man.
In Gaelic these would be — duine; duine; an duine re-
spectively. In other words, only the definite article
"the" is translated in Gaelic and the base form of it
is "aw."
This definite article "an," however, changes in form
according- to the number, gender, ca^se, and initial letter
of the noun which it qualifies. The different forms in
the nominative singidar are as follows —
(1) An : ^.(/., an duine, an cat, an làmh, an eala.
the man, the cat, the hand, the swan.
(2) Am: e.(j., am peann, am Imlach, am tiadh, am mac.
the pen, the boy, the deer, the son.
(3) A': e.^.. From bean, a woman ; cearc, a hen ; muc, a
,rj^\^£crtxJLt\^<{i\ii\s. ^CiPuTp^g ; we have a' bhean, the woman; a'chearc,
the hen; a' mhuc, the pig. (x't^Aa^UC^io^'^'^l-i^*
(4) An t-: e.g., From each, a horse; sail, an eye; slat, a rod;
we have an teach, the horse ; an t-sùil, the
eye; an t slat, the rod. ■
We shall now take those forms in succession laiid
try to illustrate their uses and changes.
But one further remark.
In English we speak of the man, and the men; in
Gaelic these would be rendered as an duine, and na
daoine, respectively: i.e., in Gaelic we have a different
form of the article in the nominatme plural, namely na.
NOUNS: with the Article.
Singular AX. Plural XA.
NorNS. j
Meanings.
With the
Article.
Plurals
WITH Article.
CÙ
dog
an CÙ
na coin
cat
cat
„ cat
,, cait
ceann
head
„ ceann
„ cinn
ceum
step
,, ceum
,, ceuman
cnoc
hUl
„ cnoc
,. cnuic
earn
cairn
„ earn
„ cairn
dun
fort
„ dun
,, diiin
duine
man
,, duine
„ daoine
dreas
bramble
,, dreas
dreasan
5) drisean
dearc
berry
„ dearc
,, dearcan
damh.
ox
„ damh
., daimh
earb
roe
„ earb
* ,, h-earban
micdc
eala
swan
„ eala
,, h-ealan
gille
iolair
lad
eagle
» gille
„ iolair
,. gillean
,, h-iolairean
làmh
hand
„ làmh
„ làmhan
làr
floor
„ làr
,, lair
long
ship
', long
„ longan
loch
loch
„ loch
,, lochan
loth
filly
„ loth
„ lothan
laogh
ròn
calf
seal
,, laogh
,, laoigh
,, ròin
radan
rat
„ radan
, , radain
spog
toll
paw
hole
M spòg
„ toll
„ spògan
! „ tuill
tarbh
bull
„ tarbh
1 „ tairbh
teine
fire
,, teine
1 ,. teintean
teas
heat
,, teas
"
sgeir
ubhal
rock
apple
„ sgeir
„ ubhal
,, sgeirean
„ h-ùbhlan
uaimh
cave
„ uaimh
j „ h-uamhan
* At this stage pupils need not be troubled much with ' plurals '
thit are, apparently at least, irregular here ; in fact, very few of
the plurals should be introduced in the earliest ' readings.' The
Singulars themselves are ''a big order.'"
8
Note. — These lists should now be used for "drill"
in pronunciation. Individual teachers can use their
own discretion as to the best methods of doing so,
but two or three hints might prove useful.
(1) Introduce the verb "to be," present and past
tenses, right away; (2) introduce "typical question forms"
and their corresponding answers; (3) introduce several
of the common prepositions, and then the waj' is clear
for oral exercises in simple ''complete sentences,'' which
may then be committed to paper.
1. VERB "iS/."' Examples:
Present Tense.
Tha mi, / am. Tha sinn, ive are.
Tha thu, thou art. Tha sibh, yoi( are.
Tha e, i (he or it), she is. Tha iad, they are.
Past Tense.
Bha mi, / toas. Bha sinn, we ivere.
Bha thu, thou wert. Bha sibh, you were.
Bha e, i (he or it), she ivas. Bha iad, they are.
It will be necessary at this point, also, to kuow the
present tense of the "Assertive Form" of the verb
'to be' : it is as follows.
Singiflar. Plural.
Is mi, it is I. Is sinn, it is we.
Is tu, it is thou. Is sibh, it is you.
Is e, i, it is (he or it), she. Is iad, it is they.
2. Question Forms. Answer Forms.
De tha so? What is this? Is e so cù. This is a dog.
De tha sin? What is that? Is e sin cat. This is a cat.
Au e so tarbh? Is e so tarbh.
Is this a biill? This is a bull.
Cha 'n e so tarbh.
This is not a bull.
Am hheil an cù aig- an Tha an cù aig- an
dor us? dorus.
Is the dog- at the door? The dog- is at the door.
Cha 'n 'eil an cù aig- an
dorus
The dog is not at the door.
*C'àite am hheil an cù? Tha an cù aig; an teine.
Where is the dog? The dog- is at the fire.
C. PEEPOSITIONS.
Aig, at; ann an, in (a); le, with (a).
Air, on ; anns, in (the); leis, with (the).
Aote. — Pupils should now be able to go on to the
reading of simple sentences such as are given below,
and by "'ringing the changes" on the lists given above,
teachers can prepare their own reading- lessons, and
make them as long or as short as they please.
I.— LEUGHADH.
Tha an cù aig- an dorus. Tha an eat air an làr.
Tha an eala air an loch. Tha an ròn air an sg-eir. Tha
ceann air an duine. Tha an laog-h agnis an tarhh
anns an achadh.
Tha dun air cnoc ag-us tha duine anns an dun. De
* When a word ending in a vowel precedes one beginning with a
vowel, very often one or other of such vowels is dropped, e.g. — C ait'
am bheil ? In the earlier readings, at least, in this text the forms are
written in full.
10
tha so? Is e so toll. De tha anns an toll? Tha luch
anus an toll. C'àite am bheil an loth? Tha an loth
aims an stàbull. Tha an guile aig- an dorus le laogh.
An e sin an g-ille? Cha'ne sin an gille ach an duine.
Tha làmhan air an duine, tha casan air an loth, agus
tha spògan air cat. De tha sin? Is e sin gnal.
C'àite am bheil an gnal? Tha an gual anns an teine.
Bha na gillean aig an loch. Bha long air an loch. An
e sin an loch? Cha'ne sin an loch ach an sgieir.
C'àite am bheil an sgeir? Tha an sgeir anns an loch.
De tha so? Is e so ubhal. C àite am bheil an ubhal?
Tha ùbhlan air an truinnsear. Am bheil an ròn amis
an uaimh? Cha 'n 'oil an ròn anns an uaimh. Am 'bheil
long air an loch? Tha. C àite am bheil an gille?
Bha an gille air na cnuic leis na coin.
Additioììaì ^yords used in Reading.
aehadh. a field. gual, coal.
luch. a mouse. ach, but.
stàbull, a stable. truinnsear, a plate.
11
7. NOUNS WITH INITIAL B, P, F, M.
Two Groups : (a) Masculines; (b) Feminines.
Group A : Article — AM in Singular ; NA in Plural.
Nouns.
Meanings.
With Article.
Plurals
WITH Article.
bata
a walking stick
am bata
na bataichean
baile
a town
„ baile
,, bailtean
balach
a bov
„ balach
,, balaich
bòrd
a table
„ bòrd
,, biiird
breac
a trout
,, breac
„ brie
bann
a belt — a band
,, bann
„ bannan
peann
a pen
„ peann
,, pmn
paipeir
a paper
„ paipeir
,, paipeirean
mac
a son
„ mac
,, mic
maighstir
a master
,, maighstir
,, maighstirean
mullacli
a top
,, mullach
,, mullaich
fear
a man
„ fear
„ fir
fàinne
a ring
„ fàinne
„ fàinneachan
Group B :
Article— A'
in Singular ;
NA in Plural.
bean
a woman
a' bhean n
a nmathan
bròg
briogais
a shoe
breeches
a' bhròg
a' bhriogais
, brògan
, briogaisean
pàirc
piob
màthair
a park
a pipe
a mother
a' phàirc
a' phiob
a' mhàthair
, pàircean
, pìoban
, màthraichean
meur
a finger
a' mheur
, meuran
fras
a shower
*an fhras
, frasan
fiacail
a tooth
an fhiacail
, fiaclan
feòil
flesh
an fheòil
full
blood
an fhuil
" Note the form which the article takes with feminine nouns in F,
lamely, AN (not Am or A'). Also, the succeeding "fh" is silent, so that
' an fhras'" is pronoimced as "an 'ras"; an fheoil as "an 'eoil," etc.
12
NOTES : 1. All the uouns in Group A have the
same form, with or without the definite article, in the
nominative and accusative singular. The dative case
is also the same as the nominative after a preposition
followed by the ''indeiinite" article in English.
E.G. On a table, air bòrd; at a town, aig- baile.
on a paper, air paipeir; with a stick, le bata.
But when the preposition is followed by the ''definite"
article in English we have a different form in the dative
■case in Gaelic.
E.G. On the table; on the paper;
Air a' bhòrd; air a' phaipeir;
At the town; with the stick;
Aig a'bhaile; leis a' bhata.
2. In the case of F nouns, in both groups, after a
preposition followed by the definite article we have
similar forms in the dative case: —
E.G. (si) With the man, leis an fheav.
on the ring, air an fhkinne.
(b) With the tooth, leis an //^iacail:
on the flesh, air an fhebil.
(Note the ''fh's'" — wliich are silent).
3. To translate the preposition "in" followed by the
indefinite article we use 'ann an": e.g. Ann an dorus,
in a door; but before the labial consonants m. b, p, f,
the final 'n' of the preposition becomes 'm', thus: —
In a pot, ann am poit (not ann an poit).
In a town, ann am baile (not ann an baile i.
In a ring, ann am fàinne (not ann an fàinnei.
13
4. In reg-ard to the nouns in Group B — feminine-
nouns — "we shall use in the Eeading-, at this stag-e at
least, only sueli as have the same form in the nomina-
tive and dative.
ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY FOR USE IN
READING OR CONVERSATION.
Group A.— NOUNS.
Bodach. an old man. Putan, a button.
Balla. a Avail. Peitean, a vest.
Bàta. a boat. Poca, a bag-.
Boineid, a bonnet. Maide, a stick.
Bi'oehan, g-ruel. Bradan, a salmon.
Fuaim, a sound. Fait, hair.
Fraoch. heather.
Group B.— NOUNS.
Alaig'hdean, a maiden. Bùth. a shop.
Aladuiun, a morning. Piseag, a kitten.
Min, meal. •J^0Cgf^^^^^hkm , a coin, a penny. '/^/"^^
Poit, a pot. Buntàta, a potato.
Pòeaid, a pocket.
VERBS IN Common Use.
Ehuail, kicked. Thàiuig-, came.
Rinn, did or made. Fhuair, got.
Chuala, heard. Chuir, put.
Thilo- threw.
II.— LEUGHADH.
Bha am bata aig an dorus. Tha am peann air
a' bhòrd. Tha am paipeir air an làr. Bha am breae
anns an loch. Tha fait air an fhear. C'àite am bheil
14
a,iu maighstir? Tlia am maighstir agus am balaeh auns
a' bhaile. Chiiir am balaeh am boineid air a' mhaide.
Fhiiair a' bhean na bradain aims a' bhùth. Cliuir a'
mhaig-hdean am breac anus a' phoit. Fliuair an g-ille
a' bhriog-ais ann am poca. An e sin am poca? Cha "n
e sin am poca ach a' pliòcaid. Am bheil an flieoil anus
a' phoit? Cha 'n 'eil, fhuair a' phiseag an fheòil air
a'bhòrd. Rinn am balaeh fuaim leis a'bhata. Chuala
am maighstir am fuaim. Thàinig am balaeh le boineid
anus a' mhaduinu. C àite am bheil am brochan? Tha
.am_ brochan anus an truinnsear. Chuir am bodach am
fraoch anus a' phoca, ag-us thàinig e leis a phoca anus
a' mhaduinu. Am bheil pòcaid anus a'bhriogais? Cha
'n 'eil, ach tha pòcaid auns a' pheitean. C" aire am
bheil am peitean? Tha e air a' mhaighstir agus ehuir
e na putain anus a' phòcaid. Am bheil peighiun auns
a'phòeaid? Cha 'n 'eil, ach tha peann auns a' phòcaid.
Einn a' pliiob fuaim. Chuala na fir am fuaim. Thilg
a' bhean a' bhròg air an fhear.
Aote. — \\'ith the 'question forms' already .suggested
.an infinite variety of exercises can be done orally,
based on the above reading. Introduce also the inter-
rogative Co ? Who ?
•Co tha aig an dorus? Tha a' bhean aig an dor us.
Who is at the door? The woman is at the door.
•C<5 rinn am fuaim? Rinn *a' phiob am fuaim.
Who ma'de the sound? The pipe made the sound.
'Co bhuail am balla? Bhuail am balaeh am balla.
Who struck the wall? Tlie boy struck the wall.
* See Vocabulary.
15
8. The Article.— Continued.
NOUNS WITH INITIAL C or G.
The changes of the feminine nouns of this group
are similar to those of the feminine nouns of the last
section.
As the masculine nouns, however, are different it is
advisable, perhaps, to treat the C and G nouns in
a separate section.
Two Groups : (aj Masculines; (b) Feminixes.
Article Article
Group A: AN, in Singular; NA, in Plural.
Nouns.
Meanings.
With Article.
Plurals
WITH Article.
còta
a coat
an còta
ua còtaichean
cridhe
a heart
( a mast
\ a plough
an cridhe
na cridheaehan
crann
an crann
na croinn
cuman
a milking pail
an cuman
na cumain
gàradh
a g-arden
an gàradh
iia gàraidhean
gleann
a glen
an gleann
na giinn
gunna
a gun
an gunna
na gunnachan
Group B :
A', in Singxdar ; NA, in Plural.
eathair
a chair
a' chathair
na cathraichean
cuirin
a feast
a' chuirm
na cuirmean
cuileag
a fly
a' chuileag
ua cuileagau
craobh
a tree
a' chraobh
na eraobhan
gruaidh
a cheek
a' ghruaidh
na gruaidhean
gloinne
a glass
a' g-hloinne
na gloiuneachau
gealach
a moon
a' ghealach
na gealaich
glas
a lock
a' ghlas
na glasan
16
NOTES.
1. In both groups, nominative and accusative, with
or without the article, are alike, e.g., tha craohh anns
a' ghàradh; a tree is in the gurden : Fhuair an gille
craohh anns a'ghàradh: the lad found a tree in the
garden.
Tha a chiiileag air a' ghloinne, the fly is on the
glass. Mharhh e a chuileag, he killed the fly.
2. In Group A, if the noun is preceded by the in-
definite article in Eng-lish, the dative case is like the
nominative and accusative.
E.G. On a coat, air còta; in a garden, ann an gàr-
adh ; with a gun, le gunna.
But if the noun is preceded by the definite article
in English, we have a different form in the dative
case.
E.G. On the coat, air a' ohòta; in the garden, anns
a' ghàradh; with the gun, leis a' ghunna.
o. These latter examples are similar to the forms in
Group B in the nominative case, and g'enerally in the
dative case, after the definite article.
E.G. In the chair, anns a' chathair.
On the cheek, air a' ghruaidh.
At the feast, aig a' chuirm.
4. In Group B. if the noun is preceded by the in-
definite article in English, we have in the dative case
a form similar to the simple nominative case without
the article, e.g. In a chair, ann an cathair; at a
feast, aig cuirm: on a cheek, air gruaidh.
But. on a tree, air craoibh (not air craobh);
with a stone, le cloich (not le clach).
The changes here are due to the "declension" to
which these words, craobh and clach, belong-.
ADDITIOXAL VOCABULARY.
Group A.
Càise, cheese.
Claidheamh, a sword.
Ciobair.
a shepherd.
Gaisgeach, a hero.
Cain, a
cairn.
Guth, a voice.
Coo-adh,
a war.
Geata, a gate.
Gille, a
lad.
Greasaiche, a shoemaker.
Gkoup
■ B.
Caora, a
, sheep.
j.tc^nat^f--
Clach, a stone.
Caileag.
a little
girl.
geug-, a branch.
Geòla, a boat. VcuiM' -Q
Gealag, a white trout.
Cearc, a
hen.
Ciste, a
chest.
Coille, a
wood. COvCLlZd/y^
Grian, a sun.
Vere
!S.
Mharbh,
killed.
Dhùin, shut.
Chunnaic, saw.
Shuidh, sat.
o-iac/i
III.— LEUGHADH.
Bha còta air an duine. Chuir e an còta air a'
bhòrd. Fhuair an ciobair a' chaora anns a' choille.
Chunnaic an giUe an gunna air an làr. Bha a' chaileag
anns a' gheata ach bha an greasaiche anns a 'bhùth
Chuala an ciobair guth anns a' ghleann. Bha an
g-aisgeach anns a' chogadh leis a' chlaidheamh. Fhuair
18
a' chaileag' cuileag- anns a' ghloinne. Co tha anns a'
gheata? Tha an ciobair anns a' gheata leis a' g-liunna.
C àite am bheil a' chraobh? Tha a' chraobh anns a'
choille. Co rinn am fuaim? Einn a' cheare an fuaim.
Chuir an saor a' ghlas air an dorus agus dhùin a'
uihaighdean an geata. C àite am bheil a' chaileag?
Tha i aig a' chuirm. Co bha anns a"' ghleann? Bha
na gillean anns a' ghleann agus mharbh iad am fiadh
leis a' ghunna. Tha teas anns a' ghrein* agus tha
solus anns a' ghealaich.* Bha na gillean air a' mhuir
anns a' gheòla ; thàinig iad dhachaidh anns an fheas-
gar; fhuair a' cliaileag bainne anns a' chuman agus
càise anns a' chiste, agios chuir i air a' bhòrd iad.
Fhuair an ciobair fearann. Einn e mulan air a'
chnocan. Chunnaic mi peuran air a' chraoibh. Bhuail
e a' cheare leis a' ghad. Tha lion-bhradain agus
lion-sgadain anns a' gheòla.
Questions.
Answers.
C àite am bheil a' chaora ?
Aig an dorus.
Co tha anns a' gheata ?
An ciobair.
An e sin an gunna?
Cha 'n e, ach am bara.
De tha anns a' chuman?
Tha bainne anns a' chuman
Am bheil sg-adan anns
Cha 'n 'eil.
an lion?
Etc.
Et<:-.
* See Note 4 above — last sentence. Forms such as these should
be used sparingly until 'declensions' are studied.
19
9 The Article— Conimued
NOUNS, WITH VOWEL' INITIALS.
Two Groups : (a) Masculines; (b) Feminines.
Article Article
Group A: AN T-, in Siugular; NA H-. in PluraL
Nouns.
Meanings.
With Article.
Plurals
WITH Article.
ainm
a' name
an t-ainm
na h-ainmean
amadan
a fool
an t-amadan
na h-amadain
allt
a brook
an t-allt
na h-uillt
each
a horse
an t-each
na h-eich
eun
a' bird
an t-eun
na h-eoin
lasg
a^fish
an t-iasg
na h-eisg
isean
a chicken
an t- isean
na h-iseain *
or
gold
an t-òr
na h-òir f
òrd
a hammer
an t-òrd
na h-iiird
ubh
an egg
an t-ubh
na h-uibhean
uisge
water
an t-uisge
na h-uisgeachan
* The young of any bird.
Article
Group B : AN, in Singoilar
t The gold coins.
Article
NA H-. in Plural.
acair
an anchor
an acair
(na h-acraichean
] na h-acairean
abhainn
a river
an abhainn
nah-aibhnichean
adharc
a horn
an adharc
na h-adhaircean
eala
a swan
an eala
na h-ealachan
eaglais
a chvirch
an eaglais
na h-eaglaisean
eilid
a hind
an eilid
na h-eildean
iuchair
a key
an iuchair
na h-iuchraichean
ite
a feather
an ite
na h-itean
òigh
a virgin
an òigh
na h-òighean
lunneag
a window
an uinneag
na h-uinneagan
ubhal
an apple
an ubhal
na h-ùbhlan
20
NOTES.
1. In Group A, nominative, accusative, and dative
of the nouns are alike after the "indefinite" article.
E.G. Tha each anns an stàbull, a horse is in the
stable. Chunnaic am fear each, the man saw a horse.
Thàinig; an gille le each, the lad oame with a horse.
2. In the nominative and accusative the "definite"
article takes the form "aw ^-."
E.G. Tha an ^-iasg- anns a' phoit, the fish is in the
pot.
Chuir a' bhean an Masg air a' bhord, the woman
put the fish on the table.
In the dative case, however, the 'definite' larticle
takes the form 'ttw'
E.G. Tha uisge anns an allt, water is in the brook.
Tha earball air o/n iasg, a tail is on the fish.
3. In Group B. the nominative and accusative are
similar after the ''mde finite" article in Eng-lish.
E.G. Tha eala air an abhainn, a swan is on the river.
Chunnaic mi eala, air an loch, I saw a swan on
the loch .
The dative case is like the nominative and accusative
— except where there are changes due to the "declen-
sions" to Avhich the nouns belong.
E. G. Tha bàta air abhainn, a boat is on a river.
Tha dorsan air eaglais, doors are on a church .
But, Tha gloinne ann an uinneig (not, Tha g-loinne
ann an uin;^ea(/)=glass is in a window.
21
4. In the nominative, dative, and accusative, the
'definite'^ article takes the form "an."
E.G. Tha an iuchair anns an dorus, the key is in the
door. Fhuair mi an iuchair air an làr, I got the
key on the floor. Thai nig- am balach leis an
iuchair, the boy came with the key.
ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY.
Group A.
Eilean, an island,
lasgair, a fisherman.
Im, butter.
Oganach, a youth.
Uaireadair, a timepiece.
Group B.
Airigh, a shieling. Innis, pasture.
Earb, a roe. Osag, a breeze,
lolair, an eagle. Oidhche, a night.
Athair, a father.
Aodach, cloth, clothes.
Airgiod, money.
Aran, bread.
Arbhar, corn.
Verbs.
Bhuain, reaped.
Bhris, broke.
Thilg, threw, shot.
Sheas, stood.
Thog, lifted, raised, built.
IV.— LEUGHADH.
Bha an t -aodach air an duine. Tha an t-iasg anns
a' mhuir. Bha an t-aran air an truinnsear. ^huir
a' chaileag an t-im air a' bhòrd. Bha an iuchair anus
an dorus. Tha adhaireean air an damh. Chuir a' bhean
22
an t-ìm air an aran. Thàinig an gille leis an iasg ann
am poea. Chunnaic mi am bàta anns an iabhainn.
Bhuain an tuathanaeh an t-arbhar anns an achadh.
Sheas an t-iasgair anns a' bhàta agus thog e an acair.
Thilg an t-amadan an t-òrd anns an allt. Fhuair an
t-òganaeh an t-òr anns a' phoca, agus chuir e an t-airgiod
anns an abhainn. Thog an elachair taigh aig an abh-
ainn. Tlia loch aig an eaglais agTis tha na h-ealachan
air an loch. Fhuair a' chaileag na h-uibhean agus na
h-itean anns an nead. Bhris a' chearc na h-uibhean.
Bha an sealgair anns a' bheinn agus thilg e an eilid
leis a' ghunna. Cheannaieh a' bhean ùbhlan anns a'
bhvith. Fhuair am balach na h-ùbhlan air a'bhòrd.
Bha an eiobair air a' mlionadh agus fhuair e aran,
agTis im. agus càise ann* an àirigh. Ohunnaie e a" bho
anns an innis.
Questions. Answers.
Co bha aig an dorus? Bha Seumas aig an dorus.
Who was at the door? James was at the door.
C'àite an rohh Seumas? Bha e aig an allt.
Where was James? He was at the brook.
Cuin a bha Seumas Bha e anns a'choille.
anns a' choille? anns a' mhaduiuii.
When Avas James in the He was in the wood in
wood? the morning.
C'uin a thàinig Seumas? Thàinig e an de.
When did James come? He came yesterday.
Note : — -1, When interrogative "C'uin" is introduced, it is advisable
also to introduce simple adverbs of time like — an de, j-esterday;
an diugh. to-day; an raoir, last night; etc
2, The opening forms of each question and of the correspoiiding
23
lO. The Article— Continued.
NOUNS IN S (Initial).
Generally speaking, with nouns in S followed by a
consonant, the 'definite' article takes the form "an"
in the nominative, accusative, and dative singular, and
'na' in the plural.
E.G. Tha an sgadan anns a' mhuir, the herring is
in the sea. Ghlac an t-iasg-air an *sgadan, the fisher-
man caught tlie herring.
Tha an sporau anns a' phòcaid, the purse is in the
pocket. Tha an t-airgiod anns an sporan, the money
is in the purse.
There is a difierence, however, when we have nouns
in S — folloived by I, n, r, or by a vowel.
Before dealing with these we shall illustrate the
general nouns in S, by a short paragTaph of Reading.
VOCABULARY.
Masculine.
Stiùir, a rudder. Sgarbh, a cormorant.
Sgiobair, a skipper. Stòl, a stool.
Sgorr, a cliff or peak. Stàbull, a stable.
Feminine.
Sgeir, a rock. Speal, a scythe.
Sguab, a brush, sheaf. Spain, a spoon.
Smeòrach, a mavis. Staidhir, a stair.
Stoirm, a storm. Spòg, a paw.
Spaid, a spade. Spuir, a claw.
Verbs.
Gheàrr, cut. Cheangail, tied. Ghleus, sharpened.
* sgadan = a herring, or a quantity of herring.
v.— LEUGHADH.
Bha mise anns a' bhàta an de. Shuidli an sgiobair
aig- an stiùir. Thàinig an s'toirm agus bhris am bata
air na sgeirean. Chunnaic na h-iasgairean an sgarbli
air an sgòrr. Cheangail an gille an t-each anus an
stàbull. Sheas a' chaileag air an staidhir ach shuidh
am balaeli air an stòl. Chuala mi an ?meòrach anns
a' choille, agus chunnaic mi an eat anns an uinneig.
Cliiiir an cat na spògan air a' ghloinne, ach mharbh e
an t-eun leis na spuirean. Bha an tuathanach anns
an achadh le spaid. Ghleus e an speal agus gheàrr
e am feur. Bhris a' chaileag an sguab agus thilg i
an Spain anns an teine. Chunnaic mi stiùir air an
traigh agus 'fhuair mi paftan aig an taigh-bhata.
Ghleus Seumas an t-inneal-buana. Cheangail an luchd-
buana na sguaban. Bhris an saor am fiodh leis an
spaid. Bhris an stoirm ua craobhan anns an fhoghar-
adh.
Questions. Answers.
Co gheàrr a' chraobh? Gheàrr an tuathanach a
chraobh.
C àite an robh an Bha an smeòrach anns
smeòrach? a' choille.
De bha air an sgòrr? Bha sgarbh air an sgòri
Co chunnaic an sgarbh? Chunnaic na h-iasg-
airean.
C uin' a thàinig a' chaileag ?Thàinigi i an diugh.
Etc. Etc.
25
11. The Article — Continued.
NOUNS IN S, followed hy L, N, R, or a Vowel.
Two Groups : (a) Masculines; (b) Feminjnes.
Article Article
Group A: AN, in Singular; NA, in Plural.
NODXS.
Meanings.
With Article.
Plurals,
with Article.
saighdear
a soldier
an saighdear
na saighdearan
seanair
a grandfather
an seanair
na seanairean
siol
a seed
an siol
na sil
soitheach*
a dish
an soitheach
na soithichean
suidheaclian
a seat
an suidheachan
na suidheachannan
slachdan
a rod, pestle
an slachdan
na slachdain
sneachd
snow
an sneachd
na sneachdannan
sruth
a stream
an sruth
na sruthan
Group B: AN T-,
Article
in Sino'ular
Article
NA. in Plural.
sail
a heel
an t-sàil f
na sailean
seachduin
a week
an t- seachduin
na seachduinean
sith
peace
an t-sith
sòbhrach
a primrose
an t-sòbhiach
na sobhraichean
soitheach*
a ship
an t-soitheach
na soithichean
sùil
an eye
an t-siiil
na sùilean
slochd
a pit
an t-slochd
na sluichd
snàthad
a needle
an t-snàthad
na snàthadan
sròn
a nose
an t-sron
na sromean
+ After the an t-, s is always silent, so that an t-sàil would be pronounced
like an t-àil ; an t-sùil like an t-iiil, etc.
* Note difiference of gender with difference of meaning.
26
NOTES.
1. In Group A, the 'definite article' takes the form
''an" in the nominative and accusative singular: —
E.G. Tha an .suidheaehan anns an sgoil, the seat tor
pew) is in the school. Bhri.s am ministeir an smlh-
eaehan. the minister broke the seat.
In the Dative Case the "definite" article takes the
form an t-
E.G. Tha am bradan anns an t-sruth, the salmon is
:n the stream. Tha boineid air an t-saighdear, a cap
is on the soldier.
2. In Group B, the ''definite" article takes the form
an t- in the nominative, dative and accusative singular —
E.G. Tha an t-.màthad anns an aodach, the needle
is in the cloth.
Chain i an t-snàthad air an làr. she lost the needle
on tlie floor.
Chàirieh i an t-aodach leis an t-snàthr//f/. she mended
the clothes with the needle.
Changes in the nouns them.selves, in this group, are
due to their declension.
E.G. Leis an t-snàtha//:/, with the needle (not, leis
an t-snathad). Bhris e an uinneag leis an t-slait,
he broke the window with the rod (not, leis an t-slat).
Briefly stated, with the feminine nouns of this section
the definite article takes the form "an t-' in nominative,
dative, and accusative, while the masculine nouns take
an t- in the dative. [The latter take an t- in the geni-
tive case also, but we shall di.scuss the genitives later on].
27
ADDITIONAL VOCABULARY.
Group A.
Samhradh, summer. Seòmar, a parlour.
Salann, salt. Siol, a seed.
Saoghal. world. Sionnach, a fox.
Sealg-air, a hunter. Snath, a thread, a
Seòl, a sail. quantity of thread.
Group B.
Sleag-h, a spear.
Sreang", a string.
Slat, a rod.
Slighe, a way.
Salm, a psalm.
Sail, a beam.
Slig-e, a shell.
Searrag, a bottle.
Suipeir. a supper
Bhruich, boiled.
Ghabh, took.
Chaidil. slept.
An de. yesterday.
An diugh, to-day.
An nochd, to-night.
An raoir, last nioht.
Verbs.
Chàirich, mended.
Thuit, fell.
Chaidh, went.
Adverbs.
A muigh, out.
A stigh, in.
A mach, out
(motion outwards).
A steach, in
(motion inwards K
VI.— LEUGHADH.
Tha an siol anns a' phoea. Chunnaic mi an t-each
aig- an t-siol anns a' mhaduinn. Tha sokis anns an
t-seòmar. Chuir a' bhean an salann anns an t-slige.
Chaidil an sg-oilear air an t-suidheachan. Fhuair mi
na sòbhraicheau ais,- an t-sruth an de. Chàirich a'
28
mhaighdean au t-aodach leis an t-suàtli ag-iis leis aii
t-suàtliaid. Bha an ciobair a muigh air a" bheinu
an raoir. Cliunnaic e an sneachd anus a" g-hleanii
Thàinig e dliacliaidh an noehd agus ghabh e
suipeir anus an t-seòmar. Bha an sealgair air a'
bheinn le gunna acli bha an saighdear amis a' ehogadh
le sleagh. Chaidh an ciobair a mach an diugh ach
thuit e auns an t-slochd. Thàinig an sealgair a
steach anus a' mhaduinn, chuir bean-an-taighe an t-
searrag air a' bhòrd agus flruair e deoch. Ghlac an
t-òganach sionnach anns an toll, cliunnaic e sreang air
an t-slait, agus eheaugail e an sionnach leis an t-sreing.
Bha an t-iasgair aig an t-sruth leis an t-slait, ach
bhris e an t -sreang agus chaill e am bradan. Chuir
an t-searbhant a' mhin anns a' phoca. Mharbh an seal-
gair tonnag aig a' mheadhon - latha. Cliunnaic au
sionnach a' mliarag anns an t-slige. Tha an t-sid gu
math anns an t-samhradh.
Questions.
Am W, e a stigh?
Will he be in?
Answers.
Bithidh e a stigh
He Avill be in.
Cha bhi e a stigh.
He will not be in.
Am hi e anns an sgoil?
Will he be in the school?
Bithidh e anus an sgoil.
He will be in the school.
Cha bhi e anns au sgoil.
He will not be in the
school.
C'àite am bi e?
Where will he be?
Bithidh e aig an taigli.
He will be at the house : etc.
29
QrESTIONTS.
C'uin bhitheas e aig-
an t-sruth?
When will lie be at the
stream ?
Answers.
Bithidh e aig an t-sru1h,
an diugh, an noehd, etc.
He will be at the stream
to-day, to-night, etc.
C'uin a fhàinig an giUe? Thàinig e an raoir,
an de, etc.
When did the lad come? He came last night,
to -day- etc.
NOTE.
(1). The opening forms of each question and of the con-esponding
answer.
(2). The question forms should now be used to introduce as man}'
other words as possible.
12. GENERAL SUMMARY OF THE
ARTICLE FORMS.
We have now illustrated all the forms of the 'Artiele'^
in the Nominative and Dative Cases — both masculine
and feminine — in the Singular. We have also seen that
the Xominative and Dative plural is 'Na.' A summary
table of all these forms and of the Genitive Forms is
given below; it might be useful for reference. In the
Summary understand the sign ( + ) to mean 'followed
bv'; E.G. An (+ voAvel). means an, followed by a
vowel ; E.G. An eala.
30
Nominative and Accusative.
Singular. Plural.
Masculine.
Feminine.
Both Genders.
An
Am(+f, b, m, p)
An t- ( + vowel)
= the.
An ] Like
A' [ Genitive
An t-J Masculine.
Na,
Genitive.
An
A' ( +bh, ch, mh,
gh, ph).
An t-( + S fol-
lowed by l,n,
Na
Nah-(+ vowel)
= of the.
Nan
N am + b f .
P-)
m.
r, or by a vow
el) = of the.
Dative.
An. ]
A' Hike Gen.
An t-J
'n, 'n t-(after a
vowel-ending
preposition
= to the.
An.
A'
Ant I
'n, 'n t)
tSame as
Dat.
Mase
Same as Nom.
Plural.
Note. — (1).
(2).
The similarity between the forms of the "Article" in
the Gen. Sing. Masc, and the Nomin. Sing. Fern.; also
the forms of the two datives.
That the Gen. Sing. Fern, always takes the form Na
(or na h).
That the Gen. Plur. is always Nan. or Nam.
31
VII.— GENERAL EEADING ON THE ARTICLE.
Tha dearcan air na craoblian. Cliunnaic an tuathaii-
ach damh anns an aehadh. Chunnaic sinn iolair air
creig- ag-us sgarbh air sgòrr. Bha an long air a' mhuir.
Chaidh an sealgair *do 'n ghleann agus mharbh e
.sionnach leis a' gliunna. Tha teas anns an teine. Ghlac
an t-iasgair breac anns an abhainn.
Bhuain na tuathanaich an t-arbliar. Gheàrr a' phis-
eag am balach leis na spuirean. Tliuit a' chuileag anns
an t-soitheach. Chuir a' chaileag ùbhlan agns uibhean
air a' bhòrd. Thug na gillean uaireadair do 'u mhaigh-
stir, agus thug na caileagan fàinne do 'n ghille. Tha
adhaircean air an damh, ag-us tha sgiath air an isean.
Tha smeòrach air a' chraoibh, agus tha a' ohraobh aig an
allt. Rinn an tuathanach slochd leis an spaid. Chuir
an òigh putan anns a' pheitean. Fhuair an greasaiche
a' bhròg' *fo 'n chiste. Shuidh an t-iasgair anns a'
gheòla, ach sheas an saighdear aig an dorus leis
a' chlaidheamli. Bhuail am balach an dorus leis an
t-slachdan. Chàirich a' chaileag a' bhriogais leis an t-
•snàthaid. Sguab bean-an-taighe an staidhir. Bha mi
air a' bheinn an de agus chunnaic mi eilid anns a'
i>-hleanu. -\Dh' eirlch a' ghealach anns an fheasgar, agus
dh' eirieh a' ghrian anns a' mhaduinn.
Tha fàinue air a' mheòir. Chunnaic sinn am bàta le
.solus na gealaich. Bha mi aig taigh nan tuatlianach an
de. Gheàrr an duine sgiathan na h-iolaire.
Chuala sinn fuaim nam piob anns a' mhaduinn.
Chunnaic an sealgair an eilid air mullach na beinne.
*When the preposition ends iu a vowel the following Article
drops the ' a ' and an apostrophe takes its place.
t Dh'eirich = rose (past tense of verb).
32
13. RULE FOR SPELLING-
In words of more than one syllable, the last vowel o'f
the first syllable, and the first vowel of the next syllable
must be of the same quality; i.e., if the last vowel of a
syllable be broad, the first vowel of the next syllable
must be broad also; but if .small, a .small vowel follows.
According to this rule, a broad or small vowel is introduced, as
the case may be, although it serves no purpose in respect of deriva-
tion or pronunciation. Thus sgeirtan is the plural of syeir : an is
the plural termination, aud the introduction of the e makes no
difference in the sound, but is inserted in conformity with the above
rule.
ASPIRATION.
Aspiration takes place under the following- conditions:
(1) After the possessive pronouns mo, my; do, thy;
a, his: as, mo bìiròg; do chù; a eheann.
(2) After the prepositions do, to; /o, under; bho, o,
from; Diar, like : as, troimh, throug'h; roimJi, before;
de, of; mu, about; gun, without.
(3) After the intensive particles fior, ro, gle, sàr,
very. e.g. Glan, clean; gie ghlan, very clean.
(4) After the numerals aon, one; da, two; an ceud,
a' cheud, the first. e.g. Fear, man ; 'gille, a lad ;
but, aon fhear ; da ghille.
(.5) After the article a' ; and after 'n before b, c, /,
g, m., p. An aspirates /, if the noun is feminine; as,
Jras, a shower ; an fhra.s, the shower.
(6) In compound words the first consonant of the
second word of the compound is aspirated, if the first
part of the compound word be a feminine noun.
33
E.G. Fraoch, heather; ceare, hen; give u.s, cearc-
fhraoich. a moor -hen.
(7) Tlie initial consonant of the noun is aspirated
when preceded by an a>djective. e.g. From, ilroch,
bad; and, cluine, man: we have, droch dhuine.
(8) An adjective qualifying- a feminine noun is as-
pirated in the Nominative and Dative singular. Bean
mhor ; lets a chaileig bhig (wdth the little girl).
(9) An adjective qualifying a noun whose Genitive
singular is like the Nominative plural, is aspirated in
the Nominative plural, e.g. Dorus, Gen. Sing., dorui-i:
Plur^, doruis: hence, doruis mhora, big doors.
(10 I The Vocative — singular and plural — of nouns of
both genders : from, giUe, a lad, Sing. A Ghille I
Plur. A Ghillean I
(11) The verb is aspirated after the particles ma, if;
cha. not (except d, t, Avhich take both forms); relative
a ; conjunction ged and the infinitive of the verb after
the particle a: the past tense Indicative and past Sub-
junctive of the verb are aspirated.
(12 I The initial of words not beginning with d, t, is
aspirated after bu. e.g. Bu cheart dhuit, it was right
for you ; but, bu dual dhuit ; literally, (it was hered-
itary- to you), i.e., just like you (and your folk).
(13) Initial consonants after the article are a^spirated
in the Genitive singular masculine. Nominative singular
feminine, and Dative singular mascxiline and feminine,
except d, t, s.
34
14.
PERSONAL PRONOUNS.
Simple.
Emphatic.
Singular.
Mi, I.
mise.
Thu (tu), thou.
thusa (tusa)
E, he or it.
esan.
I, she.
Flmal.
ise.
Sinn, we.
sinne, (sinn -
Sibh, you.
sibhse.
lad, they.
iadsan.
The addition of the word "fhein" or "fein," adds more
emphasis as, mi-fhein, I myself ; sibh fhein, you your-
selves.
1. Thu or Tu is generally used: —
(a) To express familiarity.
(Ò) To express inferiority (especially tliusa).
(e) In addi-essing the Deity.
2. Sibh: is used in addressing' a superior, and in
polite conversation.
E.G. Ciamar tha thu"^ How are you ?— familiarly
Ciamar tha sibh? — politely speaking.
15. POSSESSIVE
Singular.
Mo, my.
Do, thy.
A, his or her.
Three of the above — mo, do, bhm- — have contracted
forms: m', d', 'ur respectively.
PRONOUNS.
Plural.
ar, our.
bhur ('ur), your.
an, am, their.
35
^OTE. — 1. A, liis, aspirates the nouu which it qualifies.
E.G. A cheann, his head; a bhròg-, his shoe. (Not,
a ceann; and, a bròg).
2. A. her, does not aspirate its noun.
E.G. A ceann, her head; a bròg-, her shoe ; a sùil,
her eye.
3. Mo. do=inj, thy, aspirate their nouns.
E.G. Mo shùil, my eye ; mo cheann, my head ; do
chù, thy dog; do bho, thy cow.
After these possessive pronouns when a noun begins
■with a vowel (or f, followed by a vowel i, the follow-
ing points should be noted.
1. The of mo and do is elided and an apostrophe
takes its place.
E.G. My lamb, is not — mo uan ; but, m' uan.
My horse, is not — mo each; but m'each.
2. In addition, an / noun is aspirated.
E.G. Your hair, is not — do fait ; but, d' fhalt.
My tooth, is not — mo fiacail ; but m' fhiacail.
3. A, his, is also omitted and an apostrophe used in
its place.
E.G. Reic e' each, he sold his horse — for, Reic e a
each. The omission of a' facilitates pronunciation.
Similarly, mharbh e' uan, he killed his lamb.
But when "a," her, is used, the pronoun is written,
but is followed by h- before the noun.
E.G. Eeic e a h-each, he sold her horse.
Chain i a h-iuchair, she lost her key.
4. The pronouns ar, our ; 'ur, your, are followed b}'
by n- before their respective nouns.
E.G. Our horse, ar n-each; our bread, ar n-aran;
your father, 'ur n-athair ("youi'" refers to more than
one person; i.e., "your" is plural).
36
These possessives are made emphatic b}^ such suf-
fixes as; *m, san, se, ne, but such particles are always
written after the nouns, which the possessives qualify.
E.G. My dog-, mo chù-sa ; his cat, a chat-saii : her
hen, a cearc-se; our house, ar taigh-ue; your horse,
'ur n-each-se; their lamb, an uan-san.
Again, when an adjective (or adjectives) qualifies
any noun in such a position, the particle is written
after the adjective.
E.G. Mo chù dubh-sa, my black dog- : a cat glas-se,
her gi'ay cat; an taigh mor aluinn-san. their big beau-
tiful house.
VIII.— LEUGHADH.
Bha mo chù-sa aig an dorus. Tha do sgian air a'
bhòrd. Chuir esan a làmh anns a'phoca. Chuir ise a
bròg- air an làr. Cheangail e' each anns an stàbull.
Thilg e a pheann air a'bhòrd. Bhris an t-each a
elms. C'àit' am bheil do bhrògan-sa? Tha mo bhrògaii-
sa anns an t-seòmar. C'àit' am bheil 'ur leabhraichean ?
Chuir 'ur n-athair anns a' chiste iad. Tha m' each-sa
anns a' phàirc agus d' uan-sa anns an t-sabhal.
Thog-I e a phoca agus thilg e air an làr e. Gheàrr an
gille a chas agus dhùin a' chaileag a sùil. Tha m' fhall-
sa ban, ach tha d' fhalt-sa dubh, agujs a falt-se donn.
Fhuair e' iuchair anns an dorus agus ghlas e a
thaigh. Thilg ise a h-aodach anns an teine agus ghlac
an lasair a fait. Chunnaic mi esan agus a phiuthar
anns an dorus.
Thàinig- an duine agus a bhean agus a nig-hean anns
a' mhaduinn.
*These particles are used thus : — 'sa' with nio, do ; -san' with a
(his), an, ain ; 'se' with a (her). i)hui- ('ur) and 'ne' with ar.
37
16. TO DENOTE POSSESSION.
(a). TiieYerb Bl iu coujuuctioii with tlic piepositiou
aig, or with the prepositional prououns formed theref lom,
denotes possession, and is equivalent to the verb 'have
in English.
E.G. Tha peann aig Iain, which means literally — a
pen is at John; John has a pen.
Tha bo aig Màiri, Mary has a cow.
Such sentences, then, as : — He has a pen. and, She
has a hat, one might expect to translate thus: —
Tha peann aig e, a pen is at him.
Tiui ad aig i, a hat is at her.
Instead, however, of writing tlie pronoun and the pre-
position separately in this way we use what is called
a "Prepositional Pronoun" — compounded of the preposi-
tion and the pronoun. Hence we write: —
Tha peami aige, he has a pen.
Tha ad a ice, ^he has a hat.
The following examples show the Prepositional Pro-
nouns formed from aig.
Emphatic.
Tha peann agam (agam-sa), I have a pen.
,, ,, agad (agad-sa). Thou hast a pen.
,, ,. aig-e (aige-san), He has a pen.
„ ,, aice (aice-se). She has a pen.
„ ,, againn (againne), We have a pen.
„ ,, agaibh (agaibh-se). You have a pen.
,, ,, aca (aca-san), They have a pen.
These prepositional pronouns are used sometimes with
the force of possessive pronouns.
E.G. His cow, a bho-san; or, a bho aige-san.
Mj' book, mo leabhar-sa; or, an leabhar ag-am-sa.
Their horse, an each-san; or, an t-each aca-san.
38
(b). The Assertive Form IS with the preposition le
(or the prepositional pronouns formed therefrom) is
used to denote ownership.
E.G. The knife is James's, Is le Seumas an sgian.
The book is Mary's, Is le Màiri an leabhar.
But in such a sentence as: — The book is mine, or,
The hat is hers; we do not translate thus: — Is le me
an leabhar; or, Is le i an ad.
For 'le me we use "learn" and for 'le i we use
" hatha. " The following examples show the Prepositional
Pronouns formed from 'le (with).
Is learn an sgian, The knife is mine.
Is leat an sgian. The knife is thine.
Is leis an sgian. The knife is his.
Is leatha an sgian, The knife is hers.
Is leinn an sgian, The knife is ours.
Is leibh an sgian. The knife is yours.
Is leotha an sgian, The knife is theirs.
The emphatic forms of these prepositional pronouns
can also be used.
E.G. is leam-sa an .sgian; is leat-sa an sgian; is
leis-san an .sgdan, etc.
IX.— LEUGHADH.
Tha taigh aig Seumas anns a' bhaile ach tha bothan
agam-sa aig- an abhainn. C'àit' am bheil do chii-sa?
Tha an c'ù agam-sa anns an dorus. *Cò leis a:i taigh
sin? Is le Seumas an taigh. An robh leabhar agaibh-
se an de? Bha, ach cha 'n 'eil e againiL a nis. C'àit' ahi
bheil e? Chaill sinn e, ach tha e aca-san a nis. Fhuair
mise mo leabhar air a' bhòrd, ach thilg Calum a
leabhar -san air an làr. Chuir Mairi a h-ad anns a'
39
chiste agus thilg i a bròg air an stòl. *Cò aige tha an
sgian? Tha an sgian aig Iain a nis,_ ach bha i aig
Seumas an de. Am bheil eich agaibh-se? Cha 'n 'eil eich
againn, ach tha uan againn. *Cò leis na laoigh sin? Is
leotha-san na laoigh. An robh laogh agad-sa ? Cha robh,
ach bha cti again.
17. VERB BI.— DEPENDENT FORM.
Present. Past.
Am bheil mrn
- , ., .„ [Am I ]
Am beil mi? J
Cha 'n eil mi. I am not.
Nach 'eil mi Ì Am I not 1
An robh mi? Was I?
Cha robh mi. I was not.
N ach robh mi 1 Was I not 1
Future.
Ambimi? Shall I be?
Cha bhi mi. I shall not be.
Nach bi mi ? Shall I not be ?
VOCABULARY,
àrd, high. liath, grey (headed).
geur, sharp. nighean, daughter.
luath, stvi/t. cnoc, a hill ; phtr., cnuic.
COMHRADH.
Am bheil e aig an dorus ? Tha e aig an dorus.
Am bheil i-se aig an dorus ? Cha 'n 'eil i aig an dorus.
Am bheil iad aig an dorus ? Tha iad aig an dorus.
* N.B. Co leis? whom with? whose?
Co aige ? whom at ?
Therefore : Co leis an taigh ? Literally — with whom (is) the house'
i.e., Whose is the house ? Co aige tha an sgian? Literally—
at whom i? the knife ? i.e.. Who has the knife?
40
.^ach 'eil iad-san aig an dorus Ì
An robh sibh aig an dorus ?
Am bheil an cù aig an dorus ?
Nach 'eil mo chù-sa aig an dorus?
An robh na fir aig an dorus ?
An robh a' bhean aig an dorus ?
Am bi an gille aig an dorus ?
An e Iain a tha aig an dorus ?
Am bheil an t-each sums a'
phàirc ?
Nach e Seumas a tha anns a'
phàirc Ì
Nach robh e anns a phàirc ?
Am bheil na h-uain air a' chnoc ?
Am. bheil an cnoc àrd ?
Am. bheil na cnuic àrd ?
Am. bheil an sgian geur ?
Am bheil do sgian -sa geur ?
An robh a' bho anns a choille ?
An robh na h-eich anns a' choille?
Am bi na fir anns a' bhaile ?
An robh na gillean anns a'
bhaile ?
Am bi iad anns a' bhaile ?
Ans). bheil an cù luath ?
Nach 'eil a chii-san luath ?
Am bheil an earb luath ?
An robh do chat-sa anns an toll ?
Am bi a cii-se air a' bhòrd ?
Nach 'eil a cheann-san liath ?
Nach robh d' athair-sa anns a'
bhata ?
Cha 'n 'eil.
Bha sinn aig an dorus.
Tha e aig an dorus.
Cha 'n 'eil do chii-sa aig an
dorus.
Bha iad aig an dorus.
Cha robh i aig an dorus.
Bithidh e aig an dorus.
Is e.
Cha 'n 'eil e anns a' phàirc.
Cha 'n e.
Bha e anns a' phàirc.
Tha iad air a' chnoc.
Cha 'n 'eil e àrd.
Tha iad àrd.
Cha 'n 'eil i geur.
Tha i geur.
Bha i anns a' choille.
Cha robh iad anns a' choille
Bithidh iad anns a' bhaile.
Cha robh iad anns a' bhaile.
Cha bhi iad anns a' bhaile.
Cha 'n 'eil e luath.
Tha e luath.
Tha i luath.
Bha mo chat-sa anns an toll
Cha bhi.
Cha' n' eil e liath.
Bha m' athair-sa anns a'
bhata.
41
Nach bi mo mhac-sa anus an Bithiclh.
sgoil ?
Am bi do iiighean-sa aig an Cha bhi i aig an taigh.
taigh ?
An robli ar-cii-ne amis a' choille? Cha robb.
Nach bi an t-each aca-san anns Bithidh e anns an stabull.
an stabull ?
N.B. — It is not necessaiy always to give such full
answers as are given in man}' of the above instances.
E.G. Is your dog swift? Yes. Here ' yes ' is equiva-
lent to "it is swift." Similarly in Gaelic we may say:
Am bheil do chu luath? Tha, where " tha " =tha mo chu
luath. An robh e aig an dorus? Cha robh, where " cha
robh " =cha robh e aig an dorus.
18. THE VERB.
1. The root o'f the Gaelic Verb is the Second Person
Singular of tlie Imperative Mood —
E.G. Buail, strike (thouj; òl, drink (thou).
The Regular Gaelic Verbs can be divided conveni-
ently into two groups:
Group A :— The Consonant Group
i.e., All verbs beginning with a consonant (except f
followed by a vowel).
E.G. tilg, throw ; cum, hold : too-, lift ; freagair. answer.
Group B :— The Vowel Group
i.e., All verbs beginning with a vowel (or f followed
by a vowel).
E.G> Ò1, drink; ith, eat; fag, leave.
42
Tense Formation.
2. The Gaelic Verbs — with the exception of tha,
bheil, is — have no Simple Present Tense.
E.G. I struck, Bhuail mi: a definite verbal form.
But, 'I strike' is rendered into Gaelic thus: —
Tha mi a' bualadh=literally, I am at striking. Tlie
present tense (so called), then, is a "Compound" of
the verb 'Bi' and the 'Verbal Noun' of the verb to be
translated.
3. Let us, then, take for the present discussion the
three Principal Parts of the Verb, namely:
The Root Verb, The Past Tense, and
The Future Tense.
In Group A, the past tense is formed by aspirating-
the root verb, and the future tense by adding 'idh' to-
the root.
Thus: Eooti Past. Future.
tilg", throw, thilg. tilgidh.
till, return. thill. tillidh.
freag'air, answer, fhreagair. freagairidh
(* f reagraidh).
Note tliat, when the vowel of the root verb is broad
(a, o, u), the future ending is 'aidh.'
E.G. gfeapr, cut. gheàrr. gearraidh.
cum, hold. chum. cumaldh.
tog", lift. thog. togaidh.
Group B. These form the past tense by prefixing
dh' to the root, and the future tense just like Group A.
E G. ith, eat. dh' ith. ithidh.
imich, go. dh' imich. imichidh.
but, ol, drink. dh' òl. òlaidh.
43
4. Verbs in F followed by a vowel form their future
tenses just like the verbs of the other two groups, but
the past tense is formed in two steps, as it were.
First — by aspirating the root verb.
Second — by prefixing dh' to the now aspirated root.
E.G. Boot. Past. Future.
folaich, hide. dh' fholaich. folaichidh.
fan -, "• 1 dh' fhan. fanaidh.
( remain »
fOSg'ail, open. dh' fhosgail. fosgailidh
*(fosglaidh).
Thus the formation of the Past Tense of these (f + vowel)
verbs is really a " combmation " of the methods of Groups
A and B.
VOCABULAEY.
Personal Xames.
Iain, John. Seumas, James.
Calum, Malcolm. Peigi, Peggy.
Mòr, Sallì/, Sarah. A Mhòr, '. Sally \
Verbs.
caidil, sleep. paisg, /o/c/.
seas, stand. cruinnich, gathe
gabh, take.
Adverbs.
as, out of: out. dhaehaidh) , ,
. </ ,^ 1 1 ■ II \ liomeward.
ann, %n it; there. dachaidh )
Nouns.
bainne, milk. sòbhraichean, priìnroses.
airgiod, money. leabaidh, a bed.
* Man}- of those verbs have a Syncopated (or shortened) Form in
the future tense like fpeagPaldh, and fosglaidh.
44
X.— LEUGHADH.
Iain! Tha do leabhar air a' bliòrd. Tog- e a,o-us eiiir
air ail t-suidheachan e. Co cliuir aim e? Chuir Sevimas,
ach cuiridh mise anus a' chiste e. Tilg- clach air a' chat
sin, ag'us buail an cù leis a' liliata. Co mharbh an
sionnaeh an de? Mharbh mise, ach bhris Calum' a chas
le maide. Dhòirt a' mhaighdean an sùgh amis an t-
soitheach ag-us dh' òl am balach e. Phaisg- am fear an
t-iasg amis a' phaipeir. Shuidh am fear anns an t-seò-
mar, ach sheas a' bhean anns an dorus. Chaidil a' chail-
eag air an làr, ach dùisgidh i am màireach. T)h' eirieh
mise anns a' mhaduinn agus dh' Ò1 mi bainne. Chuii-
naic mi sealgair anns a' choille, bata anns an al)hainn,
sneachd air na cnuic, searrag ami an 'sloehd. Co dh' òl
am bainne as an t-soitheach? Dh' òl Màiri am bainne
agus dh' ith i an t-aran. Seas air an stòl, a Mhòr,
agus cuir as an solus. Bha Màiri agus Seonaid anns
an achadh an de: bhuaiii iad sòbhraichean agus thug
iad dachaidh iad. C'àit' an robh Peig-i agus Mòr? Bha
iad a muigh air an t-sràid. Agus c' uin' a thainig iad
dachaidh? Tliainig iad an raoir, ach chaill Mòr a
sporan. Bha toll air an sporan agus thuit an t-òr gus
an làr. Tog an t-òr, a Mhòr. Dh' eirieh Mòr agns
chruinnich i an t-òr agus chuir i ann an soltheach e.
Ghabh iad an suipeir agus chàirich Mòr an toll air an
sporan.
Questions.
Ail ith e aran? ( Ithidh e aran, or,
Will he eat bread? i Cha 'n ith e aran.
Nach Ò1 e bainne? ( Olaidh e bainne, or.
Will he not drink milk? \ Cha 'n òl e bainne.
De rinn e? ( Dh' òl e bainne.
What did he do? ( Bhuail e dorus, elc.
45
Dè nì e? i Olaidh e bainne, or,
What will he do? -,' ithidh e arau, or,
[ buailidh e dorus, etc.
Further questions on these lines should now be intro-
duced so as to bring' into use the various tenses of the
verbs dealt with in tlie lesson.
XI.— LEUGHADH.
Eeadixg Exercises on the F Verbs.
Fag do leabhar air a' bhòrd, 'Iain, agus freagair
a' cheist so. Dh' fliàg- e an leabhar agus fhreagair e
a' cheist. Fosgail do leabhar, a 'Chaluim, agus leugh
sg'eulachd. " Fuirich gus am màireach," fhreagair
C'aluni. Dh' fheòraieh am maig-hstir de 'n ghille, "Co
dh' fhàg a bhoineid anns an sgoil?"
"Freagraidh mi sin a^ màireaeh," ars' am balaeli.
Fuirich thusa aig an taigh, a Mhàiri, agus fritheil an
leanabh. "Cha fhritheil mise gu math e." arsa Màiri,
"ach fàgaidh mi aig Seonaid e. "C ait' am bheil i an
dràsda?" dh' fheòraich a mathair. "Fosgail an dorus
agus chi thu i." Dh' fhosgail iad an dorus agus thàinig
Seonaid a steach.
VOCABULAEY.
leugh, read. arsa (ars'), says (said),
sgeulachd, story. fritbeil, attend,
ceist, a question. an dràsda, just now.
46
19. THE ADJECTIVE.
1. In Gaelic the general position of the adjective is
ufter the noun it qualifies.
E.G. duine mor, a big man; each dubh, a black
horse.
2. The adjective is aspirated after a feminine noun.
E.G. bean mhor, a big woman; lair dhubh. a black
mare; nighean bheag, a little girl.
3. When the adjective is in the Predicative Posi-
tion (i.e., forming part of the predicate) it is always
written in the simple form irrespective of the gender
or the number of the word it refers to.
E.G. The man is wise, Tha an duine glic.
The woman is wise, Tha a' bhean glic.
The boy is big, Tha am balach mor.
The girl is big, Tha an nighean mor.
The trees are tall, Tha na craobhan àrd.
The dogs are swift, Tha na coin luath.
4. The plurals of monosyllabic adjectives end in 'a,'
if the vowel of the adjective is broad (a, o, u); and
in 'e,' if the vowel of the adjective is slender.
E.G. Singular — dubh, black. Plural — dubha.
„ ard, high. „ àrda.
„ ban, fair (white). ,, bàna.
but ,, g^lic, wise. ,, glice.
„ coir, kind. „ còire.
5. A few adjectives precede their nouns, and in such
a position always aspirate their nouns.
E.G. droch, deagh, sàr, *seann (sean), etc.
dPOCh dhuine, a bad man.
seann mhaighdean, an old maid.
deag"h charaid, a good friend.
Sar dhuin'-uasal, a thorough gentleman,
lu this group there is, as it were, special emphasis
laid on the quality denoted by the adjective.
E.G. Duine OlC (or dona), a bad man.
but, droch dhuine, a (very) bad man.
Duine fior, a true man, a truthful man.
but, flor dhuine, ' a true man ' in every sense ; every
inch a man.
With ' droch dhuine/ compare " An Droch Fhear,"
the devil.
A convenient vocabulary for a 'Reading' on this
section can be formed by grouping common adjectives
in "pairs of opposites," names of common colours, etc.
VOCABULARY,
reamhar, fat. caol, tana, thin.
trom, heavy. aotrom, light.
fada, long. geàrr, goirid, short.
Ian, full. falamh, empty.
seau, seann, old. òg, young.
glan, clean. salach, dirty.
* Sean (old) is used after a noun, and in the Predicative position in
a sentence. When used before a noun it usually takes the form
Seann, and in such a position does not aspirate nouns beginning
with d, t, s (1, n, r).
E.G. Seann duine, seann saighdear, etc. In colloquial
speech one hears another form (Seana) which alwaj'S aspirates
its noun, seana ghille, a bachelor, seana ehailleaeh, an
old wife.
48
Colours.
dearg-, red. g"las, gray,
gorm, blue. liath, grey (headed).
uaine. gre&ii. donn, hroivn (duii)i
XII.— LEUGHADH.
Chunnaic am balacli beag- diiine mor reamhar aims
a' bhùth. Chuir a' chaileag- bhàn an sporaii Ian anus
a' phoca. Co thog* an t-each marbh? Thog- am fear òg-
laidir. C ait' am bheil an g-ille linn? Tha e anns an
t-seòmar agus tha an lighiehe math aig- an leabaidh.
Tog a' bhròg ghlan, ach fag an còta salach. Togaidh
mi an leabhar dearg? ach tilgidh mi a mach a' chairt
ghlas. Dh' Ò1 an nighean mhath an t-uisge fuar, ach
dhòirt an droch bhalach am bainne blàth air an làr.
Sheas am bodach mor anns an dorns agus shuidh a'
chailleacli liath air an stòl. Ghlac mise eun breac ann
an lion beag an de, ach dh' ith an cat glas e anns a'
mhaduinn. Tha am feur bog- anns an aehadh a.gus
ithidh a' l)ho bhàn e an diug-'h. Nach 'eil an t-each
donn anns an stabull? Tha, ach tha an lair dhubh. anns
a'phàire. Tha dorus gorm air an taigh agus tha glas
dhubh air an dorus. Fosgail an dorus buidhe ach dùin
an dorus donn. Co bhuail an t-each breac? Bhuail
Seumas e le maide mor.
C ait' am bheil do chat gias-sa? That e anns an toll.
C() leis an cat? Is le Seumas Eiu\ an car donn.
Questions. Answers.
1)6 'n seorsa duine tha so? TDuine mor, or
"What sort of man is this ? J Tha duine mor, or
I Is e 80 duine mor, or
(Tha an duine so mor, etc.
49
Questions.
Ue 'u seorsa rud tha so ?
What sort of thing is this ?
De 'u datli tha air a'
pliaipeir? air an leabh-
ar? air an dorus? etc.
What colour is on the
paper
the book?
on the door? etc., etc.
Answers.
[Cat dubh, or
Tha cat dubh, or
[is e so cat dubh. etc.
Dearg-, or
Dath dearg, or
Tha dath dearg, or
Is e dath dearg a tha air
a' phaipeir, air an leabh-
ar, air an dorus, etc.
Other questions of a similar type should now be
framed to bring into practice the various words em-
ployed in this section; the various forms of answering
questions should be freely used.
20. THE FORMS OF THE VERB.
The Gaelic Verb has three forms: —
1. The Independent (or Absolute) Form — which
can be used as the first word in a sentence.
E.G. Bha mi, I was ; Bliuail mi, I struck.
2. The Dependent — which is used in subordinate
clauses or after particles.
e.g. Am bhell mi? Am I?
Thubhairt e nach robh an cii luath — he said that
the dog was not swift.
.'}. The Rel.a.tive Form — so called because it is the
form used after relative pronouns.
E.G. Am fear a bhitheas dubh, cha bhi e ban.
Literallv,The man who will be black, he wilj not be fair.
50
Am fear a thogas, is e a leagas.
Literally, The man who will raise up (building-s, etc.)^
(it) is he who will knock down.
It will be seen that these Definite Rekitive Forms-
are all used for the future tense.
In addition to these the verb "to be" has the
Assertive Form : is mi, It is I; is tu, It is thou, etc.
which we have already g-one over.
E.G. Is gòrach thu (tu). 'Tis foolish you are.
Is bòidheach i. 'Tis beautiful she !•<.
For further illustration we shall take the Independent
and Dependent Forms of the verb "BI" — in full, and
add a few exercises on the Assertive Form.
21. VERB B I— INDEPENDENT FORM.
Present Tense.
Singular. Plural.
1. Tha mi. / am. Tha sinn, ice are.
2. Tha thu, thou art. Tha sibh, you are.
3. Tha 6, i, he, xhe, it is. Tha iad, thei/ are.
Past Tensi:.
1. Bha mi, / tvas. Bha sinn, tve were.
2. Bha thu, thou ivast. Bha sibh, you v:ere.
3 Bha e, i, he, etc., ?vas. Bha iad, they tvere.
51
Future Tense.
1. Bithidh mi, / ivill be. Bithidh sinn, we will be.
2. Bithidh thu, thou shall be. Bithidh sibh, you shall be.
3. Bithidh e, i, he, etc., shall be. Bithidh iad, they shall be.
Subjunctive Past.
1. *^\\\thu\\\, I ivould be. ''^Yì\\\t)\ea.TaaÀ.à, we ivouldbe.
2. Bhitheadh tu (thu), ihoii wcnddst be.
Bhitheadh sibh, yoii wo7ild be.
3. Bhitheadh e, i, he, etc., would be.
Bhitheadh iad, they would be.
Imperative.
1. *Bitheam, let me be. *Bithearaaid, let us be.
2. Bi thusa, be thou. Bithibh, be ye.
3. Bitheadh e, i, let him, etc , be. Bitheadh iad, let them be.
Infinitive.
Bith, being. A bhith, to be.
ASSERTIVE FORM,
fls, Bu, used only in the Present and Past Indicative.
1. Is mi, it is I. Is sinn, it is tee.
2. Is tu, it is thou. Is sibh, it is you.
3. Is, e, i, it is he, she. Is iad. it is they.
1. Bu mhi, it was I. Bu sinn, it was we.
2. Bu tu, it ivas thou. Bu sibh, it was you.
3. B' e, i, it ivas he, she. B' iad, it was they.
* In all these ' first persons ' note that the pronoun is incorporated
in the verb, but for 'lìhitheamaid'. we often hear 'bhitheadh
sinn.' Similarly for ' bhuaileamaid,' we hear 'bhuaileadh sinn.'
t/s pronounced like ins in the word hiss.
52
XIII.— LEUGHADH.
Bithidh na gillean beaga anrivS an sgoil. An uair a
bha iad òg bhitheadh iad anns an sgoll. Bhitheadh
an duine coir aig' an taigh anns an fheasgar. Bhith-
eamaid anns a' choiDe gach latha anns an t-samhradh.
Bi thusa sgiobalta agus togaidh sinn na clachan.
Bitheamaid anus a' bhaile am màireach anns a^ mha-
duinn, ach bitlieadh iadsan aig- an taigh anns an fheas-
gar.
He is the man.
Is he the man?
Is e an duine.
An e an duine?
Is mi an duine.
Is mise an duine.
Am mi an duine?
Am mise an duine?
Bu mhi an duine.
Bu mhise an duine.
Am bu mhi an duine?
Am bu mhise an duine;
*B'e an duine.
Am b'e an duine?
B' iad na daoine.
Am b' iad (iadsan) na
daoine ?
I am the man.
) Am I the man?
/
) I was the man.
I
\ Was I the man?
I
He was the man.
Was he the man?
They were the men.
Were they the men?
53
S 5
O
fa
I I I'll i~ !
3 Z
^;-^
^ 1
54
22 (a). DEPENDENT FORM OF BI.
On the last pag-e is given the Dependent Form
of the verb "BI. The various forms have been divided
into four groups (a, b, c, d), in the hope that the
ilhistrative sentences which are to follow may be less con-
fusing to the learner.
The General Principle of grouping is as follows.
Group (a): these are the forms used in interrogative
sentences ; cha 'n 'eil mi, cha robh mi, cha bhi
mi, etc., being used in negative replies.
Group (b): these are the forms used to introduce
conditional clauses.
Group (cr. these are used to introduce subordinate
noun clauses.
Group (fZ): these are used in subordinate clauses intro-
duced b}- a relative pronoun.
Most of the forms in gi'oup (a) have already been
used in our "Readings" and "Question Forms" in the
previous sections, so that a few further examples under
this head should sujfice.
N.B. — The follo^ving exercises should be read with
constant reference to the "Summary Table"' of the
V^erb Forms on the last page.
Questions. Answers.
Group A.
Am bheil am peann math? Cha 'n 'eil e math.
Naeh 'eil a pheann-san Tha e math.
math?
An robh thusa anns an Cha robh.
eaglais ?
Nach robh do bhràthair Bha e aig an dorus.
aig an dorus?
Am bi thu anns a' bhaile Bithidh mi anns a' bhaile
am màireach? am màireach.
Nach bi Seumas anns Cha blii e anns a' choille.
a' clioille ?
Am bithinn blàth anns Bhitheadh tu blàth anns
an uisge? an uisge
Nach bithinn fuar anns Cha bhitheadh tu fuar
an teine? anns an teine.
Nach bitheadh esan sgith. Bhitheadh e sgith air an
air an rathad? rathad.
NoTK. — Compare the "opening words" of each question, and then
the "opening words" of the answer. It is advisable to be
familiar with each type, as they occur so often in reading and
conversation.
Group B.
Ma tha an duine mor, cha 'n 'eil e beag.
Ma bha e glan an de, tha e salaeh an diugh.
Ma bhitheas sinn sgiobalta, chi sinn am bàta.
Na 'm bithinn beartach, bhithinn sona.
Mur 'eil mi beartach, tha mi glic.
Mui' an robh mi annsantaigh, bha mi anns an t-sabhal.
Mur bi mi aig an abhainn, bithidh mi anns a' choille.
Mur bithinn fuar, bhithinn teth.
Gned a tha thu mall, cha 'n 'eil thu dall.
Ged a bha mi sgith, cha robh mi fuar.
Ged a bhitheas e aig a' bhaile anus a' mhaduinn, bith-
idh e anns a' bhàta anns an fheasgar. Ged a bhith-
inn air a' mhuir, bhithinn sona.
*Na'n robh mi anns a' bhaile, bhitheadh esan saor.
Ged nach 'eil mi reamhar, tha mi laidir.
Ged nach robh' e mor, bha e trom.
Ged nach bi mi anns a' choille, bithidh mi anns an
achadh .
Ged nach bithinn laidir, bhithinn luath.
* (Had I been in the town, he would be free).
56
Group C.
Tìnibhairt e=he said ; ag radh^^saying.
Tliubhairt e gu 'm blieil mi gòrach.
Tliubhairt esan gu 'n robh mise liath.
Tha Seumas ag radh gu 'm bi mi tinn am maireacb.
Thubhairt Calum gu 'm bithinn glic fhathast.
Tha e ag radh nach 'eil mi ceart.
Thubhairt e nach robh mi ceart.
Tha iad ag radh nach bi mi beò fada.
Thubhairt e nach bithinn beò.
Group D.
Chunnaic mi am fear a tha tinn.
Chunnaie mi am fear a bha marbh.
Brisidh e an rud a bhitheas air a' bhòrd.
Gheàrr mise am maide a bhitheadh aig an leanaDh.
Gearraidh e a' chraobh nach 'eil math.
Loisg iad na leabhraichean nach robh glan.
Fàgaidh an cat an t-iasg nach bi glan.
*Thilgeadh na daoine an t-iasg nach bitheadh glan
ann an slochd.
* (The men would throw, subjunctive mood).
23. THE PRONOUNS.
1. Demonstrative Pronouns: —
So, this, these ì near hand.
Sin, that those j further away.
Slid (ud) ; yon, yonder.
E.G. Cum so, keep this ; Tog" Sin, lift that.
Thuit sud, yon fell.
Dh' f halbh sud, yon went (that's gone).
The Demonstrative Adjectives are represented by the
article, noun and demonstrative pronoun together.
E.G. This man, am fear so, or an duine so.
That woman, a' bhean sin, or a' bhean ud.
This one, e so, referring to masculine or neuter.
That one, i sin (or sud), referring to feminine.
Those (ones), iad sud, yon ones.
These (ones), iad so.
2. Relative Pronouns : —
The Relatives are three in number —
A, who, which, what.
Na, what, or (that which).
Nach, who not, which not. but.
E.G. Chunnaic mi am fear a gheàrr a' chraobh, I saw the
man who cut the tree.
Cum na thog thu, keep what (that which) you lifted.
Fhuair i na chaill i, she found what she lost.
Thuit am balach nach robh sgiobalta, literally.
The boy fell who not was smart.
An t-each nach do thuit, the horse that not fell.
Cha' n' eil duine amis a taigh nach' eil salach.
There is no man in the house who not is dirty.
There is no one in the house hut is dirty.
58
No change for gender or number comes over these
relatives, and the only change for case is in the relative a
which, after prepositions, takes the form an, and takes am
before b, f, m, p.
E G. An taigh anns an robh e, the house in which he was.
An t-àite aig am bi e, the place at which he will be.
As there is no difference between the nominatives and
accusatives of a and nach, the relative clauses with transi-
tive active verbs are very ambiguous. For example, the
sentence, Reic e an t-each a bhuail mi, may mean : —
He sold the horse which kicked me, or.
He sold the horse which I struck.
The difficulty here might be got over by using the word
" breab " for kick, and keeping " buail " for strike.
But, again, in many sentences it is difficult to avoid
the ambiguity.
E.G. An cat a mharbh an radan, might mean.
The cat which killed the rat, or
The rat which killed the cat.
Am fear nach cuala mi,
The man wlio not heard me, or
The man whom not I heard.
Meaning " the man who did not hear me," and " the man
whom I heard not," respectively.
In most cases, however, the context should be able to
settle the more probable reading.
XV.— LEUGHADH.
De tha sin, a Mliàiri? Is e so maide mor. Fag- am
maide sin air a' bhòrd. Agus c' ait' an cuir mi sud?
Tilg a mach do 'n t-slochd ud e. C ait' an robh a'
bhean ud? Bha i anns an taigh sin. Co leis an litir
59
sin? Tha i le Iain. Agus co leis i so? Tha i sin
le mo bhràthair. Co dh' f hag na leabhraichean ud?
Dh' fhàg m' athair-sa iad sud, ach is leam-sa iad so.
C ait' aiaj bheil an gille a fhuair an sgian? Nach
'eil e anns an stàbull? Cha 'n 'eil. Is e sud an taigli
anns an robli e. Co cheannaich an ad sin? Cheannaicli
te nach robh glic. Chaill e iia fhuair e anns an sporan.
Co bha anns an dorus? Bha am balach beag salach
xid. Cha 'n 'eil duine aca nach 'eil salach.
Chunnaic mi an cù a gheàrr an cat. Is e so am
fear nach gabh a' bhean.
An e sud am fear a leag an tarbh? Cha 'u e. ach
sud an tarbh a leag am feav.
Co leis an cat a mharbh a gheàrr? Tha e leis an
fhear a bhris a' chraobh.
24. 1. Interrogative Pronouns: —
Co ? who ? Co è ? who (is) he Ì Co 1 ? who (is) she?
Co dhiubh ? which of them ? — properly of two.
Co aca ? which 1 (among them), properly of many.
Cia ? which 1 — seldom, if ever, used as an interrogative now
except in combination with other words.
E.G. Cia lion ? Ì
Cia meud ? how many ?
Cia mheud ? I
Cia mheud isperliaps the most commonly used now.
Ciod? what?
Ciod e? what (is) it? Variously written as Gu dè ? De ?
hence, De tha so ? what is this ? Dè tha sin ? what is
that.
Co leis ? Literally, zchojii icith ? whose ?
Co leis an taigfh? whom with the house? Whose (is) the
house ?
60
Co, cia, ciocl, etc.. are not always "used interrogatively.
E.G. Chunnaic mi co bha annvS an dorus.
I saw who was in the door.
Sheall e ciod a fhuair e.
He showed what he got.
2. Indefinite Pronouns : —
Caeh, the rest, the others.
Cach a-cheile, one another, each other.
Cuid, "'share," used for "some."
Tha cuid ag radh, some are saying.
Cuid-eig'in, some one (some cei'tain one).
FeaP-eigrin, some one.
From the word, " Bith '" — the world (of existence, or
men) : we have Co-aÌP-bÌth, who on the world ; who in the
world, whoever ; also, Co-Sam-bÌth, whoever ; hence
Fear sam bith, anyone.
Uile. every, all
Hence, a h-uile fear, everyone (distributively).
na h-uile, everyone, all (collectively).
VOCABULARY.
Bochd, poor, no, or.
Fios, (knowiuw, information.)
Cha' n' eil fhios agam, there is not knowing at me. I
don't know.
Faic, see ; gloinne, a glass, or pane of glass.
Chuireas (who) will put, relative form of verb.
Innte, in her. (Uinneag is feminine).
61
:XVI.— LEUGHADH.
Tha beau bliochd aig- an dorus. Co ì ? Cha 'n 'eil
f hios agam ; Bha na gillean aims a' choille an diugli
ag-us bhris iad na craobhan. Co aca rinn >iu? Is c
Calum no Iain a bhris iad. Am bheil fhios agad co
dhiùbh-san a Tjliris iad? Cha 'n 'eil. Cia mheud craolih
tha anns a'ghàradh? Dè tha thu ag radh? Tha cuid-
eig:in anns an dorus. Fosgail e, agus faic eo tha ann.
Bha na balaich anns a^ phairc an de ague thilg iad
clachan air càeh-a-ehèile. Bha clach aig a h-uile fear.
Co bhris an uinneag? Bhris fear-eigin i le òrd. C('i
chuireas gloinne innte? Cuiridh fear-sam-bith gloinne
innte. Am bheil iad uile a stigh a nis? Tha na h-uile
a stigh. Nach 'eil cuid a muig-h? Co-air-bith tha a
muigh a jnis, bithidhi e a tnuigh gus a' mhaduinn.
COMHRADH.
A in bheil nead anns a' phreas sin? Cha 'n 'eil.
C ait' am bheil an nead? Tha an nead air an làr.
An robh ubh anns an nead? Cha robh.
C ait' am bheil an gille? Tha e an so.
C ait' an robh na gillean? Bha iad anns an achadh
Co bha leis na gillean anns an achadh ? Bha na fir leis na gillean
Am b' iad na fir a bha leis na gillean? B' iad.
Am bheil iad leis na gillean a nis? Cha 'n 'eil.
C arson nach 'eil iad leis na gillean? Tha iad anns a' phairc.
An robh an gille beag aig an dorus? Cha robh.
Nach bi e aig an dorus? Cha bhi.
Co bha aig an dorus? Bha Seumas mor aig
an dorus.
Nach 'eil na h-uain anns a' phairc? Cha 'n 'eil,
C ait' am bheil iad? Tha iad aig an dim.
62
Nach bi iad amis a phàirc? Cha bhi.
C ait' am blieil am balach beag? Tha e anns a' phairc.
Atìa bheil na fir leis a' bhalacli? Cha 'u 'eil.
An robh iad leis a' bhalach? Bha.
C ait' am bbeil na fir a nis Tha iad aig an taigh.
Co bha leis a' bhalach anns a' phairc? Bha Iain leis a' bhalach
Nach robh Seumas leis a' bhalach? Cha robh.
C ait' am bheil na caoraich? Tha iad ri monadh.
Aia. bheil na h-uain leis na caoraich? Cha 'n 'eil, tha iad anns
an fhaing.
C ait' am bheil an ciobair? Tha e-fhein agus na
coin air 'a bheinn.
Nach robh e air a' bheinn an de? Cha robh, bha an latha
flinch.
C ait' an robh na fir an de? Bha iad aig margadh.
Arti bheil iad aig an taigh an diugh? Cha 'n 'eil.
Am bi iad aig an taigh am màireach? Tha mi 'n dull gu 'm bi*
Nach bi iad aig margadh am Cha bhi.
màireach?
Am bheil na h-eich anns an stàbuU? Cha 'n 'eil, tha iad anns
an achadh.
Co tha leis na fir anns an stàbull? Tha na gillean leis na fir
Am bheil an loth ghlas anns an Cha 'n 'eil, tha i anns a'
stàbull? phàirc.
Co leis an loth a tha anns an stàbull? Is le Seumas mor an
loth.
An leat-sa| an t-each donn? Is learn.
* Dùil, hope ; hence, I am in the hope that (they) will be.
f An leat-sa : an, the interrogative particle; hence the line is: — (Is
it) with you the brown horse ? Is the brown horse yours ?
Similarly, An le Iain an lair bhàn? Is it with John the white
mare ? Is tlie white mare -John's ? Cha leis, is leam-sa i : —it
is not with him, it is with me she (is) ; She is not his, she is
mine.
63
An le Iain an lair bhàn?
Nach 'eil an lair bhàn crubacii?
Nach rolih i cruhach an del
C ait' am bheil an t-each ban a nis?
C" uin' bbitlieas Iain aig an taigli?
Xacli bi e aig an taigh an nochd?
Am bi na gillean aig an taigh an
nochd?
Mur bi iad-san aig an taigh. am
bi thusa?
Co bhitheas leat aig an taigh (
An e Cakim beag a bhitheas leat?
Cha leis, is leam-sa i.
Is i nach 'eil*
Cha robh, is e an t-each
ban a bha crùbach.
Tha e aig cùl an taighe.
Bithidh e aig an taigh
am màireach.
Cha bhi.
Cha 'n 'eil mi 'n diiil
gu 'm bi.
Bithidh.
Bithidh Calum, mo
mhac, leam.
Is e.
25.
NOUNS.
Before proceeding- to the Declensions of N'ouns, it
might be appropriate to say something about Gender,
as this is one of the main difficulties to a learner.
The Gender of a noun is known only in two ways: —
(1 ) Ey the influence of the Xoun on the pr.eceding
Article. (2) By the form of the sucoeediug- Adjec-
tive. These will possibly mean little or nothing to a
learner, hence the following- general rules might be
useful — though there are many exceptions to them.
Masculine Souns are : —
(1) Xames of males — duine, man; tarbli, bull.
(2) Xames of the 'young" of animals — uan, lamb;
cuilean, whelp, pup.
* Is i nach 'eil, it is she that is not ; No, she is not
64
(3) Diminutives in "an" — balachan, a little boy ;
toman, a hillock.
(4) Names of trees — g-iutlias, fir; daraeli, uak.
(5) Derivatives in 'as' — eàirdeas, friendship; maitli-
eas, goodness.
(6) Derivative nouns in air, iehe, ear, etc.. denoting
agent, or doer.
E.G. sealgair, a hunter; oibriche, a worker ;
tàiUear, a tailor.
Feminine Nouns are : —
(1) Names of females — bean, a woman; cearc, alien.
(2) Names of countries — Alba, .Scotland; An Spain,
Spain.
(3) Names of Musical ] clàrsacli, liarp.
Instruments; heavenly r grian, sun.
bodies; diseases. j teasach, fever.
(4) Diminutives in ) bànag, grilse.
'ag' and 'achd.' f rioghachd. kingdom.
(5) Derivatives in 'e.' \ doille, blindness,
denoting- attributes. j buidhre, deafness. ,
A few nouns like, talamh, the earth (land): cruinne,
the globe; muir (in some i^laces), the sea: are mascu-
line in the nominative case and feminine in the g-enitive
<3ase.
Numbers and Cases.
There are two Numbers, namely, Singular andf Plural.
There are 'Five Cases' in Gaelic: —
(1) The Notnmative Case — a noun or pronoun as the
subject-word of a sentence is said to be in the
Nominative Case .
(2) The Accusatioe Case — correspond)? to the Object-
ive Case in English.
65
(3) The Dative Case — following- mosl of the simple
prepositions, corresponds to the Indirect Object-
ive Case in English.
(4) The Genitive Case — denotes possession, and cor-
responds to the Possessive Case in English.
(5) The Vocative Case — used in addressing a person
takes 'a' before it.
26. DECLENSIONS OF NOUNS-
Xouns may be divided into Five Declensions, four
of which are regular, and the fifth irregular.
The Genitive case is taken as the standard of class -
fication.
FIRST DECLENSION.
The Genitive singidar of Masculine Nouns is usually
formed by inserting the vowel i after the last broad
vowel of the Nominative, or by leaving out the broad
vowel or diphthongal part and substituting i; as, dor us,
a door; doruis, of a door; bard, a poet; bàird, of a
poet; ceamn\, a head; cinn, of a head. The Nominative,
Accusative, and Dative cases are alike. The Vocative
is like the Genitive aspirated.
The Genitive singular of Feminine Nouns is formed
by inserting i after the last broad vowel of the Nomin-
ative and adding a final e; or, by leaving out the
broad vowel or diphthongal part and substituting i ;
and if the last vowel of Nominative is ^, final e onlj^ is
added; as, eraohh, a tree; craoibhe, of a tree; bròg, a
shoe; hròige, of a shoe; oearc, a hen; circe, of a hen;
tir, land; tire, of a land. The Nominative and Accusa-
tive are alike; but the Dative is formed from the-
E
66
Genitive by leaviag- out the final e of the latter ;
as, Grenitive irroige ; Dative, hròig. The Vocative is
like the Nominative aspirated.
*In the formation of the Genitive case there are some
nouns of both genders which do not conform to the
above rules; as, cam, a cairn, Gen. cùirn: òrd, a ham-
mer, Gen. ùird; cas, a foot, G«n. coise; clach, a stone,
Gen. eloiche.
The Nominative and Accusative plural of the Mascu-
line Nouns are both like the Genitive singular. The
Dative is also like the Genitive singular, or is formed
by adding "ibh"' (aibh) to the Nomiuarive singular,
though this latter method is not very common in modern
usage.
The Genitive plural is like the Nominative singular
aspirated. The Vocative is like the Nominative singu-
lar aspirated with a final 'a added, or like the Nomin-
ative plural aspirated.
The Nominative and Accusative plural of Feminine
Nouns are alike formed by adding 'an' to the Nomin-
ative singular. The Dative also is so formed, or adds
ibh (aibh)' like the Masculine Nouns. The Genitive
is like the Nominative singular aspirated. The Vocative
is like the Nominative aspirated.
As the forms of the nouns when declined with the
Article are different from the forms without the Article,
examples of both forms are given in each of the fol-
lowing declensions.
* See appendix (page 74) for "Summary " of such changes.
67
EXAMPLES.
Bard, masc, a poet.
Singular. Plural.
Nom. and Ace.
Gen.
Dat.
Voc.
Nom. and Ace.
Gen.
Dat.
Bard,
Bard, a poet. Bàird, poets.
Bàird, of a poet. Bhàrd, of poets.
) to,witli,on,at,_, . _. 1 to, with, on,
"^' ) etc., a poet. 'j at, etc., poets.
A Bhàird! Oh! Poet! ABhàrda, Oh! Poets!
With the Article.
Am bard. Na bàird.
A' bhàird. Nam bard.
A', 'n bhàrd. Na bàird.
DOrUS, MASC, A DOOR.
Nom. and Ace.
Dorus.
Doruis.
or Dorsan.
Gen.
Doruis.
Dhorus.
Dhorsan.
Dat.
Dorus.
Doruis.
Dorsan.
Voc.
A Dhoruis!
A Dhoruis!
A Dhorsan!
With the
Article.
Nom. and Ace.
An dorus.
Na doruis.
or Na dorsan.
Gen.
An doruis.
Nan dorus.
Nan dorsan.
Dat.
An, 'n dorus.
Na doruis.
Na dorsan.
Nom. and Ace.
Gen.
Dat.
Voc.
Nom. and Ace.
Gen.
Dat.
Each, MAsc.
Each.
Eich.
Each.
A Eich!
A HORSE
Eich.
Each.
Eich.
A Eacha!
With the Article.
An t-each. Na h-eich.
An eich. Nan each.
An, 'n each. Na h-eich.
68
SeOl, MASC,
A SAIL.
Singular.
Plural,
Nom. and Ace.
Seòl.
Siùil.
Gen.
Siùil.
Slieòl.
Dat.
Seòl.
Siùil.
Voc.
A Shiùil!
A Sheòla!
With the Article.
Nom. and Ace. An seòl. Na siùil.
Gen. An t-siùil. Nan seòl.
Dat. An, 'n t-seòl. Na siùil.
ClaCh, FEM., a stone.
Nom. and Ace.
Clach. Clachan.
Gen.
Cloiche. Chlach.
Dat.
Cloich. Clachan.
Voc.
A Chlach! A Chlacha(n)!
With the Article.
Nom. and Ace.
A' chlach. Na clachan.
Gen.
Na cloiche. Nan clach.
Dat.
A', 'n chloich. Na clachan.
Slat, FEM., A ROD.
Nom. and Ace.
'Slat. Slatan.
Gen.
Slaite. Shlat.
Dat.
Slait. Slatan.
Voc.
A Shlat! AShlata(n)!
With the Article.
Nom. and Ace.
An t-slat. Na slatan.
Gen.
Na slaite. Nan slat.
Dat.
An, 'n t-slait. Na slatan.
69
FraS, PEM., K SHOWER.
Singular. Plural.
Norn, and Ace.
Fras.
Frasan.
Oen.
Froise.
Fhras.
Dat.
Frois.
Frasan.
Voc.
A Fhras!
A Fhrasa(n)!
With the Article.
Nom. and Ace.
An fhras.
Na frasan.
Gen.
Na froise.
Nam fras.
Dat.
An, 'n fhrois.
Na frasan.
N.B. — Lists should now be made of nouns that are
•declined like the examples given above, and the pupils
given a good 'drilling' in declining such examples.
Perhaps, also, this is as appropriate a place as any to
discuss the "Government of Nouns," and we shall here
illustrate the principle before g'oing on to the next
declension.
2/. Government of Nouns.
\Vhen tAvo nouns limit one another, that which de-
notes possession is put into the Genitive Case. The
noun so g-overned is always placed after the noun that
governs it.
E.G. A horse's head, ceann eich — where eich, the
governed noun, is the Gen. Case of 'each.'
The boy's cap, boineid a' bhalaich — where a bhalaich
is the Gen. Case of balach along iifith the * Article.
* Pupils should make themselves very familiar with the forms of
the "Article" in the Genitive Case, otherwise endless mistakes will
occur under this rule of "fiovernment of Nouns."
70
In English we say 'the head of a boy,' or a hoifs
head. These are the 'Uninflected' and the 'Inflected'
constructions, respectively. Gaelic is a much more liigh-
ly inflected language than English, and prefers the
latter method of construction. Remembering, then, that
(1) The English indefinite article a' is not trans-
lated in Gaelic: and
(2) The word denoting possession (boy's) is put in
the Gen. Case, our translation would be :
ceann balaieh, a boy's head.
Put differently it comes to this. Take the phrase,
"the head of a boy," and,
(1) Write it in the 'Inflected Form' — a boy's head.
Then,
(2) Translate backwards, as it were, remembering
that the possessive case is to be put into
the Gaelic Genitive Case: hence, ceann l)al-
aich.
Inflected Forms.
a cat's ear.
a door's lock.
a joiner's hammer.
Translations.
cluas eait*
glas doruis.*
òrd saoir.*
Further Examples
The ear of a cat.
The lock of a door.
The hammer of a
joiner.
Let us take these same examples with the Definite
Article attached to both instead of one of the nouns.
E.G. The ear of the eat, which the beginne:- almost
invariably translates wrongly, as: an cluas a' chait.
Put it thus, now: — "The ear of the cat"=the cat's ear.
Notice now that the "the" belongs to the word which
is to be translated by the Genitive Case (cat's). Now
translate backwards, as it were, like the former ex-
Where all the nouns marked * are Gen. Cases.
71
amples. Hence, Cluas a chait, where "a' cliaif"^=ihe
Genitive Case of "cat" with the definite article.
Similarly for the other examples: —
The lock of the door=the door's lock, ^las an doruis.*
The hammer of the joiner=the
joiner's hammer, òrd an t-saoir.*
The leg- of the hen^the hen's leg, cas na circe.*
The sole of the shoe^the shoe's sole, bonn na bròige.*
The top of the rod^the rod's top, barr na slaite.*
Examples in the Plural.
The heads of horses =horses' heads, cinn each.
The legs of tables^tables' legs. casan bhòrd.
The Aving-s of hens=hens' wings, sgiathan chearc.
The same with Definite Article along with both
nouns.
The heads of the horses,
the horses' heads, cinn nan each.
The legs of the tables.
the tables' leg-s, casan nam bòrd.
The wings of the hens.
the hens' wings, sgiathan nan cearc.
Further Notes on "Government of Nouns."
(a) Masculine Proper Names are aspirated in Genitive
Case.
E.G. Mac Sheumais, James's son.
Each Chaluim, Malcolm's horse.
(b) Feminine Proper Names remain unaspirated in
Genitive Case.
Bròg Màiri, Mary's shoe.
Gun Peigi, Peggy's gown, or dress.
Where the nouns marked * are all in the Genitive Case with the
Article — and the last three are Feminine.
72
In colloquial speech there is no unanimity on this
last point. Some districts aspirate, others don't.
(c) Nouns in apposition are in the same case.
E.G. Chunnaic mi Seumas, an saig-hdear.
I saw James, the soldier.
But — James, the son of the soldier; would be rendered
thus, Seumas, mac an t-saig-hdeir: where "««, t-saigh-
delr"' is in Genitive Case, ig-overned by the noun ''mac.'"
(d) A noun in apposition to, and explanatory of,
another noun in the Genitive Case, is not itself in the
Genitive Case, but in the Nominative Case.
E.G. The son of James the bard.
Mac Sheumais, am bard.
Where ''hard'" is in apposition to, and explanatory of
Sheumais, yet is not in the Genitive Case like
Sheumais, but in the Nominative Case.
Similarly: Donald the Farmer's dauig'hter=
The daug-hter of Donald, the Farmer.
Nighean Dhòmhnuill, an tuathanaeh.
(not, an tuathanaich).
XVII.— LEUGHADH.
Tha cas coin briste. Tha eas a' choin briste. Tha
casan nan con briste. Tha an cù crùbach. Bha eù beag
a' ghille air an dun. Tha e a 'nis aig an taigh. Bithidh
am balach beag air an dun leis a' chù. Bha ua h-uain
agus na caoraich anns a'phàirc. Tha an ciobair air
mullach a' chnuic. Tha coin a' chiobair anns an taigh.
Bha an cat dubh fo 'n bhòrd. Tha lueh fo spòig a'
chait. Bha spògan a' chait fo 'n chloich. Tha glas an
doruis briste. Tha brògan an fhir sin iir. Bha nead
smeòraiche anns a' phreas. Tha nead a' chalamain anns
a' chraoibh sin. Tha ubh a' chalamain briste . Is mor
geugan na craoiblie sin. Tha g-'euo^an na eraoibhe sin
73
mòr. Tha geugan mora air na craobhan sin. Tha sg-ian
a' ghille math. Tha cas na sgine briste. Tha làmhan
a' pliàisde fuar. Is fuar làmhan a' Tbhalaieh. Thuit
clach mliòr air meòir a' bhalaich. Bha na fir aig dorus
an stàbuill. Bha mac a' chìobair a,ig an dorus. Tha òrd
an t-saoir aig taobh an taighe. Tha cluas an eich
fada. Tha eluasan nan each fada. Tha clachan mora
anns a' phàirc. Tha na ^llean anns a' phàirc leis na
h-uain. Tha coinean beag arms an toll sin fo'n chreig.
Tha neas ann an toll aig bun na craoibhe.
Tha na h-uain bheag-a air mullach a' chnuic. Bha
an lair dhonn aig- dorus an stàbuill. Chunnaic mise
nead eòin anns a' phreas aig- taohh an taighe. Cheann-
aich an saor casan nan òrd. Tha casan nan each
reamhar ach tha casan na circe caol. Dh' fhosgail mi
an leabhar agus leugh mi òran a' bhàird. Bha na gill-
ean lieaga a muigh leis a' bhàta augus bhris iad slat an
t-siùil. Chuir mac a' chlachair teine mor air mullach na
cloiche. Bhris an gille beag barr na slaite agus ehaill e
an t-iasg. Fliuair mise ubh na circe aig bonn an
doruis. Phòs Domhnull Sheumais nighean Chaluim.
Tha giin Màiri ann an taigh Chaluim, an greasaiche.
Am bheil Iain Mor, an saor, a stigh? Tha.
VOCABULARY.
Briste, broken. Sgine, gen. of "sgian."
Crùbach, lame. Cas na sgine, the handle
Coin, gen. of cù. of the knife.
Eòin, gen. of eun. Fir, gen. of "fear."
Bun, root (bottom). Cas ùird, the shaft of a
Phòs, he married. hammer.
Xeas, a weasel.
28 APPENDIX TO FIRST
DECLENSION.
Principal Changes of the Voivel Combinations in the
Genitive and other Cases where "i" is introduced.
Vowels.
Change into.
Examples.
Gen. Singular.
*A + i
01
(Clach
.Fras
(dall
cloiche
froise
doill
ui
ffalt
1 earn
fuilt
cùirn
Ea + i
ei
(each
] creag
eich
creige
{ cearc
1 ceann
circe
" "
^
cinn
Eo +
iui
jseòl
■ ceòl
siuil
ciiiil
Eu + i
ei
(geug
1 breug
geige
breige
(beul
jsgeul
beòil
1
eoi
sgeòil
la + i
ei
(fiadh
jiasg
fèidh
èisg
lo + i
i
1 siol
) crioch
Sll
crìche
/ cnoe
J toll
') dòrn
1 bòrd
cnuic
+ i
ui
tuill
dùirn
bùird
* What is meant by A + i, etc., is this. Take the noun " clach.'
It belongs to the first declension, hence its Genitive Case should be
formed by inserting "i" after "a"; therefore its Genitive Case
should be' Clalche — final e. of course, because the noun is feminine.
Instead of '-claiche," however, we have clolche- Similarly with
the others.
75
29 SECOND DECLENSION.
The Genitive singular of both genders is formed by
adding final a to the Nominative. If the last vowel of
the Nominative is i, it is left out, and the diph-
thongal part also underg^oes a change. The Nominative,
Dative, and Accusative are alike. The Vocative is like
the Nominative aspirated in both numbers. The Nominative
plural adds "an" or "annan" to the nominative singular.*
The genitive plural is usually formed by aspirating the
nominative sina-ular.
EXAMPLES.
Earb, fem., a roe.
Singular.
Plural.
Nom.
and Ace.
Earb.
Earban.
Gen.
Earba.
Earb.
Dat.
Earb.
Earban.
Voc.
A Earb!
With the Article.
A Earba(n)!
Nom.
and Aec.
An earb.
Na h -earban.
Gen.
Na h -earba.
Nan earb.
Dat.
An, 'n earb.
SÙÌl, FEM., AN EYE.
Na h -earban.
Singular.
Plural.
Nom.
and Ace.
Sùil.
Sùilean.
Gen.
Sùla.
Shùl (shùil).
Dat.
Sùil.
Sùilean.
Voc.
A shùil!
A shùilean!
* Sometimes the Nominative phiral is formed by adding the "an"
or "annan" to the Genitive singular instead of the Nominative
singular.
E.G. Druim; G., droma; PL, dromannan.
Duthaich; G., duthcha; PL, duthchannan.
76
With the Article.
Nom. and Ace.
An t-sùil.
Na sùilean.
Gen.
Na sùla.
Nan SÙ1.
Dat.
An, 'n t-sùil.
Na sùilean.
SrUth, MASC, A STREAM.
Norn, and Ace.
Smth.
Smthan.*
Gen.
Srutha.
Shruth.
Dat.
Smth.
Smthau.
Voc.
A shmth!
With the Article.
A shruthan!
Nom. and Aec.
An smth.
Na smthan.
Gen.
An t -srutha.
Nan smth.
Dat.
An, 'n t-smth.
Na smthan.
The following-
nouns should now
be declined in
same way:
Fiacaill, tooth.
luch,t mouse.
druim, back.
Guth, voice.
loch, lake.
beum, blow.
Cath, battle.
piob, pipe.
ceum, step.
Bior, prong, sti
ng. lagh, law.
cnaimh, bone,
the
XVIII.— LEUGHADH.
Chunnaic mi an earb a'lg- taobh an t-smtlia. Bhris
an sealgair cas na h-earba. Tha lorgan nan earl) air a'
bheinn.
Tha sùil a' chait air an toll. Chunnaic e earball
na lucha. Thuit an cat anns an teine agus loisg e ros-
* Sruthan is .sometimes lused in Sing, to mean " a streamlet," hence
a more distinct plural here would be sridhanuav.
+ N B. — Lucii ; Gen., lucha or lucliainn ; Plur., luclian or luchainn
77
g-an nau sùl. Chuala sinu fuaim na pioba, ag-us chuu-
naic siun na saighdearau nig taobh an locha. Dli' fhos-
gail mi leabhar an laglia. Tiia na laghan naatli. Bha
m' fhiacaill goirt an raoir. Tha bàrr na fiacla briste.
Crhearr an eù mòr pios cnamlia le' fhiacaill. Dh' fhalbh
an gille anns a' mhaduinn le eallach air a dhruim.
Bha an t -eallach mor air cùl a dhroma.* Chuir am
balach beag ceann biora ann an suil na luchainn. Bha
an smeòrach anns a' choille, agus chuala mi fuaim a
gut ha.
Tha ceumannan nan each fada agus tha an dromann-
an leathann.
30 THIRD DECLENSION.
The Genitive singular is formed by leaving out the
final i or diphthongal part, and adding ach.
Nouns of this declension are for the most part femin-
ine, and the Nominative generally ends in ir and air
(not signifjdng doers), and a few end in ail, eil, a in.
The Nominative, Dative and Accusative are alike.
The Nominative plural is generally formed by put-
ting i after the last vowel of the Genitive singular,
and adding ean : some add ean to the Nominative sing-
ular.
The other cases of the plural are like the Nominative.
The Vocative is aspirated, of course, after a, and the
Genitive Plural also, when the noun is declined without
the article.
• Literally equal to — ou the back of hi.s back. [o.p. — ou the 1 iick
of his shoulders].
78
Singular
exampl;
ES.
Plural.
NOM., ACC, DAT.
GEN.
Acair, an anchor;
Acrach.
Acraichean, acairean.
Anail,
breath ;
Analach.
Anailean.
Barail,
opmion ;
Baralach.
Barailean.
Cathair,
a chair ;
Cathrach.
Cathraichean.
Coir,
a right;
Còrach.
Còraichean, còirean.
Dàil,
delay ;
Dàlach.
Dàlaichean.
Faidhir,
a fair;
Faidhreach
. Faidhrichean, faidhrean,
luchair,
a key;
luchrach.
luchraichean.
Litir,
a letter;
Litreach.
Litrichean,
Luachair
, rushes ;
Luachrach.
Machair,
a field ;
Machrach.
Machraichean.
Nathair.
a serpent ;
Nathrach.
Nathraichean.
Peasair,
pease ;
Peasrach.
Pònair,
beans ;
Pònarach.
Togail,
a building ;
Togalach.
Togalaichean, togailean .
The following- nouns denoting kinship might be in-
cluded in this declension : —
Athair, a father.
Athar.
Athraichean.
Màthair, a mother.
*Màthar.
Màthraichean.
Piuthar, a sister.
Peathar.
Peathraichean.
Bràthair, a brother.
Bràthar.
Bràithrean.
Seanair, a grandfather.
Seanar.
Seauairean.
Seanmhair, a grandmother.
Seanmhar.
Seanmhairean.
* ''Mathrach " is also used : Mac na màthrach, equal to '' his
mother's son " (like mother, like son).
79
EXAMPLES.
Piuthar, fem., a sister
Singular. Plur.vl.
Nom., Dat., & Ace. Piuthar. Peathraichean.
Gen. Peathar, Pheathraichean.
Voc. A Phiuthar ! A Pheathraichean !
With the Article.
Nom. and Ace. A' Phiiithar. Na Peatliraiclieau.
Gen. Na Peathar *Nam Peathraichean
JDat. A', 'n Phiuthar. Na Peathraichean.
Brathair, masc, a brother.
Singular. Plur.ìl.
Nom., Dat., & Ace. Brathair. Bràithrean.
Gen. Bràthar. Bhràithrean.
Voc. A Bhràthair ! A Bhràithrean.
With the Article.
Nom. and Aec. Am Brathair ! Na Bràithrean.
Gen. A' Bhràthar. jNam Bràithrean.
Dat. A', 'n Bhràthair. Na Bràithrean.
Cathair, fem., a chair.
Singular. Plural.
Nom., Dat., & Ace. Cathair. Cathraichean.
Gen. Cathrach. Chathraichean.
Voc. A Chathair ! A Chathraichean !
With the Article.
Nom. and Aec. A' Chathair. Na Cathraichean.
Gen. Na Cathrach. Nan Cathraichean,
Dat. A' ; 'n Chathair. Na Cathraichean.
* (or nam peathar), t (or nam bràthar).
80
LÌtÌr, FEM., A LETTER.
Nom., Dat., & Acc. Litir. Litricheau.
Gen. Litreach. Litrichean.
Voc. A litir ! A litrichean !
With the Article.
Nom. and Acc. An litir. Na litrichean.
Gen. Na litreach. Nan litrichean
Dat. An, 'n litir. Na litrichean.
In the "Kinship" Nouns the Genitive Plural is like
the Nominative Plural aspirated or like the Genitive
Singular aspirated — preferably the former. The nouns
are not aspirated in the Genitive Plural when declined
"with the Article."
XIX.— LEUGHADH.
Bha am bàta air a'mhuir an de ach tha i a nis air
acair. Shèid a' ghaoth agus bhris spòg na h-acrach.
Ruith a' chaileag g-le luath. Sheas i aig taobh na
machrach, agus chuala mise bmlle a h-analach. Gheàrr
an saor cas na cathrach. Tha casan nan cathraichean
sin briste. Chuir bean-an-taighe an sgian ann an toll
na h-iuchrach.
Sgriobh a' chaileag a h-ainm air ceis litreach. Ràinig
an ciobair taobh na machrach, agus chunnaic e ceann
nathrach ann am bad luachrach.
Chaidh mo phiuthar gu taigh mo sheanar. Thill i
gun mhoran dàlach. Chunnaic mi na togalaichean anns
a' bhaile. Is iad sud taighean nan seanmhar agus nan
seanar, ach tha taigh nam bràithrean air cul na beiune.
Thàinig fear -nan -litrichean do 'n bhaile an de. Thug
e litir do Mhàiri Bhàn.
81
31. FOURTH DECLENSION
Nouns of this declension have all the cases alike in the
Singular, and, with few exceptions, end in a vowel : some
end in idh^ ein, rhd, rr, and some of more than one syllable
end in air, eir, signifying doers (except family names, such
as, athair, etc.). All the cases in the plural are like the
Nominative, which is formed by adding "an" or "ean"
to the Nominative Singular* The Genitive Plural is aspir-
ated when the noun is declined without the Article.
EXAMPLES.
Singular.
Plural.
Aite,
a place.
Aitean.
Bàta,
a boat.
Bàtaichean.
Baile,
a town
Bailtean.
Balla,
a wall.
Ballachan.
Beachd,
observation, opinion.
Beachdan.
Bra,
a quern.
Bràthau.
Buille,
a blow.
Buillean.
Cnò,
a nut.
Cnòthan.
Còta,
a coat.
Còtaichean.
Coille,
a wood.
Coilltean.
Coinnleir,
a candle-stick.
Coumleirean.
Cridhe,
a heart.
Cridheachan.
Dorsair,
a door-keeper.
Dorsairean.
Fàidh,
a prophet.
Fàidhean.
lasgair,
a fisherman.
lasgairean.
Mile
a mile, a thousand.
Miltean.
Sealgair,
a hunter.
Sealgairean.
Teine,
a fire.
Teintean.
* In some of the above examples notice that the nominative plural
is formed by introducing ;■, th, or ch, before the termination. Some-
times, also, the final vowel of the Nominative singular is dropped
before the addition is made. See examples marked * on next page.
82
COta, MASC, A COAT.
Nom., Ace, & Dat. Còta. Còtaicliean.
Gen. Còta. Chotaichean.
Voe. A chòta! A chòtaichean!
With the Article.
Nom. and Ace. An còta. Na còtaichean.
Gen. A' chòta. Nan còtaichean.
Dat. A', 'n chòta. Na còtaichean.
Buille, FEM., A BLOW.
Nom., Acc, & Dat. Buille. Buillean.
Gen. Buille. Bhuillean.
Voc. A bhuille ! A bhuillean !
With the Article.
Nom. anrl Acc. A' bhuille. Na buillean.
Gren. Na buille. Nam buillean.
Dat. A', 'n bhuille. Na buillean.
* E.G. Singular. Plural.
, jBaile. Bail. jBailtean.
(Teine. Tein. \Teintean.
(Balla. — fBallachan.
ch.
I Cridhe. — I Cridheachan,
Cno. — (Cnothan.
(Cno.
I. ^Brà. c>;jf
th. ^Brà. '■''-'^''■■■^'j — -^Bràthan.
■^•^ — /Bràthntan.
XX.— LEUGHADH.
Bha na bàtaichean air acair anns an loch an diugh.
Chunnaic sinn seòl bàta air a' chladach. Chuir am
fear poca chnothan ann am pòcaid a' chòta. Fhuair mac
an t-sealgair iasg beag ann am bàta nan iasgairean
Reic an duine na coilltean ris na sealg-airean. Las na
dorsairean na lampaichean anns an eag-lais.
83
*De do bheachd air a' chòta so ? Tha an còta grinn,
ach tha e daor. Tha na beachdan siu oeart. Tha mil-
tean chòtaichean anns a' bhùth. Thilg an nighean
bheag- sligean nan cnothan anns an teine. Dh' fhosgail
mi an dorns agus chunnaic mi bòrd nan coinnleirean.
Bha na saoir anns a' ghàradh leis na h-ùird. Chuala
mi fuaim nam buillean. Bha eagal air a' bhalach;
chuala mise fbuille a chridhe. Thug an duine mor òrd-
ugh do na dorsairean. Thug iad an aire do na coinnleirean.
Leig am taidh beannachd leis na fir. Rmn na h-iasgaii'ean
gearan a chionn gu 'n bhris an t-eathar aca.
32
IRRl
EGULAR DECLENSION.
EXAMPLES.
CU, MASC, A DOG.
Singular.
Plural.
Nom.
and Ace.
CÙ.
Coin.
Gen.
Coin.
Chon.
Dat.
CÙ.
Com.
Voc.
A Chom !
A Chona !
With the Article.
Nom .
and Ace.
An oil.
Na coin.
Gen.
A'choin.
Nan con.
Dat.
A', 'n chù.
Na com.
Bean, fem., a woman.
Nom .
and Aoc
Bean.
Mnathan.
Gen.
ainà, mnatha.
Bhan.
Dat.
Muaoi.
Mnathan.
Voc.
A Bhean !
A Mhnathan !
* What (is) your opinion on (of) this coat
t The blow (beating) of his heart.
84
With the Article.
Nom. and Ace. A' bhean. Na mnathan.
Geii. Na mnatha. Nam ban.
Dat. A', 'n mhnaoi. Na mnathan.
Sg'ian, FEM., A KNIFE.
Nom.
and Ace.
Sgian. *Sgeanan.
Gen.
Sgine. Sgian.
Dat.
Sgithinn. Sgeanan.
Voc.
A sgian ! A sgeanan.
With the Article.
Nom.
and Ace.
An sgian. Na sgeanan.
Gen.
Na sgine (sgeine). Nan sgian.
Dat.
A', 'n sgithinn. Na sgeanan.
Bo, EEM., A COW.
Nom. and Ace. Bo. Bà.
Gen. Ba. Bho.
Dat. Boin. Ba.
Voc. A bho ! A bhà !
With the Article.
Xom. and Aec. A' bho. Na ba.
Gen. Na ba. Nam bo.
Dat. A', 'n bhoin. Na ba.
A list should now be made of the most common
irregular nouns. These should be carefully illustrated
b}' introducing them into simple, short .sentences, and
by making use of their various cases in asking and
answering questions.
* Other forms of the plural are:— Sgianan, sginichean. .sgeinichean.
85
33. THE ADJECTIVES.
-JThe Inflections of the Adjectives.
It is not advisable in a First Course to g'O too
deeply into the discussion of the "Inflections of the
Adjective," because the many difficulties presented
would probably tend to discourage the beginner. We
shall try, however, to explain the general principle's
which it will be well to know at this stage, and teachers
will use their own discretion as to whether this whole
section should be taken consecutively, or part only — the
rest to be done at a later stage.
The adjectives change their form according to the
number, gender and case of the nouns to which they
belong. Further changes are introduced by the nature
of the nouns to which they are attached, and by the
presence of the "Article."
For convenience the adjectives may be divided into
three groups.
I. Adjectives whose characteristic vowel is broad.
Mor, big ; dubh, black ; ban, fair.
II. Adjectives whose characteristic vowel is slender.
Glic, wise; tinn, sick; teth, hot.
III. A mixed group — mostly indeclinable — including
adjectives ending in a vowel, did, rr, etc.
Beò living; bochd, poor; ceàrr, wrong.
As the form of the adjective is affected by the pres-
ence of the Article the following examples will be
declined with and without the "Article."
86
Group 1.
Mor, BIG, GEEAT.
Ban, FAIR.
white.
Singular.
Singular
Masc. Fern.
Masc.
Fern.
Nom.
and Ace. Mor. Mhor.
Ban.
Bhàn.
Gen.
Mhoir. Moire.
Bhàin.
Bàine.
Dat.
Mor. Mhoir.
Ban.
Bhàin.
Voe.
Mhoir. Mhor.
Bhàin.
Bhàn.
Common Plurals : — Mora,
and Bàna,
Note: 1. The Genitive and Vocative Masculine are
aspirated and introduce an i after the characteristic
vowel.
2. All Cases in the Feminine are aspirated except
the Genitive. The Genitive and Dative introduce an i
while the former has in addition a final e.
3. All the Cases in the plural are alike for all cases
and for both genders — fbut
further on ± ) .
Examples with th
le Noun
Masc.—Gille mop, A
BIG LAD.
Singular.
Plur.\l.
Nom.
and Ace. Gille mor.
Gillean mora.
Gen.
Gille mhoir.
Ghillean mora.
Dat.
Gille mor.
Gillean mora.
Voc.
A Ghille mhoir !
A ghillean mora !
Fem.—CesLVG bhàn, a
SVHITE HEN.
Singular.
Plural.
Nom.
and Ace. Cearc bhàn.
Cearcan bàna.
Gen.
Circe bàine.
Chearcan bàna.
Dat.
Circ bhàin.
Cearcan bàna.
Voc.
A chearc bhàn !
A chearcan bàna !
Let us now take the same examples declined with the
Definite Article an.
87
Examples with the Article and the Noun.
Masc.
Singular. Plukal.
Nom. and Ace. An gille mor. Na gillean mom.
Gen. A' ghille mhoir. Nan gillean mora.
Dat. A', 'n, ghille mhor. Na gillean mora.
Fern.
Singular. Plural.
Nom. and Ace. A' chearc bhàn. Na cearcan bàna.
Gon. Na circe baine. Nan cearcan bàna.
Dat. A', 'n chirc bhàin. Na cearcan bàna.
Note carefully the forms in the Dative Case singtilar,
and take the followittg- sentences as types of the forms.
Tha leabhar aig a' ghille mhor.
Thug mise sgian do 'n ghille mhor.
Tha ceann air a' chirc bhàin.
Thug mise buille do 'n chirc bhàin.
X When the adjective qualifies a noun whose Nomin-
at'me plural is like the Genitive Singular the adjective is
aspirated in the Nominative and Dative plural.
E.G. — Each, a horse. Gen. sing., eich ; nom. plur., eich,
therefore 'black horses' is not Eich dubha, but Eich dhublia,
Cii — Gen. sing., coin ; plural, coin, therefore 'white dogs,'
coin bhàna.
Cat. — Gen. sing., cait ; plural, cait, ; hence, cait ghlasa
gray cats.
EXAMPLES.
Bha an ciobair a muigh leis na coin bhàna.
Chuir an duine eallach trom air na h-eich dhubha.
Tha na cait g-hlasa anns an t-sabhal.
88
Adjectives of more than one syllable, and those end-
ing- in a vowel generally have their plui-als like the
nominative singular.
E.G. — Buidhe, yellow ; sumidacli, lively, jolly.
Singular.
Plural.
Singular.
Plural.
Duine sunndacli,
Daoine sunndach,
Còta buidhe,
Còtaicheau buidhe,
a jolly man.
jolly men.
a yellow coat,
yellow coats.
Many of the adjectives underg'O a chang-e
is introduced.
dien
Mdsc
Dall,
Dearg,
Geal,
Searbh,
Olc,
blmd.
red.
white.
bitter.
bad.
Gen. Masc.
Dhoill.
Dheirg.
Ghil.
Sheirbh.
Uilc.
Gen. Fern.
Doille.
Deirge.
Gile.
Seirbhe.
Uilce.
N.B. — Compare the above changes with those in the Appendix on
the ' First Declension ' nouns (page 74).
Group 2.
Glic, wisK. Tinn, sick.
Ma.sc. Fern. Masc. Fern.
Nom., Dat., Ace. Glic. Ghlic. Tinn. Thinn.
Gen Ghlic. Glice. Thinn. Tinne.
Voc. Ghlic. Ghlic. Thinn. Thinn.
Common plurals : — Glice and Tinne.
1. In this group, also, Genitive and Vocative mascu-
line are aspirated, and all eases exoept the Genitive in
the feminine.
2. The Genitive Case feminine adds final e like
Group I. The plurals also end in e. Polysyllables do
not add the e in the plural.
89
Examples with Nouns.
Masc. — Fear gfliC, a wise man.
Singular. Plural.
Nom., Dat., Ace. Fear glic. *Fir ghlice.
Gen. Fir ghlic, Fhear glice.
Voc.
A fhir ghlie !
A fheara gUce !
Fem.-
—Bean thinn, a
sick woman.
Singular.
Plural.
Nom.
and Ace.
Bean thinn.
Mnathan tinne.
Gen.
Muatha tinne
Bhan tinne.
Dat.
Mnaoi thinn.
Mnathan tinne.
Voc.
A bhean thinn !
A mhnathan tinne
Same Examples with the Article and
Nom. and Ace.
Gen.
Dat.
Nom. and Ace.
Gen.
Dat.
Here, again,
Case sino-iilar-
the Noun.
Masc.
Singular.
Am fear glic.
An fhir ghlic.
A', 'n fhear ghlic.
Plural.
Na fir ghhce.
Nam fear glice.
Na fir ghlice.
Fem.
Singular. Plural.
A' bhean ghlic. Na mnathan glice.
Na mnatha glice. Nam ban glice.
A', 'n mhnaoi ghUc. Na mnathan glice.
note carefully the forms of the Dative
-both noun and adjective are aspirated.
* The nom of this adjective is aspirated in the plural here because
it qualifies a noun (of the first declension), whose nom. plural is like
its gen. sing.
90
Group 3.
Adjectives in this group have really no inflection for
case or number, and show only initial changes for gen-
der, and such as are cavLsed hy the laws of aspiration.
EXAMPLES.
MaB.
Fem. Mas. Fern.
Nom. and Ace. Bochd.
Bhochd. Beò. Bheò.
Oen. Bhochd.
Bochda.* Bheò. Beò.
Dat. Bochd.
Bhochd. Beò. Bheò.
Voc. Bhochd.
Bhochd. Bheò. Bheò.
Common plurals — J
Bochda, and beò or beòtha.
Examples with the Article and the Noun,
An cat bochd, the poor cat.
Singular. Plural.
Nom. and Ace. An cat bochd. Na cait bhochda.
Oen. A' chait bhochd. Nan cat bochda.
Dat. A', 'n chat bhochd. Na cait bhochda.
A' chearc bheò, the live hen.
Singular. Plural.
Nom. and Ace. A' chearc bheò. Na cearcan beò
■Gen. Na circe beò Nan cearcan beò.
Dat. A', 'n chirc bheò Na cearcan beò.
* Note the final " a," not " e," in this case.
91
34 Comparison of Adjectives
Besides the simple form of the adjective there are
two degi'ees of Comparisou; these are called the First
and Second Comparative.
The First Comparative is like the Genitive Singular
Feminine of the simple adjective.
E.G. Geal, white; g"ile, whiter; trom, heavy;
truime, heavier.
The Second Comparative is formed from the First
by changing- the final e into id.
E.G. Geal, gile, gilid.
Trom, truime, truimid.
By changing this final id- of the Second Comparative
into ead or aid, some adjectives have what is called the
"Third Comparative." This last, however, is really an
abstract noun.
E.G. Dearg, deirge, deirgid, deirgead (redness).
Daor, daoire. daoirid, daoiread (dearness).
The commonest adjectives in every day use are ir-
regular in comparison, and it is, therefore, well to know
a few of them at this stage.
E.G.
Simple
First
Second
Form.
Comparative.
Comparative.
Beag,
little
lugha
bigid, lughaid*
Mor,
big
mo, motha
moid, mothaid*
Laidir,
strong
laidire,
treasa
treasaid, or treasad
Math,
good
feàrr
feàirrd*
01c, dona, bad
miosa
misde, mi.sd
Teth,
hot
teotha
teothaid,*orteothad
Fagus,
faisge 7iear
faisge
Mills,
Siveet
milse
milsead*
Those marked * are examples of the so-called Third
Comparatives, hence lughaid, littleness; milsead, sweet-
ness, etc.
92
How Comparison is Expressed
The First Comparative is expressed :
(a) By the Verb Is.
John is fair, but James is fairer.
Tha Iain ban, ach is e Seumas *as bàine.
Literally — John is fair, but it is James (who) is fairer.
Again — Is bàine Seumas na Iain,
Fairer is James than John.
' Is gile e na 'n sneaehd.
Whiter it is than the snow.
(b) By the Verb Tha.
John is fairer than James — Tha Iain im \s bàine na
Seumas.
Literally — John is (what isi fairer than James.
It is sweeter than honey; Tha e na's milse na mil.
Literally — It is what is sweeter than honey.
If these examples were referred to the past tense
we would have to use hu instead of is.
E.G. John was fairer than James.
Bu bhàine Iain na Seumas.
Bu g'hile e na sneaehd — it was whiter than snow
or, Bha Iain na bu bhàine na Seumas.
Literally — John was what was fairer than James.
Bha e ma bu mhilse na a' nihil.
Literally — It was what was sweeter than the honey.
Note that the adjectives are aspirated after hu.
The Superlative Degree is expressed by the Com-
parative, with the help of the verb to be ; sometimes
also a preposition is used for fuller information.
* 'As' here is the Relative form of the verb 'is." It should l>e
written ' as " not a'.9.
93
E.G. Referring- to present time: Mary is the tallest.
Is i Màiri as àirde: which is exactly the same
as, Mary is the taller.
But, Mary is the tallest of the family.
Is i Màiri as àirde de'n teaghlach.
Is these sentences were referred now to the past tense
Ave would have to use bii in place of is.
E.G. Mary was the tallest of the family.
Bu i Màiri a bu àirde de 'n teag-hlach.
But written thus: B'i Màiri a b' àirde de 'n teaghlach.
Again : The highest mountain in the world.
A' bheinn as àirde (anns, air) an t-saoghal.
That is the big'giest house in the town.
Is e sud an taigh as motha anns a'^bhaile.
He was the strongest man in the boat.
B' esan an duine bu treasa anns a' bhata.
XXI.— LEUGHADH.
Tha an duine ud na 's motha na thusa. Tha am
paipeir geal, ach tha an sneachd na 's gile. Is e
Calum as òigie de 'n teaghlach. Tha Seumas sean, ach
is i Peigi as sine. Tha Domhnull na 's beartaiche na
Alasdair. Tha an t-each sgith, ach tha an cù na 's
sg-ithe.
Is gile mo làmh-sa na do lamh-sa. Tha a' chlaeh
mhor na 's truime na a' chlaeh bheag-. Tha mo bhràth-
air na 's àirde na thusa, ach is mise as àirde de 'n
chuideachd. Bha mi ann an taigh an duine mhoir an de
agus chunnaic mi bean an duine bhoehd. Fhuair mi
leabhar na * caile bàine air an stòl bheag.
Bhris na coin dhubha taigh -nan -cearc. Thàinig an
tuathanach agus bhris e oasan nan con. Chaidh na
fir ghlice do 'n bhaile mhor an de.
* (for, na caileige).
94
Mharbh na cait g-hlasa na luchainn bheaga. Ruith
na radain bheag-a g-us na tuill mhora. Thàinig duiue
mor le còta bixidhe do 'n bhaile-so an de.
Is motha mo chòta-sa na do chòta-sa.
Is fheàrr each beò na each marbh. Ghlac an gille
sunndach iasg- beò anns an t-sruth.
Dh' ith a' chearc dhubh earball an eisg- bhig^.
Tha an t-iasg- na 's daoire na 'n flieoil. Is milse
bainne na uisge, ach tha mil na 's milse na bainne.
Cha 'n 'eil treasad anns a' mhaide sin. Tha milsead
anns an t-siùcar.
35 NUMERALS.
CAEDINALS.
The Numerals — Cardinals and Ordinals — are placed
before their nouns,
E.G. Se fir, six men; an ceathramh duine, the fourth
man : except when the Cardinal Number is used to
point out a particular person.
E.G. Righ Seumas a coiff. King- James, the Fifth.
The Cardinals have two forms; one form to be used
with nouns — such are the simple numeral adjectives;
another form to be used without noims. These latter
are really nouns themselves and may be the subject, or
object of a verb, or may be g-overned by a preposition.
E.G. (1) Ghlac e àà iasg; he caught two fishes.
(2) Mharbh e a dhà ; he killed two.
Thàinig e le a h-oohd; he came with eight.
A noun is ahvays understood, but never expressed after
such examples as the last two.
Both forms are g-iven below up to the number forty,
after which thev become identical.
95
Note that the numbers 11 to 19, both inclusive,
always include the noun between the digit and the
termination deug which corresponds to Eng-lish, teen.
E.G. Thirteen men, tri fir dheug ;
Fourteen lambs, ceithir uain dheuo-, etc.
CARDINAL NUMBERS.
With a Noun.
Without a Noun.
1, aon.
a h-aon.
2, da.
a dhà.
3, tri.
a tri.
4, ceithir.
a ceithir.
5, coig.
a coig.
6, sè, sia.
a se, sia.
7, seachd.
a seachd.
8, ochd.
a h-ochd.
9, naoi.
a naoi.
10, deich.
a deich.
11, aon (fhear)-deug.
a h-aon deug.
12, da (fhear)-dheug.
a dhà dheug.
13, tri (fir)-dheug.
a tri deug.
14, ceithir (fir) -dheug, etc.
a ceithir deug, etc.
20, fichead.
a fichead.
21*, aon air fhichead.
a h-aon air fhichead.
22, da air fhichead.
a dhà air fhichead.
23, tri air fhichead, etc.
a tri air fhichead, etc.
31, aon-deug air fhichead, etc
'. a h-aon deug air fhichead, etc.
40, da fhichead.
da fhichead.
j da fhichead's a h-aon.
' 1 aon 'us da fhichead
The form thar is also used as well as air.
96
61
/ dà fhichead's a deich
^ ) (caogad).
' j deich 'us dà fhichead
( (leth chiad).
60, trì fichead.
Jtrì ficliead 's a h-aou.
laon 'us trì fichead, etc.
100, ciad, còig fichead, ceud.
200, dà chiad.
201, dà chiad 's a h-aon.
1000, mile.
2000, dà mhìle.
3000, trì mile.
10,000 deich mile.
100,000, ciad mile.
1,000,000, deich ciad mile.
Compare the following —
Tha da fhichead uan agus
a deich anns a' phàirc ; there
are fifty lambs in the park.
fCia mheud uan tha anns
a' phàirc ? Answer, " tha da
fhichead 's a deich." It is
not necessary to repeat the
noun ' uan ' in the answer.
NOTES.
1. Aoìì, aspirates all aspirable consonants except, d,
t, and s ; aon fhear, one man; aon duine. one man.
2. Da : takes an old "dual" number which is like the
modern dative case in form.
E.G. Da chirc, two hens; da chloich, two stoue<.
If an adjective qualifies the noun after da it is
in the nominative case aspirated : da chirc bheag,
two little hens; da dhuine mhor, two big men.
If a preposition g-overns the noun after da. then the
succeeding- adjective is in the dative case.
Le da chirc bhig, with two little hens.
Le da dhuine mhor, with two big men.
3. Fichead, ciad, mile are followed by the nominative
singular of the noun.
t How many a lamb.
97
Fichead each, twenty horses; ciad caora, a hundred
sheep; mile bàta, a thousand boats.
4. Deug — corresponding' to Eng-lish teen — is an adjec-
tive, and agrees with its noun always. Of the numbers
wliere "deug" occurs, namely, from 11 to 19 both in-
clusive, only two (11 and 12) take a singular noun.
In 11, if the noun is masculine, deug remains un-
aspirated.
E.G. Aon chat deug, eleven cats.
Aon each deug, eleven horses.
If the noun is feminine, however, deug is aspirated
unless the noun ends in d, t, s, L n, r.
E.G. Aon bhròg dheug, eleven shoes.
Aon chearc dheug, eleven hens.
But, Aon chluas deug, eleven ears.
Aon uair deug, eleven hours (also 11 o'clock).
The form of the adjective after "da" has already
been explained ; da fhear dheug, da chirc dheug.
5. The numbers 13 to 19, both inclusive, always have
the noun in the *plural.
E.G. Thirteen men, tri fir dheug.
Thirteen blows, tri buillean cleug.
Fourteen trees, ceithir craobhan deug.
Thus, after the plural Feminine nouns "deug" is
unaspirated; also after Masculine nouns which do not
introduce i in their case formation. If, however, a
noun introduceis i in its declension it aspirates "deug"
in the plural.
* With the exception of 'duine' perhaps.
EG. — Thirteen men, tri duine deug.
-Cù Gen
. coin :
Dorus. ,,
doruis,
Baile,
baile,
lasgair, ,,
iasgair
98
Plur. coin ; sè coin dheug.
„ doruis : seachd doruis
but, [ dheiig
bailtean; còigbailtean deug
, iasgairean: naoiiasgairean
[deug.
The cardinal numbers ( with a noun' from 21 to 30,
both inclusive, place their nouns immediately after the
digit (and before the termination "air fhichead"').
E.G. 24 lambs, ceithir uain air fhichead.
25 men, coig- fir air fhichead.
28 horses, ochd eich air fhichead.
These can be rendered more neatly thus :
Ceithir uain fhichead, còig' fir fhichead, ochd eich
fhichead, respectively.
Grenerally, after plurals of the First Declen,sion in such
a position "fichead" is aspirated as above, but *plurals
ending in ii do not aspirate as a rule.
E.G. Tri mnathan fichead, 23 women.
Sè cearcan fichead, 26 hens.
Deich taighean fichead, 30 houses.
Twenty-two hens would be: da ohirc air fhichead,
or, da chirc fhichead. "Chirc" — the dual number after
da — retains the same position as the other examples.
EXAMPLES.
With a Masculine Noun. With a Feminine Noun
1 Aon fhear, Aon chraobh.
2 Da fhear. Da chraoibh.
3 Tri fir. Tri craobhan.
* Monosyllabic Plurals in n generally aspirate fichead.
Sè coin fhichead, 26 dogs; ceithir lin fhichead. 24 nets : tri diiin
fhichead, 23 forts.
-{!
10 Deich fir. Deich craobhan.
11 Aon fheardeug. Aon chraobh dheug.
12 Da fhear dheug. Da chraoibh dheug.
13 Tri fir dheug. Tri craobhan deug.
20 Fichead fear. Fichead craobh.
fFear air fhichead. 1
[Aon fhear air fhichead./ Craobh air fhichead.
22 Da fhear air fhichead. Da chraoibh air fhichead.
23 Tri fir fhichead. Tri craobhan fichead.
30 Deich fir fhichead. Deich craobhan fichead.
31 Aon fhear deug air fhichead Aon chraobh dheug air
fhichead.
40 Da fhichead fear. Da fhichead craobh.
4 1 Fear 'us da fhichead. Craobh 'us da fhichead.
42 Da fhear 'us da fhichead. Da chraoibh 'us da fhichead.
-^ ("Deich 'us da fhichead feari Deich 'us da fhichead
\Leth chiad fear. J craobh.
1*-^^ { cSg fichead fear.} ^'^^^ ^^"^^b^-
200 Da chiad fear. Da chiad craobh.
1000 Mile fear. Mile craobh.
10,000 Deich mile fear. Deich mile craobh.
N.B. — When dealing with numbers above forty, the
easiest way for translating is to take —
First, the number of score, then the noun, and finally ,
the^remaining odds.
E.G. 65; tri fichead agus a coig.
65 horses ; tri fichead each agus a coig,
87 sheep; ceithir fichead caora agus a seachd.
123 men ; sè fichead duine agus a tri.
36 ORDINAL NUMBERS (with a noun).
A' chiad fhear
An ceud fhear.
I The 1st
An dara ì r ^. ,
. -, [ tear, ,, 2nd
An darnaj "
100
t^'.^T A fear, The 2rcl m.
AntritheamhJ
An ceathramh „
, 4th „
An coigeamh ,,
, 5th „
An seathamh
, 6th „
An seachdamh „
, 7th „
An t-ochdamh „
, 8th „
An naoidheamh ,,
, 9th „
An deiclieamh ,,
, 10th „
An t-aona fear deug,
, 11th „
An dara fear deug,
, 12th .,
An treas fear deug,
, 13th „
An ficheadamh fear,
, 20th „
An t-aona fear fichead.
„ 21st „
An dara fear fichead,
, 22nd „
An da fhicheadamh fear.
, 40th „
An tri ficheadamh ,,
, 60th „
An ciadamh „
, 100th
Am mileamh ,,
, 1000th
NUMERICAL NOUNS.
These are formed from the Cardinal numbers, and are
used in relation to persons only. They govern the
Genitive plural of nouns; as. trildr mhac ; three sons
(literally, three of sons).
Aonar, (alone), one person.
Dithi.s. two persons.
Triùir, three
Ceathrar, four
Coignear, five
Seanar, six
Seachdnar. seven
Ochdnai', eight
Naoinear, nine
Deiohnear, ten
101
XXII.— LEUGHADH.
Tha bàta Sheumais air an loch. Tha tri fir agus
da bhalaeh anns a' bhàta. Tha tri fir dheug" anns an
luing. Tha an eiobair agus da ehù anns an aehadh.
Tha tri fichead caora agus da fhichead uan anns a"
pliàirc. Tha da chaora anns na dreasan aig cùl an
diiin. Tha sè muilt dheug agus uan air fhichead anns
an fhaing. Tha an eiobair agus triùir mhac leis na
caoraich. Tha an oeathramh mac agus tri coin air a'
mhonadh. Tha a h-aon de na coin erùbach. Tha coig
'us da fhichead molt air an dun. Bha seachd uaiu
auns an fhaing an de. Cha 'n 'edl a nis ach sè uain anns
an fhaing. Tha an seachdamh uan a nis air an dun leis
na muilt. Ma tha, tha an àireamh ceart. Bha ceithir
uibhean auu an nead na ciroe glaise an de. Cha 'n 'eil
ach tri uibhean anns an nead an diugh. Tha an ceath-
ramh ubh briste. Bha tri radain anns an toll ud aig
bun na craoibhe. Tha aon radan a nis fo spòig a'
chait. Tha sè bradain agus da bhànaig anns an lion.
Tha a tri de na bradain mor, ach cha 'n 'eil an lion
briste. Tha da shlait bheag agus aon lion anns a' bMta.
Tha da bhròig a' bhalaich fo 'n bhàta. Tha còta Sheum-
ais air druim a' bhàta. Tha na si nil agus na ràimh aig
taobh na creige. Tha an da ràmh briste.
Tha coignear mhac agus triùir nighean aig an tuath-
anach. Chaidh na coig mic do 'n sgoil, ag^us chaidh
dithis nighean do 'n bhaile mhor. Dh' fhuirich an nigh-
ean eile aig an taigh.
Thàinig aon sealgair deug a macli as a' choille an
diugh; tha an t-aona fear deug sgith. Chunnaic mi
duine bochd ann am bothan beag aig taobh *an rathaid
Lite rail}- —
'At the side of the big road ; the high road ; (the king'.s) highway.
102
nihòir. Bha an duine boclul 'iia aonar.T
Cheannaich an tuathanach còig- eich, ach bha an
CMJigeamh fear crùbach. Tha deich leabhraichean aoam-
sa, ach is le m' athair an deicheamh fear. Cuir na trì
coin sin an deidh nan caorach. Tha an treas fear sgith.
Cia mheud duine chaidh seachad? Is e sud an t-aona
fear fichead.
COMHRADH.
C ait' am bheil an ciobair ? Tha e anns an fhaing.
Am bheil na coin leis ? Tha an da chù leis.
Ana bheil na caoraich anns an Cha 'n 'eil, tha iad air
fhaing ? a' mhonadh.
C uin' a bha mac a' chiobair air Bha e air a' bheinn an
a' bheinn ? de.
Am bi e air a' bheinn an diiigh i Cha bhi.
Miir bi, c' ait' am bi e ? Bithidh e aims an fhaing.
Cia mheud uan tha anns an fhaing ? Deich 'us tri fichead.
Cia mheud molt tha anns an Da fhichead 'us a coig
achadh ? deug.
An robh na caoraich air
an dim an de ? Bha.
Cia mheud bha ann ? Bha seachd deug air
fhichead.
Ciamheud thaair andim andiugh? Ceithir deug air
fhichead.
C ait' am bheil na tri eile ? Tha iad anns na dreasan.
C ait' am bheil na dreasan ? Aig cùl an dùin.
C ait' am bheil mac a' chiobair ? Tha e anns an achadh
leis na h-uain.
+ 'Na aonar (aau a aonar, in his alone), hence, "tlie poor man
was alone. "
103
C' arson iiach 'eil e ri mouadh ? *Tha e ati àiieamh nau
uan.
Cia mheud uan tha anns a' phàirc
bhig? Ochd deug.
Cia mheud iasg tha anns an lion ? Trì bradain agus dà
bhànaig
Nach 'eil sgadan anns an lion 1 Cha 'n 'eil.
An e so do lion-sa"? Cha 'n e.
C' àit' am bheil do lion-sa? Tha mo lion -sa anns a'
mhuir.
Co leis an lion sin a tha air a' chreig ? Is le Calum an lion sin.
Am bheil lion Chaluim iir ? Cha 'n 'eil, ach tha mo
lion-sa iir.
Am bheil bàta aig Calum Ì Tha.
Nach 'eil bàta agad-sa ? Cha 'n 'eil. Is le Calum
am bàta.
37 PREPOSITIONS.
The most commonly used prepositions have already-
been introduced in our "Conversations" and "Questions,"
but a fuller list might now be taken.
(a). The Simple Prepositions.
Aig, at. Eadar, between. Ri, ris^ to.
Air, on. Fo, under. Roimh, before.
Ann an ) Gu ) ^ , , Seach, i
. ' ■ m - to.totraras. ^ i_ i / • ,iPast.
Ann am > %n Gusy ' Seachad (air)t^
Anns, ) Gun, without. Thar ^over,
A, as, out of. Le. ( with, by, Thairis (air)) across.
r>, )from, Leis, \ along rvith. Thun \^ ^ ■,
Bho, oA'j. 7 TV1 ;•; ; u \ \to,towards.
^) from under Mar, lilce. (chun) t '
De (a, dh'), of. Mu, about.
Do (a, dh'), to. Re, during.
Trid, through, on account of; troimh, tre, through.
* Literally, he is at the numbering of the lambs : (counting them).
104
Of the above prepositions, anns, as, gus, lets, ris, are
used before the Definite Article.
The Simple Prepositions govern the Dative Case —
with the following- exceptions:
(1) Eadar, seach, gus, mar (when followed by tlie
definite article) which govern the Accusative Case (ol)-
jective case), which is the same in form as the Nomi-
native Case in CTaelic.
E.G. Eadar a" ehlach ag-us a' ehraobh, between the
stone and the tree.
Seach a' clilach, past the stone.
Gus a' chrioch, to the end.
Mar a' ehlach, like the stone.
When Mar is followed by the indefinite article it
governs the dative case like the other simple preposi-
tions.
Mar chloich, like a stone.
Mar mhnaoi, like a woman.
(2) *Thar, re, thun (chiin), trid govern the Genitive
Case .
E.G. Leum e t)iar aibhne, he jumped over a river.
Thàinig e cHiun na tobrach, he came to the well.
Bha e tinn re na h-oidhche, he was sick through
the night.
Trid na tàmailt a fhuair e dh' flmg e an r-ait-e,
on a-ccounr of the insult which he received he
left the place.
The prepositions do and de sometimes get confused
and cause nott a little trouble.
They are both written sometimes a.s 'o' or 'dh.'
E.G. Much money, moran airgid — where airgid is
Genitive Case, may also be translated by the use of
* In some di.stricts thar takes the accus. case.
105
the preposition de, as, moran de airg-iod (where airgiod
is now Dative Case). We often find, however, the pre-
position reduplicated in the form dh — especially before
a vowel — hence we might also say — moran de dh' air-
g-iod. Similarly we might sa}' — pios de iarunn. or j'ios
de dh' iarunn. a piece of iron.
The same thing- happens with the preposition do.
K.G. Chaidli e do Eirinn. ) . , -r -, -,
Chaidli e do dh' Eirinn, [ ^'^ '''^""^ to Ireland.
Which is also written — Chaidli e a dh' Eirinu.
Thàinig e do àite bòidheach, or
Thàinig- e a dh' àite bòidheach,
He came to a pretty place.
Thuigi e feur do each, or
Thug- e feur do dh' each.
He gave grass (hay) to a horse.
Many of the.se simple prepositions aspirate the nouns
following them, such as : de, do, fo, bho, o, mu, tliar,
mar, troimh, roimh, etc.
E.G. Fo chloich, under a stone.
Mu fheasgar, about evening-.
Troimh tholl, through a Tiole.
When the definite article follows f roimh. roimh. and
the prepositions ending in a vowel, it takes the form 'n.
y..G. Do 'n ehù, to the dog; troimh 'n toll, through
the hole; fo 'n bhòrd, under the table ; roimh 'n
each, before the horse.
When seach and thar take the forms 'seachad air"
and "thairis air" respectively, they are followed by the
Dative Case.
E.G. Seachad air an dorus, past the door.
Thairis air an abhainn, across the river.
Seachad air a' chloich, past the stone.
106
(b) Compound Preposit oxs.
A chum, for the-puvpose of. An dèidh, after.
Air son, on account of, for. An ceann, at the end of, among
Air muin, on top of\ on the An àite l • , /•
1 1 r -J. > in place of.
back of. ann an aite, j ^ '
Air cùlaobh, heìiind. An lathair, i . .
A\v hQ\x\:\ohh, in front of . Am fianuis, ) ' / "^•''^'"
Air feadh, amoiigst. Mu thimchioll, regarding,
A dh' ionnsaidh, towards. ahont.
ComhlKri(ris) , , . , Mu 'n cuairt, around.
<-^ .J • /• / ' aloiu/ ?vttn. r\ • 1
Guide ri (ris), ) •' Os cionn, above.
An aghaidh, against, in tlie
face of.
These prepositions govern the Grenitive Case, except
'comhla ri,' and cuide ri' which gxivern the accusative.
'Mu 'n cuairf is sometimes written with ''air'' after it,
and then governs the Dative Case.
E.G. Mu 'n cuairt air a" phairc, around the park.
The general rule, however, is that the compound
prepositions govern the Genitive Case.
XXIII.— LEUCxHADH.
Tha an radau anns an toll agus an cat fo 'n bhòrd.
Tliug- am balaeh beag a mach an cat dubh bho 'n
bhòrd. Fhuair mi an sgian eadar a' chraobh agus a'
chlach. Thàinig e dhachaidh gun bhròig gun bhoineid.
Chaidh Calum do 'n mhonadh leis na caoraich. Chun-
naic e madadh - ruadh agus niharbh e e le cloich.
Chaidh an duine mor seachad air an taigh an de, agus
sheall e ris an uinneig. Thainig, e chun an doruis agus
107
tliug e leabhar as a phòcaid. Bhuail am balach an
t-eun beag le maide ag-us tliuit e mar a'chlacli; blia
an t-euu marbh. Sheas am buachaille roimh na caor-
aich agus chaidh iad seach a' phaire. Leum ua coin
tliar na li-aibhne agus chuir iad na h-uain gus a'
blieiun. Ue tha anns a' plioca sin, a Mhàiri? Tha
beagan de dh' im agus de chaise. Am bheil aran
agad? Cha 'n 'eil muran de dh' aran agam ach tha
pailteas de dh' airgiod again. Cliaidh sinn troimh 'n
bhaile mu fheasgar agus ràinig sinn an dachaidh roimh
ndiaduinu. Dh' eirich mi.se anns a' mhaduinn, agus
fliuair mi biadh do 'n ehù bhàn. Dh' òl sinn deoch,
agus chaidh sinn do 'n bhuaile leis na laoigh. Dh' fhàg
mi an cù eòmhla ris na h-eich.
Cheannaich an duine biadh air son an eich. Tha loch
air beùlaobh an taighe, agus tha soithichean beaga,
geala air an loch. Seolaidh iad an aghaidh na gaoithe.
Blia mise air feadh na coille anns a' mhaduinn agus
fliuair mi uan beag aig ceann an rathaid.
Thainig mi a dh' ionnsaidh na h-aibhne agus chun-
uaic mi caora còmhla ris an uan.
Chaidh mi mu 'n cuairt air a' ghàradh agus fhuair mi
clachan mora ann an àite nan craobhan. Sheall mi
nui thimchioll an taighe agus chunnaic mi na h-eùin
blieaga o< eionn na pàirce. Chaidh mi a steach do n
raigh. agus -^hea'^ mi am fianuis m'athar; chuir e a
làiuh aiì' muin an leabliair agus shuidh mise air a
bheulaobh.*
* (at his front, in from of him.)
108
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110
XXIV.— LEUC4HADH.
Bha Iain ag^us Calum aig a' chladach an de. Thug
iad leotlia da liou agus tri slatau. Ràinig iad an
cladach, acli fhuair iad bàta Iain briste air na creagau.
Bha bàta eile aig Iain ach cha robh seòl no làimh oirie.
Bha da bhàta aig Seumas agus thug" e dhuinn an dara
te. Chaidh e thuca leis na raimh agus leis an r-seòl.
Chaidh iad chun na mara, agus thog iad na siùil ris
na croinn. Shèid a' ghaoth, dh' eirich fairg-e mlior ead-
aj'ainn agus tir. Thill sinn gu cladach. Chuir an isg-iob-
air uime a chòta. Ràinig sinn an cladach, ach bha na
h-iasgairean ann romhainn. Thug- iad thugaiun biadh
agus deoch. Shuidh sinn air a' ehreig ag\i.s las sinn ar
pioban. Bha am feasgar fliuch agus chaidh an t-uisge
tromhainn. Thilg mise mo chòta tharam, ach dh' fhag
mo bhrathair thairis air a' ehreig- a chòta-fhèin. Gheàrr
fear eile a làmh agus thàinig an fhuil aiste. Thilg
mise bhuam mo phiob, agus eheangail mi an làaih aige-
san. Thàinig Seumas, dh' fhag sinn am bàta air acair,
agus chaidh sinn dhacliaidh còmhla ris.
Cuir dhior do bhrògan agus cuir ort srocainnean tior-
am. Gabh am bainne blàth a nis, agus cuiridh e am
fuachd asad. Chaidh Seonaid o 'n bhaile an de agus
thàinig litir thuice an diug'h. Tha a bràthair beag
còmhla rithe. Cha 'n 'eil cabhag sam-bith orra-san.
Co bha aig an dorus romhad, a Sheumais? Cha robh
dviine sam-bith romham, ach bha na caoraich aig
an taigh agus thàinig mi tromlipa. Am bheil an eù
dubh comhla riutha ? Cha 'n 'eil, ach chaidh am balaeh
beag thuca leis a' ehù bhàn.
Ill
i.U' the particle
K.G. Gu math,
Gu h-olc,
39 ADVERBS.
Simple or "one word" Adverbs are ver}- few in
Gaelic, but Compound Adverbs (adverbial phrases i are
very numerous.
Many adverbs are formed from adjectives by prefix -
ju \ gu h- before vowels).
well ; gu dileas, faithfuUi/.
badly ; gu mor, greatly.
The prefixed particles — gle, fior, ro — denote a higher
degree of quality; they also aspirate their adjectives.
E.G. Gle mhath, very well: ro dhileas, exceedingly
faithful.
Simple
Compound
Denoting
Best
Adverbs of Time.
/-Cheana, already.
Riamh, ever (past).
J Fhathast, fòs, yet.
Chaoidh, ever (future).
j Eoimhe, before.
Minic, frequently.
vDaonnan, always.
'A nis, now.
A ris (rithist), again.
An dràsda, just now.
An nochd, to-night.
An diugh, to-day.
An raoir, last night.
An de, yesterday.
An uiridh, last year.
Am màireach, to-
Am bliadhna, this year
morrow.
Gu trie, often.
Gu bràth, for ever.
Adverbs of Place.
o, . I below.
Shios, < ,
' ( down.
Shuas, above.
Thall, over,
motion to.
a sios, down.
a suas. lip
a null
. nunn
over.
motion from.
a nios, from below.
a nuas, froiii above.
a nail, from over.
112
A stìgh, inside. a steach, into.
A muigh, outside. a roach, out.
A bhos (or bhos), on this side.
A bhàn, dotomvards.
Thall 's a bhos ) . _, , ( Literally, on that side
Ansud'sanso> " " " ' | and on this.
An so, an sin an sud ; here, there, yonder.
An ear. I eas^ tuath, north.
An iar, ) ?^i?s<. deas, south.
N.B. — In colloquial speech there is a strong tendency to drop the
a" before many of those adverbs.
Adverbs of Manner, etc.
Mar so, mar sm, mar sud, like this, like that, like yon.
Gu leir. altogether. air leth, apart, separately.
Gu dearbh, truly. gu leoir, enough.
Gu cinnteach, certainly. le cheile. together.
Air eiginn, scarcely, with car air char, rolling; tumbling
difficulty (fitrn on turn).
N.B. — In the lessons on the Adverbs a fine opportunity presents
itself for useful conversational exercises — especially with young
classe.«, where some of the pupils could go through the various
actions of; a null, a nail, a macli, a steach, etc. — the others
describing each action as performed.
XXV.— LEUGHADH.
Tha thusa daouuuu anns an eag-lais. Tha, ach cha 'n
'eil mi fhathast math gu leoir. Is minic a bha mise
air a' mhuir, agus gu dearbh cha robh mi soua. Bha
Iain air a' mhuir an raoir, ach *thig e an diugh.
Thàinig e cheana; ehunnaic mise e an dràsda. Cha
robh mise riamh ann am bata. Bha mise ann am bàta
an de agus bithidh mi ann am 'bàta eile am màìreach.
C'àit' am bheil am bàta? Tha i shies aig a' cliladaeh.
* He will come.
113
Co leis am bàta ? Tha i le Iain. CheannaicJi e i an
uiridh. Tha i gle mliath gu dearbh. Chuala mise gii 'n
robh Iain tinn. Tha e tinn agus cha bhi e gu math
chaoidh. Am bheil e a stigh? Cha 'n 'eil, chaidh e a
mach air eiginn. Co tha còmhla ris? Tha an cù beag
a'gus an cù mòr. Chaidh iad a mach le cheile. Bha na
coin fa' ruith thall 's a bhos, agus thuit iad car air
char leis a' chreig. Tha iad a nis sgith gu leòir.
C àit' am bheil an duine bochd ? Tha e shios anns
an t-slochd. Chaidh e a sios an raoir. Thig e a nios
am maireach. Chaidh an ciobair a suas an dè. Dhòirt
an t-uisge a nuas air feadh na tire. Rach a null chun
a' bhùird agus seall a mach air an uinneig. Co tha
thall aig taobh na sraide? Is e Seumas mor a tha ann.
Tliàinig e a nail chun an doruis an dràsda. Tha e a
nis a bhos aig eeann an ?afghe. "Bha mi 3eas 's tuath,
an iar 's an ear, ach tha mi a nis ann an Albaimi.
Alba gu bràth!
Questions. Answers.
Co tha shuas aig an taigh? Tha Seumas Ban.
C'uin' a thàinig e? Thàinig e an raoir.
C'àit' an robh e am Bha e aig an iasgach.
bliadhna ?
An robh e riamh ann an Cha robh 's cha bhi.
Eirinn?
C'àit' am bheil cù an Tha e thall air cùl na
tuathanaich ? beinne .
Am bheil sin mar sin? Tha gu dearbh.
t Running.
114
AO THE VERB.
In a previous section it was shown how the Past
Tense and the Future Tense were formed from the
Imperative or Root Verb. For a fuller discussion of
the Voice, Mood, and Tense we shall ta,ke as a type the
verb Buail, strike (thou).
There are three tenses, Present, Past, and Future;
three moods, Indicative, Imperative, and Subjunctive;
and there are two voices, Active and Passive.
We shall first give the "Independent Form" or the
verb Buail in the Active and Passive Voices, and then
a full paradigm of the "Dependent Form."
First, then, the "Root Verb" is the .second person
singular of the Imperative, namely, Buail.
Person^ Imper. ^^ forced by adding eam* to the root.
The Third „ ., „ eadh
The First plu. „ „ „ eamaid
The Second „ „ „ ibh
The Third „ „ „ eadh
To get the Subjunctive Mood, the Root is first aspir-
ated. Then the First Person singular adds inn to the
aspirated root, the First Person plural adds eamaid ;
the remaining- persons singular and plural add eadh.
* Whether we add earn, am, adh or eadh, aibh or ihh, etc., depends
on the quality of the last vowel of the Root Verb. If broad, our
suffix must begin with a broad, if slender, with a slender.
115
41 Independent Form of the Verb.
Buail, strike.
Active Voice.
Past Tense, Singular. Past Tense, Plural.
1. Bhuail mi, I struck Bhuail sinn, ice struck.
2. Bhuail thu. etc. Bhuail sibh. etc.
3. Bhuail e, i. Bhuail iad.
Future Tense.
1. Buailidh mi. / shall strike. Buailidh sinn, ive shall strike
2. Buailidh thu. etc. Buailidh sibh. etc.
3 Buailidh e, i. Buailidh iad.
Imperative.
1 . Buaileam, let me strike. Buaileamaid let us strike.
2. Buail, strike thou. Buailibh, strike ye.
3. Buaileadh e, i, let him, Buaileadh iad, let them strike.
her strike.
Subjunctive.
1. Bhuailinn, / would strike. Bhuaileamaid, 2ve ivould
2. Bhuaileadh thu, thou strike, etc.
7vouldst strike, etc. Bhuaileadh sibh.
3. Bhuaileadh e. Bhuaileadh iad.
Verbal Noun. Infinitive.
JBualadh, striking. A bhualadh, to strike.
A' bualadh, a-striking.
Note — (1) That the pronoun is incoi-porated in the
verb in some of the persons of the Imperative and
the Subjunctive; these are :
The First person singular, and the First and
Second plural of the Imperative.
The First person singtdar, and the First person
plural of the Subjunctive.
(2) The method of forming- the Infinitive from the
verbal noun. One or two verbs from each group will
make this clear.
116
Group A fbuail.
(consonant verbs), ( freagair.
bualadh.
a bhualadh.
freagairt.
a fhreagairt.
Group B ròl.
(vowel verbs), hth.
(f + vowel verbs ), ( fag.
Ò1.
fa dh' Ò1.
- a dh' itheadh.
itheadh.
fàgail.
[a dh' fhàgail.
i.e. Consonant Verbs take a before the aspirated verbal
noun. Vowel Verbs take a dh before the verbal noun,^and
(f + vowel) verbs take a dh before the verbal noun aspirated.
N.B. — Perhaps before going on to deal with the Passive Voice ,
the pupils should be drilled in the Active Voice paradigms of verbs
from each of the other groups, i.e. verbs beginning with a vowel
and verbs in f
42 VERB Buail (contd).
Passive Voice.
Past Tense, Singular. Past Tense, Plural.
1. Bhuaileadh mi, /?(;ass^r?tcA; Bhuaileadh sinn, >ve mere-
struck etc.
2. Bhuaileadh thu. etc. Bhuaileadh sibh.
3. Bhuaileadh, e, i. Bhuaileadh iad.
Future Tense.
l.làviSiiìiiax ami I shall be struck Buailear sina ive shall be
struck, etc.
2. Buailear thu. etc. Buailear sibh.
3. Buailear e, i. Buailear iad.
Imperative.
1. Buailtear mi, let me be Buailtear sinn, let us be
struck. struck.
2. Bu.a.i[te-a.r thu, be thou struck Buailtear sibli, be ye struck.
3. Buailtear e, i, let him, it, Buailtear iad, let them be
Iter be struck. struck.
117
Subjunctive.
1. Bhuailteadh mi, I tvouldbe Bhuailteadh sinn, ice would
struck, etc. be struck, etc.
2. Bhuailteadh thu. Bhuailteadh sibh.
3. Bhuailteadh e, i. Bhuailteadh iad.
Participle — Buailte, sti-uck.
Note 1. — The terminination for the past tense is eadh
(adh) added to the aspirated Root Verb. For the Sub-
junctive it is teadh (tadh) added to the aspirated root.
2. For the future tense it is ear (ar) added to the root, and
for the imperative it is tear ftar) to the root.
The pupil should now be practised in the con-
struction of simple sentences, using- any tamiliar verl>
and subject, and carrying out any simple idea sug^sted
by the subject chosen.
The verb Buail having been already selected, will
serve as an illustration.
Buail an dorus. Strike the door.
Buail an dorus mor. Strike the big door.
Buail an dorus mor le òrd. Strike the big door with a
hammer.
Buailibh an dorus. Strike (ye) the door.
Buaileadli e an dorus mor. Let him strike the big door.
Bhuail mi an dorus mor. I did strike the big door.
Bhuail am balach an dorus. The boy struck the door.
Bhuail am balach beag an The little boy struck the
dorus. door.
Buailidh mi an dorus. I shall strike tbe door.
Buailidli sinn an dorus le We shall strike the door with
òrd. a hammer.
Buailidh am balach beag The little boy will strike the
an dorus. door.
Bhuailinn an dorus. I would strike the door.
118
Bhuaileadh esan an doruvS.
Bhuaileamaid an dorus .
Bhuaileadh na fir an dorus.
Bhuail iad an dorus le
maide .
Bhuail iad dorus an taighe .
Bhuaileadh an dorus.
Buailear dorus an taig-he.
Bhuailteadh an gille nior.
Buailear iad le clachan.
He would strike the door.
We would strike the door.
The men would strike the
door.
They struck the door with a
stick.
They struck the door of the
house.
The door was struck.
The door of the house will
be struck.
The big' lad would be struck.
They shall be struck with
stones.
Buailtear iad leis na Let them be struck Avith the
clachan. stones.
When the pupil has thoroug'hly understood the
various verbal changes, the sentences should be ex-
tended by introducing new words suggestive of the idea
already expressed, thus :
Tog òrd agus buail an Lift a hammer and strike
dorus. the door.
Thog am balacli òrd. The boy lifted a hammer.
;Thogf e clach agus bhuail e He lifted a stone and struck
an dorus. the door.
Bhuail e an dorus le He struck the door with a
cloich. stone.
Bhris am fear so an dorus. This man broke the door.
Bhris e an doru.s leis an He broke the door with the
òrd. hammer.
Tha an dorus mor briste. The big door is broken.
Thogainn an t-òrd sin. I would lift that hammer.
Bhuailinn an dorus leis an 1 would strike the door with
òrd. the hammer.
119
Druid an dorus. Shut the door.
Dhruid Seumas bea^ au Little James shut the door.
dorus .
Druididh raise an dorus I sliall shut the big door.
mor.
Dhrtiidinn an dorus. I would shut the door.
Dhruideadh esan an dorus. He would shut the door.
Fosgail dorus an stàbuill. Open the door of the stable.
Dli' fhosgail Iain dorus an John opened the door of the
taighe. house.
Fosgailidh Màiri an dorus. Marv will open the door.
Tha an dorus druidte. The door is shut.
Tha an dorus mor fosg-ailte. The big door is open.
Toga' chlach sin. Lift that stone.
Thogainn a' chlach sin, ach I would lift that stone, but
tha i trom. it is heavy.
Togaidh mi a" chlach so. I shall lift this stone.
Tha a' clilach sin briste. That stone is broken.
Tha a' chlach mhor sin That big stone is heavy.
trom.
Tha a' clilach mhor briste. The big stone is broken.
Bhris Calum a' chlach mhor Malcolm broke the big stone
le òrd. with a hammer.
Bhris e a' chlach leis an He broke the stone with the
òrd mhor. big hammer.
Bhriseadh e na clachan. He would break the stones.
Brisear na clachan. The stones will be broken.
Fosglar an uinneag. The -oindow will be opened.
Dhrviideadh an dorus. The door was closed.
Dhruid teadh an uinneag. The window would be closed.
ThogteaA:lh na h-ùird The heavy hammers would
mhora. be lifted.
120
f si
~ '5 »- o
i =1°
S 5 >>d
'~ s
121
(b) The pupil, after being thoroug-hly exercised in
the various changes of the verb in its Independent form,
should then be taught to use the verb in conjunction
with the particles or in its Dependent form, thus :
Na (not) Na buail an dorus.
An (do)? An do bhuail mi an
dorus ?
Am ? Am buail mi an dorus?
Am buailinn an dorus?
Cha. Cha do bhuail mi an
dorus.
Cha bhuail mi an dorus.
Cha bhuailinn an dorus.
Nach? Nach do bhuail mi an
ga.uVr dorus ?
Nach buail mi an dorus ? Shall I not strike the door?
Nach buailinn an dorus ? Would Inotstrike thedoor?
Do not strike the door.
Did I strike the door ?
Shall I strike the door ?
Would I strike the door ?
I did not strike the door.
I shall not strike the door.
I would not strike the door.
Did I not strike the door?
Na'n Na 'n do bhuail mi an
(do.) dorus.
Ma. Ma bhuaileas mi an
dorus.
Na'n(m) Na'm buailinn an dorus
Ged (a) Ged (a) bhuail mi an
dorus.
Ged (a) bhuaileas mi
an dorus.
Ged (a) bhuailinn an
dorus.
Mur. Mur (an) do bhuail mi
(an,am). an dorus.
Mur (am) buail mi an
dorus.
IVIur (am) buailinn an
dorus.
If I did strike the door>
Had I struck the door.
If I shall strike the door.
If I would strike the door.
Though I did strike the
door.
Though I shall strike the
door.
Though I would strike the
door.
If I did not strike the
door.
If I shall not strike the
door.
If I would not strike the
door.
122
Ged
nach.
Gu'n,
'm.
Nach.
Ged nach do bhuail mi Though I did not strike
an dorus. the door.
Ged nach buail mi an Though I shall not strike
dorus. the door.
Ged nach buailinn an Though I would not strike
dorus. the door.
Thubhairt e, he said.
Gu 'n do bhuail mi an That I did strike the door.
dorus.
Gu 'm buail mi an dorus. That I shall strike the door-
Gu'm buailinn an dorus That I would strike the
door.
Nach do bhuail mi an That I did not strike the
dorus. door.
Nach buail mi andorus. That I shall not strike the
door.
Nach buailinn an dorus That I would not strike
the door.
Nach
CreUtive).
The
Am fear a bhuail an
dorus.
Am fear a bhuaileas an
dorus.
Am fear a bhuaileadh
an dorus.
Am fear nach do
bhuail an dorus.
Am fear nach buail
an dorus.
Am fear nach
buaileadh an dorus.
Verbal Noun ; a' bualaxih
at striking : becaase, a'
The man that did strike
the door.
The man that will strike
the door.
The man that would strike
the door.
The man that did not
strike the door.
The man that will not
strike the door.
The man that would not
strike the door,
a striking', literally
=ag, aig- : hence —
Tha mi a' bualadh, I am at striking
I strike.
I am striking, or,
123
The Present Tense.
44. (a) The Gaelic verb has uo simple present tense^
but has a present compound tense which, with other
tenses, is formed by the verb Bl, and the verbal noun
preceded by the preposition ag; the g of the preposition
is left out before words beginning- with a consonant.
E.G. A" bualadh, striking. But, ag Ò1, drinking.
Tlia mi a' bualadh. I strike, or I am striking.
Bha mi a' bualadh. I was striking.
Bithidh mi a' bualadh. I shall be striking.
Bhithinn a' bualadh. I would be striking.
Am bheil mi a' bualadh? Am) I striking?
Cha 'n "eil mi a' bualadh . I am not striking.
Bha e ag Ò1. He was drinking.
Cha robh e ag òl. He was not drinking.
Nach robh e ag itheadh ? Was he not eating?
Bha e ag itheadh. He was eating.
The verbal noun takes the Genitive case after it; as,
An robh e a' bualadh an doruis ? Was he striking
tlie door?
Doruis is the Genitive case of dorus, after a bualadh.
Bha an gille ag itheadh The lad was eating bread.
arain.
Arain is the Genitive case of aran, after ag itheadh.
Literally the sentence is: The lad was at the eating of
bread.
Bhreab am balach an dorus. The boy kicked the door.
Bha am balach a' breabadh The boy was kicking the
an doruis. door.
Bhreab an t-each am bal- The horse kicked the boy.
ach.
Bha an t-each a' breabadh The horse was kicking the
a' bhalaich. boy.
124
Tha an t-each a' breabadh The horse is kicking the
an doruis. door.
Bliris an t-each an dorus. The horse broke the door.
Tha an t-each a' briseadh The horse is breaking the
an doruis. door.
Dh' ith an t-each am fern-. The horse ate the gi-ass.
Tha an t-each ag itheadh The horse is eating the
an fheòir. grass.
Bhris an t-each cas a' bha- The horse broke the little
laich bhig. boy's foot.
Tha cas a' bhalaich bhig The little boy's foot is
briste. broken.
Dhruid Màiri an dorus. Mary shut the door.
Tha Màiri a' druideadh an Mary is shutting the door.
doruis.
Chuir Gatriona aran air a' Catherine put bread on the
bhòrd. table.
Tha Catriona a' cur arain Catherine is putting" bread
air a' bhòrd . on the table .
Thog an gille an t-òrd. The lad lifted the hammer.
Tha an gille a' togail an The lad is lifting the ham-
ùird. mer.
Thog e an t-òrd mòr. He lifted the big hammer.
Tha e a' togail an iiird He is lifting the big ham-
mhoir. mer.
Tha an gille a' briseadh na The lad is breaking the
cloiche. stone.
Tha e a' briseadh na cloiche He is breaking the stone
le òrd. with a hammer.
(b). When the personal pronoun follows the Pro-
gi-essive Form of some tenses, it is translated by a
combination of the corresponding Possessive pronoun
and a Preposition; such combinations may be called
Prepositional Possessives.
125
Thus : The Possessive Pronouns mo, do, a, ar, ' in\
an or am, along with the Preposition aig (at) give: —
'gam, 'gad, 'ga, 'gar, 'gur, 'gan, 'gam.
i.e., at my, at thy, at his, at our, etc., etc.
Along Avith the Preposition arm (in), they give': —
am, ad, 'na, 'nar, 'nur, 'nan, 'nam.
i.e., in mv, in thy, in his, etc., etc.
Thus Ave have He is striking ; tha e a'bualadh;
but. He is striking me; i.e., he is at the striking of
me ; Tha e 'gam *bliualadh.
Literally, He is at my striking.
He is breaking, tha e a' briseadh;
But, He is breaking it, tha e 'ga *bhriseadh.
Literally; he is at its breaking.
Similarly we have : —
Bha e'gad* bhualadh. He was striking you.
Bha e 'gat bhualadh. He was striking him.
Bha e 'gaf bualadh. He was striking her.
Bha e 'gar bualadh. He was striking us.
Bha e 'gur bualadh. He was striking you.
Bha e 'gam bualadh. He was striking them.
Bha e 'ga bhualadh fhein. He was striking himself.
ic) In the same relation and in the same order of
construction, the preposition air is used to express a
completed action, gu (contracted g') to express a pur-
pose, and ann (contracted '«) to denote a state or con-
dition, as: —
Tha mi air mo bhualadh. I am struck.
Literally, I am on my striking.
Bha e air a bhualadh. He was struck.
" The possessive pronouns which aspirate their nouns, when
used singly retain that power in these combinations also. E.G.
IS'ote the difference between the two examples marked t
126
Bha i air a bualadh. She was struck.
*Chaidh e gu m' bhualadh. He went to strike me.
IChaidh e g'am bualadh. He went to strike them.
Thog* e làmh g' a bhual- He raised a hand to strike
adh. him.
Thog e làmh g' a bual- He raised a hand ro strike
adh. her.
Thog e làmh g' ar bual- He raised a hand to strike
adh. us.
Thog e làmh g' a bhual- He raised a hand to strike
adh fhein. himself.
Tha an duine 'na sheas- The man is standing.
amh.
(Literally, The man is in his standing).
Tha ua daoine 'nan seas- The men are standing.
amh.
Tha e 'na shuidhe. He is sitting.
Bha na fir 'nan suidhe. The men were sitting.
*Bha mi am shuidhe. I was sitting.
Tha e 'ua laighe. He is lying down.
Tha e 'na ehadal. He is sleeping.
Tha i 'na eadal. She is sleeping.
Tha iad 'nan cadal. They are sleeijing.
Bha sinn 'nar cadal. We were sleeping.
Bha an gille 'na ruith. The lad was running.
Bha iad 'nan ruith. They were running.
'Here you would expect: Chaidh e gu mo bhualadh, he went to
my striking ; and, Bha mi ann mo shuidhe, I was in my sitting ; for
gxi mo, we have gu m\ and for ann mo, we have am ; sometimes we
have 'nam, e.g., bha mi 'nam sheasamh, I was standing.
t Literalh- : he went to their striking.
127
XXVI.— LEUGHADH.
Bhris an saor cas an ùird. Bhris na fir doius an
taighe. Bha na fir a' briseadh an doruis. Tha doriis
an taighe briste. Bris an t-slat so, ach na bris am
bata sin. Is le mo charaid am bata. Brisidh m'i an
t-slat, ach cha bhris mi am bata. Ma bhriseavs tu am
bata, brisidh mise an t-slat air do dhruim. Bhuailinn
am fear a bhriseadh mo bhata. Bhreab an t-each dubh
CÙ a' chiobair. Bha an ciobair a' bualadh an eich. Bha
an t-each dubh anns a' ghàradh. Tha e crosda. Tha
CÙ a' chiobair crùbaeh, ach cha 'h 'eil a chas briste.
Bhuail Seumas an t-each dubh le slait. Bhris e an
t-slat air druim an eich dhuibh. Tha an t-each dubh
a nis anns an achadh. Bhuailinn an t-each, ach cha
bhuailinn an cù. Tha an t-each dubh math ged a tha
e crosda. Tha sgian aig a' bhalach bheag sin. Tha
sgian a' bhalaich aig Calum. Is le Calum an sgian.
Bhris Seumas sgian a' bhalaich bhig. Bha sgian a'
bhalaich math, ach tha i a nis briste. Ma tha sgian
a' bhalaich bhig briste, tha i gun flieum. Na 'm bith-
eadh sgian agam-sa cha bhrisinn i. Ged a bhitheadh
sgian agad bhriseadh tu i. Bha an sgian math, ged
nach robh i geiu'. Cuir sgian an fhir sin air a' bhòrd
agus na bris i. Cha 'n 'eil sgian an fhir sin agam.
Chuirinn an sgian air a' bhòrd na 'n robh i agam.
Bha am fear sin 'gam bhualadh. Bha na balaich 'g-ar
bualadh. Bha na fir a' bualadh nan each. Blia na
h-eich 'gam breabadh. Bha an gille sin 'ga bhualadh
fhein. Thog an duine crosda sinalàmh gu m' bhualadh
Tha an gille 'na sheasamh air cloioh. Tha na fir 'nan
suidhe mu 'n bhòrd. Tha an t-each 'na laighe anns
a' phàirc. Bha a' ghaoth 'gar togail bho 'n talamh.
Bha sinn 'uar suidhe mu 'n bhòrd.
128
COMHRADH.
Am bheil cas a' choin Cha 'n 'eil.
briste ?
Nach do bhreab an t-each Bhreab, ach cha 'n 'eil cas a'
dubh e? choin briste.
Co leis an t-each? Is le Seumas an t-each.
Nach e sin cù Sheumais? Clia'ne, is leis a' chiobair
an CÙ.
Nach 'eil cù a' chiobair Tha.
crùbach ?
An do bhris Iain am-bata? Cha do bhris, ach bhris e
an t-slat.
An do bhuail Seumas an Bhuail e an t-each le slait.
t-each?
An robh e a' bualadh an Bha.
eich?
C ait' am bheil an t-each a Tha e anns an stàbuU.
nis?
Nach 'eil e anns an achadh? Cha 'n 'eil, tha an lair dhonn
anns an achadh.
Nach robh an t-each dubh Bha.
anns a' ghàradh ?
Am buail mise an t-each Cha bhuail.
dubh?
C arson nach buail mi an Cha leat-sa an t-each.
t-each?
An le Seumas an t-each? Is leis.
Nach robh an t-each a' Cha robh.
breabadh a' bhalaich ?
Co leis an sgian sin? Is leis a' bhalach an sgian.
Nach leat-sa an sgian? Cha leam, ach is learn am
peann so.
Ma 's leat-sa am peann, is Tha sin fior.
leam-sa an sgian.
129
Nach 'eil am peaun briste? Cha 'n 'eil, ach tha an sgian
briste.
Co bhris an sgian? Bhris Domhnull beag an
sgian .
An robh an sgian ùr? Cha robh, ach bha i math.
Co bhris òrd an t-saoir? Bhris e fhein an t-òrd.
Nach 'eil òrd eile aige? Tha da òrd aige.
An robh thusa a' bualadh Cha robh.
an doruis?
Co bha a' bualadh an Bha an gille so a' bualadh
doruis? an doruis.
Carson a bha e a' bualadh Airson uilc.
an doruis?
C arson a bha na fir a' biial- Bha iad 'gam breabadh.
adh nan each?
An robh am fear so 'gad Bha e 'gam bhualadh le
bhualadh? slait.
An do thog- e a làmh gu d' Thog.
bhualadh ?
An robh thu 'ga bhreab- Cha robh.
adh?
Ma thogas e a làmh gu. d'
bhualadh, breab e.
Construct similar sentences using the follomng verbs.
Caill. Fag. Ith.
Cuir. Fan. larr.
Gabh. 01. Seas.
45
130
VERBAL-NOUN.
The general rule for the formation of the verbal -noun
is to add adh or eadh to the root of the verb; as, hris,
hreak; a' briseadh (and a bristeadh). breaking- : taom,
pour; a' taomadh, pouring; ith, eat; ag itheadh, eating-;
clisg, stsivtle; a clisgeadh, startling; crom, incline, bow;
o' cromadh, inclining, bo wing; dearbh, prove; a' dearbh-
adh, proving; breab, kick; a'breabadh, kicking.
Some verbal nouns with the same endings are used
in a contracted form, thus :
Root.
Ardaich, elevate.
Beannaich, bless.
Beothaich, animate.
Buail, strike.
Blais, taste.
Caomhainn, spare.
Coisinn, earn.
Dòirt, pour out.
Dùisg, awake.
Fàisg, wring.
Fosgail, open.
Fiosraich, enquire.
Fògair, expel.
Glais, Glas, lock.
Innis, tell.
Loisg, bttrn.
Mosgail, awake.
Paisg, ujrap.
Eannsaich, search.
Seachainn, avoid.
Tionndaidh, turn.
Verbal -Noun.
Ardachadh.
Beannachadh.
Beothachadh.
Bualadh .
Blasadh .
Caomhnadh.
Cosnadh.
Dòrtadh.
Dùsgadh.
Fàsgadh.
Fosgladh.
Fiosrachadh.
Fògradh.
Glasadh.
Innseadh.
Losgadh.
Mosgladh.
Rannsachadh.
Seachnadh.
Tionndadh.
131
There are various other ways of forming the Verbal
Noun from the "Root Verb"; the chief types are as
fellows :
1. Some verbs retain their root form, as;
Aithris, tell, repeat. lomain, drive, play
At, swell.
(shinty etc.).
Bleith, grind.
01, drijik.
Buain, reap.
Ruith, run.
Bruich, boil.
Roinn, divide.
Caoidh, lament.
Seinn, sing.
Claoidh, oppress.
Sgrios, destroy.
Dion, protect.
Snàmh, swim.
Fas, grow.
Sniomh, spin.
Falbh, go.
Streap, clintb.
Goid, steal.
Triall, go, proceed.
Gairm, call.
Tarruing, draw.
2. The following verbs
either leave out the final
small vowel, or a broad vowel is substituted.
Root.
Verbal-Noun.
Amais, aim, light upon.
Amas.
Aisig, restore, ferry.
Aiseag.
Amhairc, lool-.
Amharc.
Bleoghainn, milk.
Bleoghan.
Caill, lose.
Call.
Caidil, sleep.
Cadal.
Ceangail, tie.
Ceangal.
Cuir, put, sow.
Ciir.
Dochainn, hurt.
Dochann.
Falaich, hide.
Falach.
Fuiling, suffer.
Fulang.
Fuirich, stay.
Fuireach.
Fuaghail, sew.
Fuaghal.
Gearain, complain.
Gearan.
132
Guil, weep.
Gul.
lasgaich, fish.
lasgaeh.
Leighis, cure.
Leigheas.
Sguir, desist.
Sgur.
Siiibliail, travel, die.
Siubhal.
Taghail, visit.
Taghal.
Tionail, gather.
Tional.
Tomhais, measure, weigh.
Tomhas.
Troid, scold.
Trod.
3. The following verbs
ending in air add
root.
EOOT.
Verb.4l-Noun.
Agair, claim.
Agairt.
Bagair, threaten.
( Bagairt.
\ Bagradh.
Fògair, expel.
f Fògairt.
Fògaradh.
Freagair, answer.
Freagair t.
Labhair, speak.
Labliairt.
tr-]-"--
f Lomairt.
\ Lomradli.
Màgair, crawl.
Màgairt.
Saltair, trample.
Saltair t.
Tabhair,! .
f Tabhairt.
i Toirt.
Thoir. J'^^^"-
Tachair, meet.
Tachairt.
4. The following verbs
add
Sinn to the root
Root.
Verbal-Noun.
Beir, take hold,
Beirsinn.
bring forth.
Creid, believe.
Creidsinn.
( Faicsinn.
Faieinn.
Faic, see.
Mair, continue, last.
Mairsinn.
133
Euig, reach.
Saoil, think.
Treig, forsake.
Tuig, understand.
Ruigsinn.
Ruigheachd.
Saoilsinn.
Treigsinn.
Tuigsiiin.
The following verbs add tinn and tuinn.
Root. Verbal-Noun.
Bean, touch.
Beautuinn.
Can, say, sing.
Cantuinn.
Cinn, grow.
Cinntinn.
Cluinn, hear.
Cluinntinn.
Fan, ivait.
Fantuinn.
. Fanachd.
Geall, promise.
Gealltuinn.
Gin, beget.
Gintinn.
Lean, follow.
1 Leantuinn.
( Leanachd.
Meal, enjoy.
Mealtuinn.
Seall, see, look
Sealltuinn.
€. The following verbs
add
ail and eil to the root.
Root.
Verbal -Noun.
Beuc, roar, bellow.
Beucail.
Beucaich.
Bac, stop, hinder.
/ Bacail.
\ Bacadh.
Cum, keep, hold.
Cumail.
Fag, leave.
Fàgail.
Gabh, take.
Gabhail.
Leag, tumble, cast-dotm
Leagail.
Leig, permit.
Leigeil.
Ran, ;-oar.
' Rànail.
I Rànaich.
134
Srann, snore. Srannail.
Tilg, throw. Tilgeil.
Tog, lift, build. Togail.
Other forms of the Verbal -Noub are as follows
Verbal -Noun.
( Caitheamh.
EooT
Caith
Dean, do, make.
Feith, wait.
Seas, stand.
Coisich, walk.
Eisd, hearken.
Gluais, move.
Glaodh, cry.
larr, ask.
Imich, go, depart.
Marcaioh, ride.
Suidh, sit.
Thig, come.
Tuit, fall.
Caitheadh.
Deanamh .
Deanadh.
Feitheamh .
Seasamh .
Coiseachd .
Eisdeachd .
Gluasad .
Glaodhach.
Glaodhaich.
larraidh .
Imeachd .
Marcachd.
Suidhe.
Tighinn.
Tuiteam.
The section dealing with the Verbal -Nouns can be
made a very profitable and interesting one from the
point of view of conversation. By the use of typical
question forms such as we have already used, an endless
variety of useful exercises can be engaged in during
the course of a lesson. The following examples might
suggest the lines on which such exercises should run.
Questions.
De tha e a' deanamh ?
What is he doing?
Answers.
Tha e a' seinn, he is singing.
Tha e a' snàmh, he is swim-
ming.
Tha e a' togail, a' tighinn.
etc., etc.
135
Dè bha e a' deanamh ? !Bha e a' beucail, a' ruith, a""
What was he doing ? leum, etc.
De hhitheas e a deanamh ? Bithidh e ag iasgach,
What will he he doing? a' sgriobhadh, ag òl, etc.
De tha e a sgriohhadh ? Tha e a' sgriobhadh litreach.
Be bha e a togaii? "Bha e a' togail taighe.
De hhitheas e a leugail ? 'Bithidh e a' leagail gàraidh.
C àif am hheil thu a del ? Tha mi a' del a chadal.
Where are you going ? Tha mi a'dola dh'iasgach,etc.
C" àif an robh ihu ? Bha mi a' cluich.
Bha mi a' ruith, etc.
XXVII.— LEUGHADH.
Bha na fir a' buain anns an achadh an de. Tha iad
a' geurachadh nan speal an diugh. Tha e a' g-airm nan
con agus a' cur nam bo do 'n mhonadh. Tha mi a'
cluinntinn fuaim nan speal a' gearradh an fheoir.
Tha na mnathan a' ceangal nan sguab. Tha an
tuathanach a' togail nan sguab agus a' chaileag bheag
a' trusadh nan dias. Thàinig am feasgar, agus sguir an
obair anns an achadh. Tha na daoine a' tighinn dhach-
aidh, agus tha bean -an -taighe ag uilachadh a' bhidhe.
Bha i a' bleoghan na bà anns a' mhaduinn aeh tha i
a nis a' brmch èisg ann am poit. Tha na fir 'nan suidhe
aig a' bhòrd agus tha iad a' gabhail an lòn-feasgair.
Dh' fhàs e dorch agus las a' chaileag na lampaichean;
tha i a nis a' dunadh nan dorsan agus a' druideadh nan
ainneag. Tha na fir a' lasadh nam piob ach tha bean-
an -taighe a" fuaghal ; thoisich a' chaileag bheag a'
seinn agus na tuathanaich a' labhairt ri càch-a-cheile.
Bha mise a' feitheamh anns an dorus ach thàinig a'
chaileag bheag a dh' fhosgladh an doruis. De tha thu
ag iarraidh? Am bheil d' athair a' dol a dh' iasgacTi?
136
Cha 'n 'eil, tha e a' dol a lliarruing- an fheòir. Cha 'n 'eil
mi 'gad chreidsinn. Co bha ag iomain nan caorach an
diugh? Bha mise, agus tha mi a' dol a choiseachd nam
beann am maireach. Tha an ciobair a' tighinn dhach-
aidh anns a' mhaduinn. Chuala mi caileag bheag a'
seinn gu binn air tolmau uaiue. Bha mise a' snamh
agixs gheàrr mi mo chas. Cha do rinn sin beud sam-
bith.
46
IRREGULAR VERBS
There are ten verbs whose tenses are formed irregu-
larly, namely : —
Root.
Past.
Future.
Subjunctive.
Ist Person.
*AbaiP, say.
thubhairt.
their.
theirinn.
IBeir, hear, catch.
rug.
beiridh.
bheirinn.
Cluinn, hear.
chuala.
cluinn id h.
chluinninn.
Dean, do, make.
rinn.
ni.
dheanainn.
FaiC, see.
chunnaic.
chi.
chithinn.
Faigh, get.
fhuair.
gheibh.
gheibhinn.
Rach, go.
chaidh.
theid.
rachainn.
§Ruigr, reach.
ràinig.
ruigidh.
ruiginn.
ìTabhalr.lfj;
thug.
bheir.
bheirinn.
Thigr, come.
thàinig.
thig.
thiginn.
(tiugainn).
The particles are use(
i in the same
way as shewn ir
1 par. 43 (ai&(b)
*Abair takes Ihe preposition ri after it ; as. abair
ri Iain, say to John; abair ris, say to him; the verb
innls (tell) takes do, innis do Sheumas, tell (to) James;
fBeir takes the preposition air. Beir air Iain, catch
John; beir orm, catch (onj me.
137
§ Rui'g sometimes takes air. Ruig- air an Orel, reach
(ou) the hammer, fetch the hammer; an ruig thu air
a' chraoibh ? Can you reach (on) the tree ?
JTabhair^more commonly thoir — means give, take,
or bring; as, thoir dhomh peann, give (to) me a pen;
thoir leat am peann, take with you the pen; thoir a
steach an cù, bring in the dog.
These verbs are in such constant use that it is advis-
able to be thoroughly conversant with their forms-
Independent and Dependent; one verb should be tho-
roughly mastered before going on to another.
47 CONJUGATION OF IRREGULAR
VERBS
(a)
Abair, say.
Indicative.
Past.
Future.
Subjunctive.
Past.
*Thubhairt mi,
/ said, etc.
"fAn, nach, ged
nach, cha, mur
(an), gu'n, na'n,
d' thubhairt.
Ma, ged a,
thubhairt.
^Their mi.
J tvill say, etc
An, nach, ged
nach, cha 'n,
mur (an), gu'n,
abair.
Ma, eed a.
their.
Imperative, *abaiream, let me say, etc
^r -VT (a ràdh, to say.
Verbal-Noun, \ , J ^
' ( ag radh, saying.
*Theirinn,
/ tvould say, etc.
An, nach, ged
nach, cha 'n, mur
(an), gu'n, na'n,
abairinn
(abarainn ).
Ged a,
theirinn.
138
The Independent Forms (marked*) follow the same
method generally of forming their persons in the
various tenses and moods as the Regular Verbs (see
imder Buail pars. 40, 41, etc.).
fAll this means that after the particles, an. nach,
ged nach, etc., the verb takes the form d' thubhaitrt.
E.G. Cha d' thubhairt e; he did not say; ged nach d'
thubhairt e; though he did not say. Similarly with the
Future and Subjunctive after such particles: they take
abair and abairmn respectively.
After ma and ged (a), the form is thubhairt in the
past tense.
E.G. Ma thubhairt e, if he said; ged a thubhairt e,
though he said. The Future and Subjunctive take
their, and theirinn after these same particles.
XXVIII.— LEUGHADH.
De thubhairt am fear ud? Thubhairt e gu 'n robh
tliusa sgith. Ma thubhairt e sin, bha e ceàrr. An
d' thubhairt e gu 'n robh mise a' gul? Cha d' thubhairt,
ach tha e ag radh gu 'm bheil thu a' sgriobhadh.
Cha 'n 'eil mi a' sgriobhadh. Cha 'n abair mi facal ris
an duine. Ma their thu facal ris brisidh e an doras.
Ged nach abairinn ni sam bith ris bhriseadh e an
dorus. Ged a theirinn ris gu 'n robh e cearr, their -
eadh esan gu 'n robh e fhein ceaxt.
Bha an gille beag ag radh nach robh an duine glic.
Their mi so, ma ta, " Cha d' thubhairt an gille beag
tNote that the g is retained in the Verbal-Noun agradh, not aVadh.
139
facal breige." An abaireadli tu gu 'm blieil e as a
cliiall? Theiriiin sin gun theagamh. Cha 'n abairinn sin
idir. Mui" 'eil esan gòrach cha 'n abairinn -sa gu 'm
bheil e glie.
Abaireadli e na fhogras e, ach cha cbreid mise e.
Cha 'n abair mi nach d' thubhairt tbu fhein cus an
diugh.
Cha 'n abair mi an còrr, ma ta.
INIa ta, then, tvell then ; cus, too much ; na thogras e, what
(the things ivhich) he cares, let him say what he likes ; an
corr, the rest (any more).
(b) BeiP, hear {brim/ forth), catch.
Indicative. Subjunctive.
Rug mi,
/ hore, etc.
Beiridh mi,
/ shall bear etc.
An, nach, ged Am,nach,ged nach.
nach, cha, na'n, j mur (am), gu'm,
mur (an), gu 'n, i beÌP.
do rug-. Cha bheip.
Ma, ged a.
rug-.
Ma, ged a,
bheireas.
Bheirinn,
/ would bear, etc.
Am,nach,ged nach,
na 'm, mur (am),
gu 'm,
beirinn.
Ged a, cha,
bheirinn.
Imperative, beiream, let me bear, etc.
,T ..y fa bhreith, to bear, etc.
V ERBAL Noun, . u -j-u i. ■ .,
' la breith, bearing, etc.
14C
Faig-h,
)
yet.
Indicative.
SUB.JUNCTIVE.
PAST.
FUTURE.
PAST.
Fhuair mi,
Gheibh mi,
Gheibhinn,
/ got, etc.
/ shall get, etc.
I would get, etc.
An, nach, ged nach,
Am, mur(am),gu'm,
Am, mur (am).
cha, mur an, na'n,
faig-h.
na'm, gu'm.
d' fhuair.
faig-hinn.
gedtkchjfhaigh
Nach, ged nach,
cha 'n,
fhaig-hinn.
Ma, ged a,
Ma, ged a,
Ged a g-heibhinn.
fhuair.
g-heibh.
a dh' fhaotainn Ì
a dh' fhaghail I to get.
a dh' fhaighinn )
; Imperative,
Verbal
^faigheam,
let me get, etc.
Noun.
a' faotainn ^
a' faghail [- getting.
a' faigh
nn )
XXIX.— LEUGHADH.
Beir air an duine is gheibh thu s^an. Beiridh mi
air ma gheibh mi sgillinn. An do rug thu air? Cha
do rug aeh beiridh mi air am màireach. Cha blieir thu
air a nocTid no am màireach. Thubhairt m' athair g-u'm
beirinn air fhathast. Ma bheireas tu air bithidh mise
g-le thoilichte. An d' fhuair thu a'chaora? Cha d'
fhuair is cha 'n fhaigh mise a' chaora. Thubhairt an
ciobair nach fhaighinn caora no uan. Mur faigh mise
141
taig-h m' athar fàgaidh mi an duthaich. Cha 'n fhaig-h
thu sin gu bràth. Gred a g-lieibheadh tu sin fbheirinn-sa
hliuat e. Co fhuair an t-iasg' so? Am faigh mise iasg?
fNa 'm faighinn-sa iasg-, bheirinn do 'n chat e. Am
bheil thu a' faotainn nan seol a nochd? Cha 'n 'eil ;
fhuair mi na siùil, agus gheibh mi an t-eathar am
màireach. Tha mi a' f aighinn * litreach 'o Sheumas gach
latha. Fhuair mi bocsa Ian de dh' uibhean an diugh.
Eug na cearcan na h-uibhean. Agus co rug an t-uan?
Eug a' chaora an t-uan, agus rug a' bhò laogh beag.
j\Ia bheireas an lair dhubh searrach gheibh mise e.
Tha an tuathanach a' dol a dh' fhaighinn an t-searraich.
Ged a rug a' bhò laogh boidheaeh cha d' fhuair an
tuathanach e.
Na 'm faighinn-sa fichead laogh gheibheadh tusa sia
dhiubh.
+ After some of these verbal forms the emphatic particle is some-
times used : e.p. faighinn-sa; gheibheadh thu.sa.
* There is a strong tendency in the colloquial speech of to-day to
drop such genitives ; hence we often hear a' sgriobhadh litir,
(not litreach), a' faighinn litir, etc.
^.B. — The word " is " is used for "and" sometimes. There is a dif-
ference between it and " agtis," " Agtis" is merely a connective
word. Is is something more. It is a connective in the first place,
but also expresses consequence, result, etc, Beir air is gheibh thu
sgian ; catch him and (as a reward or result) you will get a knife.
Thuit e is bhris e a chas ; he fell and (as a consequence) broke his leg.
Too much emphasis, however, should not be laid on the difference at
this stage. They are both used quite indiscriminately in the speech
of to-day.
142
<c)
FaÌC, see.
Indicative.
Chunnaic mi,
/ did see, etc.
Am, mur (am),
na 'm, gu 'm,
faea.
Cha'n nachi
ged nach, /
fhaca.
Ma, ged a,
chunnaic.
Chi mi,
/ shall see, etc.
Am,mur(atn),gu'm,
faic
Nach, I faic or
ged nach, j fhaÌC
Ch
fhaic
Ma, ged a, chi.
Subjunctive.
Chithinn,
/ woriM see.
Am, muri am), gu'm,
na 'm,
faicinn.
Cha 'u fhaieinn.
Nach, ged nach,
(faicinn or
I fhaieinn.
Ged a,
chithinn.
Imperative, faiceam, let me see, etc.
T7- XT I a dh' fhaieinn, to see.
Verbal Noun, \ , e ■ ■ ■
' a laicmn, seeing.
Cluinn, hear (irregular in past Indicative only).
Indicative.
Chuala mi,
/ heard, etc.
An, nach, ged nach,
mur an, gu'n, na'n
cuala.
Cha, ma, ged a,
chuala.
Cluinnidh mi,
/ shall hear.
An, nach, ged nach
mur an, gu 'n,
cluinn.
Cha ehluinn.
Subjunctive.
Chluinninn,
/ ivould hear.
An,nach, ged nach,
na 'n, mur an,
gu 'n,
cluinninn.
Cha, ged a,
chluinninn.
Ma, ged a,
chluinneas.
Imperative cluinneam, let me hear, etc
Verbal Noun, |a chluinntinn, <o hear.
la cluinntinn, hearing.
143
XXX.— LEUGHADH.
Chunnaic mise duine dubh ach cha 'n fhaca tusa
dnine gorm a riamh. Ged nach fhaca sinn am bàta^^
chunnaic sinn na h-iasgairean. Tha niise ag radh
gu'm faic duine sam-bith a' ghealacli. Cha n fhaic
duine dall grian no gealach. Tha mi a' faicinu gu'm
bheil thusa gle gheur. Tha mi a' dol a dh' fhaicinn
nam balach. Ma chi thu iad, abair riutha gu'm faic
mise iad troimli 'n t-seachduin. Faic fheiu iad agus
abair sin riutha. An cuala tu naidheachd ùr sam bith?
Cha chuala, cha 'n 'eil mi a' clvdnntinn naidheachdan
idir. Am bheil thu bodhar? Ged nach cuala mi naidh-
eachd chuala mi ceòl. An cluinn duine dall ceòl ?
Cluinnidh duine dall ceòl, ged nach fhaic e am fear-
ciùil. Ma cliluinneas mise ceòl bithidh mi sona. Ged
a chluinninn-sa ceòl agus ged a chithinn am fear-ciùil
cha bhithinn sona. Cha chuala is cha 'n fhaca tusa
rud ceart a riamh. Tha mi a' cluinntinn rud math gach
latha. De 'n rud tha thu a' cluinntinn? Tha mi a'
cluinntinn, " Suas leis a' Ghàidhlig."
(d) Tabhair, thoir, give, take, bring.
Indicative. Subjuxctive.
PAST.
FUTURE.
PAST.
Thug, mi,
Bheir mi.
Bheirinn,
/ gave, etc.
/ tviil give, etc.
/ tmuld give.
An,Dach, ged nach.
An, nach, ged nach.
An, nach, ged nach,
cha, n 'an, gu 'n,
cha,gu'n,mur (an),
cha, na n, gu 'n.
mur (an).
toir.
mur (an),
d' thug:-
ftoirinn.
Ma, ged a,
Uugainn.
Ma, ged a,
bheir.
thug-.
Ged a bheirinn
Imperative,
a thoirt, )
jtabhaiream,
(thoiream,
Verbal 1 a thabhairt, T'' ^^^"^*
Noun, | a' toirt, ) . .
let me give, etc.
a' tabl
lairt, )^^^^"^-
144
Thig" (tiug-ainn), come.
Indicative. Subjunctive.
Thainigr mi,
/ came, etc.
! thigr mi, Thigrinn,
/ shall come, etc. \ I rvould come, etc.
An,cha, na'n,nach, ; An, cha,nach, ged I An, cha, nach, ged
gednach,mur(an),| nach, mur (an), i nach, mur (an),
gu 'n, na 'n, gu 'n,
d' thainigr. tig-. ! tig-inn.
Ma. ged a,
thàinig".
Ma, ged a,
thigr.
Ged
thig-inn.
Imperative, thigfeam. let me come, etc.
j a thighinn, to com,e.
Verbal Noun, \ a' tighinn,)
I a' teachd, /^«""^^^-
XXXI.— LEUGHADH.
Co thug a steach an cù? Thug mise, ach bheir mi
a mach a ris e. Ged a bheireadh tu a maoli e thig e
a steach. Thàinig e a steach leis fhein. An d' thug
thusa a bhiadli do 'n ghille? Cha d' thug. Thoir dhà a
bhiadh agus thigeadh e chun na pàirce. Na'n tugainu-
sa dhà a bhiadh an dràsda, *chaidileadh e. Ma thig
mise a steach cha chaidil e gle fhada. An d' thàinig
na giUean eile ? Cha d' tliàinig ach tha iad a' tighinn
anns an fheasgar. Mur tig iad anns an fheasgar thig
iad troimh 'n oidhche. Bheirinn doibh bainne blàth
For chaidleadh, see footnote page 43.
145
f Tiug-ainn do 'n bhaile mlior, a Sheiimai^. Thoir
dhomh do sporan, ma ta. Cha toir mi dhuit mo sporau,
ach bheir mi 'dhuit beagan airgid. Nach tig thu do 'n
bhaile mhor gun airgiod? Cha tig, cha tugadh iad
dhomh ni sam -bith gun airgiod. Bheirinn-sa dhuit
rud gun airgiod gun or. Ceart gu leòir, ma ta, thig
mi còmlila riut. Cha rohair an t-aii'giod fada.
(e)
Rach, go.
Indicative.
Subjunctive.
Chaidh mi,
/ ive7it, etr.
An, cha, nach, ged
nach, mur (an),
na 'n, gu 'n,
deach (aidh)
Ma, ged a,
chaidh.
Theid mi,
/ ivill go, etc.
An, cha, nach, ged
nach, mur (an),
gu 'n,
teid.
Ma, ged a,
theid.
Rachainn,
/ would go, etc.
An, cha, nach, ged
nach, mur (an),
na 'n, gu 'n,
rachainn.
Ged a
rachainn.
Imperative, racham, let me go, etc.
•"a dhol, to go.
Verbal Noun,
a' dol, going.
t Tiugainn, come (in the sense of, " let us go.")
146
Ruig, reach.
Indicative.
Subjunctive.
PAST.
FUTURE.
PAST.
Rainig mi,
/ reached, etc.
Ruig-idh mi,
/ shall reach, etc,
Ruig-inn,
/ would reach, etc
An,nach, ged nach,
inur (an), na 'n,
An,nach,ged nach,
mur(an),cha,gu'n,
An, nach, ged nach,
mur (an), na 'n,
cha, gu 'n.
d' rainig-.
Ma, ged a,
rainig-.
Imperative,
ruig-. ^^^^' »" '^^'
ruig-inn.
Ma, ged a,
ruig-eas. ^^^ ^
ruig-inn.
( ^ ruigheachd,!^^ ^.^^^^^
V ERBAL ) a ruigsmn, J
ruigeam, Noun. ') a; ruigheaclul , ^^^^,^ .^
let me reach. \ a ruigsmn, J ^
Ruig, reach, arrive at ; Ruig air, reach (on) a thing.
Indic
Dean, do, make.
ATIVE.
Subjunctive.
PAST.
FUTURE.
PAST.
Rinn mi;
^ / did,letc.
NÌ mi,
/ will do, etc.
Dheanainn,
/ icoidd do, etc.
An, nacli,|ged nach
cha, mur (an).
An,nach,ged nach,
cha, mur (an),
An, nach, ged nach,
cha, mur (an),
gu 'n, na 'n,
gu 'n,
gu 'n, na 'n.
d' rinn.
dean.
deanainn.
Ma, ged a,
Ma, ged a.
Ged a,
rinn.
ni.
dheanainn.
Imperative, deanam, let me do, etc.
^j -.-r fa dhèanamh, to do.
VERBAL Noun, , ,, i 7 •
l^a deanamh, doing.
147
XXXII.— LEUGHADH.
Each a mach is dean d' obair. Cliaidh e a iniacJi,
Tàinie^ e an t-achadh is rinni e an obair. An deachaidh
na fir do 'n choiUe? Cha deach, ach theid iad do 'n
bheinn an diugh. Mur teid iad do'n bhaile an diugh
•cha teid iad ann chaoidh. Ma theid mise do 'n bheinn
ruigidh mi do thaigh-sa. Ged a ruigeadh tu mo thaigh-
sa, cha 'n fhaioeadh tu mise.
Ma ruigeas mi anns a' mhaduinn, an toir thu dhomh
deoch bhainne? Ged a dJaeanainu sin cha bliitheadh
tusa buidheach. Na'n tigeadh tusa gu m' thaigh-sa,
bheirinn-sa dhuit deoch bhainne. De tha thu a' dean -
amh an dràsda ? Tha mi a' dol a dheanamh bhròg.
An d' rinn thu an sabhal? Cha d' rinn; ma iii mise
sabhal iàr, leagaidh am maor orm e. N^ach tugadh tu
buille do'n mhaor? Bheirinn sin, ach dheanadh e 'buair-
eadh, is chuireadh iad do 'n phriosan mi. Chaidh na
ciobairean do 'n bheinn an de ach cha deachaidh na
sealgairean a mach idir. Ma ruigeas na sealgairean a'
choiUe chi iad eòin gu leòir. Na'n rachainn-sa a
dh' iasgach bheirinn dhachaidh moran iasg.* Am bheil
thu a' dol a dh' iasgach a noohd? Tha, na'n ruigeadh
sinnf an abhainn roimh choig uairean dheanadh sinnf
iasgach math. Dean cabhag, ma ta, is ruigidh sinn
an abhainn. M mi sin is cha Id hi sinn fada 'ga ruig-
smn.
Ma ràinig iad an cladach rinn iad cabhag. Ma
ruigeas a' bho air an arbliar ni i call. Each a mach
agus faic am bheil an t-each a' ruigheachd air an fheur.
'Moran iasg (iasg, Gen. Phir. ), many of fishes.
Moran eisg (eisg, Gen. Sing.), much fish (quantity of).
t for ruigeamaid, dheanamaid ; c.p. page 51, first foot-note.
148
Arsa, said.
had,
Theab, nearly,
almost.
Tiugainn, come.
Is, bu ; is, was.
Trobhad,
come hither.
Thug-ad,
yet out !
Siuthad, go on:
proceed.
48 DEFECTIVE VERBS-
(a). Defective Verbs are incomplete, having only some
tenses or parts.
Those in common use are: —
f Used only in the Past Indicative(Atfirm-
-^ ative) ; as, arsa mise, said I ; ars'
( esan, said he.
/ Used only in the Past Indicative( Affirm-
) ative and Negative) ; as, theab mi
'j tuiteam, I nearly fell ; an do theab e
( tuiteam ? did he almost fall ?
/ Used only in the Second Person
) singular and plural of the Ini-
Iperative : as, tiugainyi, come thou ;
tiuyainnibh, come ye.
t The assertive form of the Verb, Bi —
\ used only in the Present and Past
j Indicative; as, is mi, it is I; bu tu,
\ it was thou, etc.
fTrobhad so, a' ghille bhig,
Ì^ come hei'e, m,y little man.
f Thugad ! an t-each !
\ get out I here's the horse !
I Siuthad, greas ort !
\ go on, hiirry up!
DEFECTIVE AUXILIARY VERBS-
(b) The verbs corresponding to the English verb&
may, must, can, ought, are as follows: —
Independent Form. Dependent Form.
Present Tense.
Faodaidh mi, thu, etc. Faod.
I, thou, he, etc., may.
Feumaidh mi, thu, etc. Feum.
I, thou, he, inust.
Imiridh mi, thu, etc. Imir.
I thou, ììiust.
149
Independent Form. Dependent Form.
Present Tense.
Is (th)eudar domh, dnit, etc. Fheudar or "eudar,
I, thou, he, etc., must.
Is coir dhomh, dhiiit, etc. Coir.
I thou, he, ought (it is right to).
Is urrainn domh, duif, etc. Urrainn.
I, thou, he etc. can.
Past Tense
D/t' /haodainn, dh' fhaodadh tu. etc., I Faodainn.
might, etc.
Dh' /heumainn, dh' /heumadh hi, etc., I Feuniainn.
would need to.
£' eudar domh, etc., I was obliged to B' eudar.
(had to).
£u choir domh, etc., I ought to, 'twere Bu choir.
right to.
B' urrainn domh, etc., I could. B' urrainn (domh).
For the Dependent Forms of these Auxiliaries, the
particles are prefixed in the same way as shown in the
former examples of verbs.
After these verbs the infinitive is generally used.
E.G. Faodaidh mi falbh, I may go.
Feumaidh tu feitheamh. you must wait,
where "falbh" and "feitheamh" are Infinitives.
XXXIII.— LEUGHADH.
Faodaidh tu suidhe aeh cha 'n fhaod tliu seasamh.
Am faod mi seasamh air an làr ? Faodaidh, aeh feumaidh
tu an làr* a ghlanadh. Nach fheum bean-an-taig-he
a,n làr a sgua'badh? Cha 'n fheum, aeh bu choir do 'n
chaileig bhig an taigh* a sguabadh. Is coir dhuit-sa
*NoTE. — When the noun comes before the Infinitive (or Verbal
noun) it is in the Nom. Case, not in the Gen. Case as it is when
placed after the Infinitive. Tha e a' dunadh an dornis, but, Dh" iarr
e orm an dorus a dhunadh.
150
an sgian sin a dhùnadh. Cha 'n urrainn dhomh-sa am
sgian 'fhosgladh. Bha a' ghaoth a' sèideadh agus b'
fheudar dhomh-sa an dorus mior a' ghlasadh. Dh' fhosg-
ail an dorus ach cha b' urrainn do 'n ghille a dhunadh.
Dh' fheumadh iad a bhith anns a bhaile aig seachd
uairean. Cha b' urrainn doibh a bhith ann aig seaohd
uairean. B' eudar dhomh-sa eirigh aig coig uairean
's a' mhaduinn. Cha bu choir dhuit a bhith anns a'
ehoille idir an raoir.
Am b' urrainn duit-sa bhith anns an eaglais an
raoir? Cha b' urrainn. Carson nach b' urrainn? Bha
mo mhàthair tinn is dh' fheumainn fuireach aig an
taigh. C'àite am bheil thu a' dol an dràsda? Is fheudar
dhomh feitheamh ris an lighiche. Imiridh mise falbh
fmar-an-ceudna. An imir thu falbh?
49 IDIOMS.
In Gaelic, like other languages, there are many
idiomatic expressions, the proper use of which presents
great difficidty to a beginner. It is not advisable, per-
haps, to go very deeply into these with Junior Classes,
but pupils should have some knowledge of the most
commonly used of such expressions.
As a great many of such expressions are made up
of Prepositional Pronouns in conjunction with adjec-
tives and the verb "BI," it might prove helpful to
group the idioms round the various prepositions and
to follow out the principle as a method of classifica-
tion.
To illustrate the method let us take a few of the
common simple prepositions — le, do, aig, etc. Taking
idiomatic phrases including Prepositional Pronouns
formed from each of these prepositions, we shall give
a literal translation of each phrase, and then the
general rendering.
t likewise (see cuideachd).
151
ri rr M
-.2 ,S ^ CD t, 3^ &c M '^ o ^ «
b.^ ^ P o -^ «^ S =; ^*^. c .r
eg O ,11 o /
_ w ^ <U &C M
&^ g I =2 -t 2 § o "^
■2^ S S I 2 -
Jl.eS ce ^ ^ •_^
rf.;
=: =« 5 iS
Pi .
o tì
OH
a: _cc QJ ■- a^
^ .5 .
-^ ^ ^ .:: -S
9 o --^ M
o 'C
^.2
o
^1
o S
2 tc
<v p
^ o '^
•2 <u 3^
S^^^ o"^,^ ^
>^-tJ
HjO;t^:^HHPHH
c 05 ce
r -^ _c2 g ^ "t3 ^ .i 'S ^ ^
-^ 3
O cS
« ,,^ •>-; rz^ I — i
S =w S ^
" ^ ^ ^-" '" Q o fe :^ 6 o
152
The other Prepositions might now be dealt with in
the same way. It should be noticed that there are
phrases where more than one Prepositional Pronoun
occurs.
Tha aithne agam air; literally, there is kuowledg-e at
me on him=I know him.
Tha truas aca rium ; there is pity at them to
me=4hey pity me.
The best way to make the pupils familiar with these
expressions is to prepare short "reading- paragraphs,"
where they are introduced, and also to work them into
the conversation lessons.
After considerable practice in such examples atten-
tion might be directed to phrases of a different type,
namely, those not based on the Prepositional Pronouns.
(b) As an example of this next gTOup we might
take the sentence: "James is a joiner," which a be-
ginner would probably render wrongly, thus : "Tha
Iain saor." There are various ways of rendering such
a sentence.
E.G. (1) 7s saor Seumas, a joiner is James.
(2) Is e saor a tha ann an Seumas, literally,
it is a joiner which is in James.
(3) Tha Seumas 'na shaor, literally, James is
in his joiner.
Again, Mary was a servant; must not be translated
as, Bha Mairi searbhant. But,
(1) Bu shearbhant Mairi, or
(2) JB' i searbhant a bha ann am Mairi, or
(3) Bha Mairi 'na searbhant.
153
This is the house, Is e so an taigh (not, tha so
an taig'h).
It is the house. Is e an taigh a tha ann.
This is Catherine, Is i so Catriona.
It is Catherine, 7s i Catriona a tha ann (^it is
Catherine that is in it [there]).
(c). Further examples of this type can be found
in the various ways of making- assertions or statements
in Gaelic.
E.G. "He is a good man." This may be rendered in
several ways.
1. Tha e 'ua dhuine math.
2. 'S e duine math a tha ann.
3. Is math an duine e.
Again, ''This coav is black," may be rendered thus: — •
1. Tha a' bho so dubh.
2. 'Si bo dhubh a tha an so.
3. 'S ann dubh a tha a' bho so.
Many such examples will be met with in class
exercises, and as they present many difficulties to be-
ginners, an effort should be made to gi-oup them under
their various types; then they should be worked into
the "Conversations" as much as possible.
154
50 GENERAL READINGS.
At this stag-e the pupils should be able to read
passages of short, simple, narrative prose and to an-
swer simple questions on the subject matter of the
passages. After a little practice they might be set
to write original composition of the same nature on
familiar subjects.
The following Readings and Conversations might
give an idea of the lines on which such exercises should
be conducted.
XXXIV.— LEUGHADH.
Chaidh mi-fhein agus Iain a dh' iasgach air an abh-
ainn. Dh'eirich sinn moch anns a' mhaduinn agus ghabh
sinn ar tràth-maidne. Bha an latha ciùin le smodan
uisge. Chuir sin na slatan an òrdugh agus dh' iasgaich
sinn leis an t-sruth. Bha na brie ag eirigh gu math',
ach bha an sruth bras. Bha an linne Ian bhreac.
Tli'lg sinn an driamlach gu seòlta, sàmhach, agus thug
sinn gu bruaich fichead breac ballach, bòidheach as an
linne sin. Lean sinn cùrsa an t-srutha gus an d' ràinig
sinn a' mhuir mu mheadhon-là. Thilg gach fear a
chraidhleag air an talamh, agus shuidh sinn air bruaich
na h-aibhne. Bha an t-acras oirnn agus dh'ith sinn
crioman arain agus càise. Chum sinn ar sùil air an
abhainn, agus chunnaic sinn bradan a' deanamh a rath-
aid gu foirmeil an aghaidh an t-srutha. Thug sinn a
mach àbh a bha aig Iain 'na chraidhleig, agus chuir
sinn an t-àbh bho thaobh gu taobh de 'n abhainn. An
ùine ghoirid bha da bhradan agus gealag air ghiùran
anns an àbh. Thug sinn gu bruaich iad gun mhaille,
agus ghabh sinn ar rathad dhachaidh. Ghlac sinn da
fliichead breac, da bhradan agus aon ghealag.
155
COMHRADH.
C'àit" ail robli thii fhein agus Bha sinn ag iasgacli.
Iain an de ?
An robh sibh air an loch ? Cha robh, bha sinn air an
a bha inn.
An d' rinn sibh iasgach math? Rinn sinn sin.
Cia mheud a ghlac sibh ? Da fhichead breac agus da
bhradan.
An robh sabhail nihath orra ? Bha, anns a' nihaduinn.
An robh slatan agaibh ? Bha da shlait againn.
An robh driamlach air an da Bha.
shlait ?
C ait' an d' dh' iasgaichsibh? Dh' iasgaich sinn leis an
t-sruth.
An d' ràiuig sibh a' mhnir i Ràinig, agus shuidh sinn ag-
itheadh criomau arain.
Nach robh sibh-fhein ag Cha robh, bha mi aig a'
iasgach ? mhargadh.
An robh margadh math ann I Bha an deagh mhargadh aniu
An robh moi-an chaorach Bha eich, 'us crodh, 'us
ann ? caoraich ann.
An robh prlsean math Ì Bha eich saor, ach bha
caoraich daor.
An do cheannaich sibh ? Cha do cheannaich mi ceann.
An do reic sibh an lair Reic mi an lair dhonn an
dhonn ? diugh.
Nach do reic sibh i aig a' Cha d' fhuair mi tairgse oirre.
mhargadh I
Co cheannaich an lair dhonn? Cheannaich mac an
tuathanaich.
An reic sibh na caoraich Reicidh, ma bheir thu pris
rium-sa ? mhath orra.
De tha sibh ag iarraidh orra ? Deich tasdain fhichead an
ceann.
156
An reic sibh ua h-uain ? Reicidh mi fichead dhiubh.
De a' phris tha sibh a' cur Fichead tasdan an ceann.
orra ?
Tha na h-uain daor, aeh gabhaidh mi ua caoraich.
Ma ghabhas tu na caoraich, bheir mi dhuit na li-uain
airson ochd tasdain deu^ an ceann.
Gabhaidh mi na caoraich agus na h-uain aig a" phris
sin.
Cuiridh sibh aou a' ehòrr leis an fhichead.
Cuiridh, gu cinnteach, tha sin 'na chleachdadh.
Theid an ciobair airson nan caorach am màireaeh.
Fàgaidh mi na h-uain anns a' phàirc an dràsda.
Latha math leibhi. Mar sin leibhse. I
XXXV.— LEUGHADH.
Air la àraidh chaidh mise agus Calum <lo "u mhon-
adh. Bha ceo trum air a' mhonadh. Chaill sinn ar
rathad. Thuit Calum ann an sloe. Bha uisge anns an
t-sloc. Bha bata fada calltuinn agam-sa. Shin mi am
bata gu Calum. Rug Calum air a' bhata agus thog mi
as an t-sloc e. Bha Calum fliuch agus fuar. Shuidh
sinn air cnocan uaine, agus dh' ith sinn crioman arain
agus càise, chionn gu 'n robh an t-acras oirnn. 'Bha
am pathadh oirnn a nis, agus fhuair .sinn deoch uisge
as an t-sloc anus an do thuit Calum. Chuala .<inn fead
ciobair agus mèilich chaorach. Bha an ciobair a' trus-
adh nan caorach. Cha do chaill an ciobair a rathad,
chionn gu 'n robh e eòlach anns a' mhonadh. Rinn
Calura fead agus thainig cù a' chiobair gus an àite
anns an robh sinn 'nar suidhe. Ghairm an ciobair an
CÙ. Dh' eirich sinn agus lean sinn an cù. Thachair*
* Tachair (meet) takes the preposition air after it, or tne
prepositional pronoun ; it also takes the preposition ri{s).
157
siun air a" chìobair, ag-us threoraich e air an rathad siiiu.
Thàinig an sin osag- g-liaoithe, tliog an ceo, ag-us ràinig
siun ar daehaidh anns an fheasgar.
COMHRADH.
C ait' anrobh thu-fhein agus Bha sinn ri monadh.
Calnm an de ?
Am faca sibh an crodli I Cha 'n fhaca, ach chunnaic
sinn na caoraicli.
An do chiinnt sibh na Cha do chùnnt.
caoraich ì
C 'arson nach do chiinnt sibh Bha ceo air a' mhonadh.
na caoraich ?
Nach robh na coin leibh ? Cha robh.
C" ait' an robh na coin Ì Bha iad leis a' chiobair.
C'àit' am bheil an ciobair a Tha e a' trusadh nan
nis ? caorach.
Rach thu-sa leis a' chiobair a thrusadh nan caorach.
Am bheil na bà-bhainne anns
an achadh ? Tha.
Am bheil a' bhanarach anns
an achadh Ì
C ait' am bheil a' bhanarach?
Cha 'n 'eil.
Tha i anns an taigh-
bhainne.
An do chuir thu na laoigh
do 'n phàirc ?
C arson nach do chuir thu na
laoigh do 'n phàirc.
An d' thug thu baiime do na
laoigh?
Cuir a steach na bà, tha àm-bleoghamr ann.
Cuiridh a' bhanarach a steach na bà, tha mise 'dol ri monadh.
Cha do chuir.
Bha na h-uain anns a^
phàirc.
Cha d' thug.
158
IVIa chì tliu an gille beag', cuir
thun an taighe e. Ni mise sin.
■C ait' am bheil a'bhanarach a nis? Tha i a' bleogbann.
Co dhoirt am bainne?
Am bheil an cuman briste
Nach 'eil buarach
Bhreab a' bho mhaol an
cuman.
Tba an cuman briste, agus
am bainne dòirte.
Tha buarach oirre a nis.
Tha na fir a' tighinii a steach o 'n achadh; tha an t-acras orra.
Cuir biadh air a'bhòrd.
Cuiridh mi aran agus Im agus càise air a' bhòrd.
Ma chuireas tusa sin air a' bhòrd, cuixidh Màiri bainne air
a' bhòrd.
Cha' n 'eil, fhuair mise uisge
gu leòir.
Fhuair anns an t-sloc.
Sloe mhor, dhomhain anns
an do thuit mi.
An uair a chaill sinn an
rathad.
Am bheil am pathadh ort, a
Chaluim?
C ait' an d' fliuair thu e?
De 'n t-sloc ?
C urn' a thuit thu innte ?
C ait' an do chaill sibh an
rathad?
Co thachair ribh air a' bheinn ?
Chaill air a' mhonadh.
Thachair an ciòbair ruinn
is chuir e air an rathad
cheart sinn.
XXXVI.— LEUGHADH.
Bha mi fhein ag-us mac an tuathanaich ag- iasguch air
an loch an de. Dh' fhàg' sinn an taig-h tràth anns a'
mhaduinn. Bha a' mhaduinn ciùin agus blàth. Ràinig
sinn an loch aig coig uairean. Tha moran bhreae anns
^n loch. Bha bata an tuathanaich aig ceann an ioeha.
Chuir sinn a mach am bata agus dh' iasgaich sinn gu
159
deicli uairean. Fliuair sinn da fhichead breae. Bhris
mise ràmh agus b' eudar dhuinn tilleadh gu tir. Theab
mi tuiteam anns an loch nuair a bhris an ràmh. Thug
sinn an ràmh briste dhachaidh, agus chàirich an saor
e. Chaidh sinn an sin* gns an achadh-bhuana. Bu
choir dhuinn a bhi anns an achadh aig seachd uairean.
Feumaidh sinn a nis làmh a chur ris an obair. Tha
an tuathanach agus na fii' sgith. Abair ri Màiri biadh
a chur air a' bhòrd. Thubhairt i gu 'n cuireadh i biadh
air a' bhòrd. Chuir Màiri aran agus im air a' bhòrd.
Cha do chuir i càise air a' bhòrd. Cuiridh i càise agus
bainne air a' bhòrd a nis. Tha an t-acras air na fir.
Ma tha, thigeadh iad a steach agus suidheadh iad mu 'n
bhòrd. Shuidh an tuathanach aig ceaun a' bhùird.
Faodaidh na fir tighinn dhachaidh a nis, tha e sè uair-
ean. Feumaidh sinn a bhi a mach tràth am màireach;
tha coltas uisge air.
COMHRADH.
C ait' an robh thu anus
a' mhaduinu ? Bha mi 'g iasgach.
Co bha leat ? Bha Calum, mac an t-saoir
learn,
Bu choir dhuibh a bhi anns an achadh-bhuana.
Bu choir dhuinn, ach gheall mi breac no dhà do mhathair
Chaluim.
Am bheil an coirc abaich ? Tha e Ian abaich.
An do bhuain sibh mòrau an Bhuain sinn mu thri
diugh ? àcairean.
Cia niheud àcair tha anns an
achadh. Deich àcairean.
'An sin means, then (at that time) as well as, there (in that place).
160
An cviir sibh crioch air a'bhuain
am màireach ?
C ait' am bheil na fir ?
Am bheil na h-eich leò ?
Am bheil an treas each anns
an stàbull ?
C ait' am bheil an t-each ban?
Co thug do 'n cheàrdaich e ?
Nach robh e anns a' cheàrdaich
an de ì
Dè tha ceàrr air an each
bhàn an diugh?
Am bheil e crùbach ?
Tha mi 'n dùil gu 'n cuir.
Tha iad anns an achadh.
Tha da each leò.
Cha 'n 'eil.
Tha e anns a' cheàrdaich.
Thug Calum do 'n
cheàrdaich e.
Bha.
Thuit e anns an achadh
is thilg e crudha.
Cha 'n 'eil, agus is math
nach 'eil.
An do chuir Màiri biadh air
a' bhòrd ? Chuir.
Abair ris na fir tighinn dhachaidh. Tha iad a' tighinn.
De 'n uair tha e ? Tha e se uairean.
Cuir na h-eich anns an stàbuU agus rach a steach.
Feumaidh mise dol do 'n bhaile an nochd.
Oidhche mhath leat. Mar sin leibhse.
161
ENGLISH-GAELIC SECTION
The following exercises for translation into Gaelic
in no way claim to be exhaustive or final. They are
meant rather to suggest the lines on which such exer-
cises ought to run. Teachers should vary and extend
them by introducing as many new words as the standard
of attainment of their classes will justify, remembering
always that the English exercise, if it is to be at all,
must be based on the nature of the work done in the
class, and the amount of the Gaelic text covered in
the previous lesson.
Oral exercises should always precede, and go hand
in hand with, written translation.
N.B. — 1. The marginal nimabers of the exercises
correspond to those of the "Sections" of the Grammar.
2. Where the sentences take the form of questions,
the pupils might be asked not only to translate the
sentences, but also to write Gaelic answers — the choice
of answer being left vdth. themselves.
EXERCISES.
6. — The dog is in the door. The cats are at the fire.
The rat was in the hole. The seal was on the rock.
A bull was in a field. The swan was on the lake.
The apple is on the ground. The rocks are in the
lake. A fort is on a hill. The boy is with the calvei?.
What is in the hole? A shell. Where are the berries?
On a plate. What is that? A swan. Is that a briar?
No. Where is the cheese? The butter and the cheese
are in the box.
7. — The boy was in the town. The trout is in the
pool. The deer were on the heather. The poet heard
a sound in the bushes. An old man got a salmon.
L
162
The sons put it in a 'bag'. The fruits are in the basket.
A stick is on the floor. The rings are on the fingers.
Is this a table? Yes. What is that? That is a wedder.
Where is the pig? It is in the park. Who is in the
house? The mother and the little girl are in the house.
Who got the meal? Is that gruel? No, it is porridge.
The hoj came with the food. Who made the pocket?
The tailor. Who put the penny in the pocket? The
old man. Is this the old man? No, it is the piper.
8.^ — The lad cut the tree. The trees are in the wood
The hen is on the ground, but the flies are on the
glass. I heaijd a noise (sound) in the g-len. Who made
the noise? The hero killed a lion with a sword. The
man was in the wood with a igun. I saw the tree on
the wall. The boy and the girl sat on the gate. I saw
a mast in a boat and a tree in the garden. The little
girl broke a branch. The joiner put the lock on the
door.
9.— I saw an island in the sea. A man built a house
on the island. I heard the swan on the lake. The maid
put the watch on the table, and the e^g in the pan.
The boy found the money in the bag', but the fisherman
put the gold in tlie box. Who built the church in the
field? Is the key on the table? No, it is in the door.
What is that? Clothes. Who threw the cloth on the
floor? Where is the (young) maiden? She is at the
shieling. The young man cut the corn. He was out
at the river and killed a bird. The eagle found an
egig, and I saw feathers and shells in the nest. When
did the man reap the corn? In the evening'.
10 — 11. (a). The skipper is in the boat. I saw
the herring' in the basket. The horse was in the
I
163
stable in the morning-, but I saw it in the field in the
evening. Who threw the spoon on the floor? Where
was the farmer with the spade? The mavis was in
the wood in the morning. When were you at the
school? I was there yesterday.
(b). The girl put the salt in the shell. The dish
fell on ,the floor. A hunter sat at the stream, but the
old man slept in the parlour. The fishermen put
the sail on the boat. They went out with the rods
last night. The girl was in the parlour and sang a
song (or psalm). The lad tied a string to the seat,
but he broke the rod with a hammer. Where is the
needle? W^ho put the thread in the needle? Will the
man be at the supper to-night? What is that? A
primrose. When did you pluck (reap) it? I plucked
it yesterday ,at the river, and I put it in a dish.
12. — The dogs are in the wood. The calves were
in the field. The soldiers were at the house. The
men will be in the town. The boys went to the
stream to-day with the horses. The knife is under
the table. Who put the stone on the glaas? Is John
in the barn? When were the men at the house? Will
the horses be in the stable in the morning? No, they
vnli be ;in the field. Where are the lambs? The lambs
are on the hill, but the sheep is in the field. The
woman and ^the young girl are in the garden. The
boy and the man sat under the trees. The colt is in
the stable, but the fox is in the hole. Who put the
pen on ;the paper? Mary placed (put) the salt in
the shell. The farmer saw berries on the bushes.
Where are the pears? Who got the eggs? When was
Janet at the school? She was there last night.
164
14 — 17. — My dog was in the house, but j^our cow was
in the jpark. Mary saw her lamb in the field. Where
is your bird? My bird is in my hand. Whose is the
pen? It is the boy's pen. When was your horse in
the stable? 'Her husband (man) was in the boat.
I saw his cow in the corn. The boy broke his teeth
with a stick. The boy has a cap and the girl has a
hat. We have a house under the trees. That knife
is mine, but the book is his. The bird is Janet's,
but the kitten is James's. Was your father in the
town? No. Will he be at home to-day? He will.
Was not your son at school? He was not. Will your
daughter be at home to-morrow? My sons are in the
city to-day, and my daughter will not be at home
to-night.
18 — Strike the dog. The man T\àll strike the horse.
Who lost the knife in the g-rass? Where is your hat?
I lost it at the shore. Throw the stone into the water.
The boys lifted a stone and threw it into the stream.
Shut the door, but open the window. Sit down and
drink the milk. Have you a key ? I have. Open
the door, but lock the box. My father built a house.
Whose is the house? Her father gave the house to
Sarah. The fishermen went into the boat. They went
out to sea and set the net. "When did they lift the net?
They will set the net again in the evening. Who an-
swered the question? James will answer the question.
Sharpen your knife and cut the cheese. Shall I eat
the cheese? No, but you will drink the milk and
then break the sticks.
19. — I bought a large cat and a small dog. V\'e
saw a white sheep and a black lamb to-day. Give
me the large hammer and the sharp knife. The axe is-
165
sharp, the tree is tall, but the man is strong'. My
shoes are new, but they are very small. Big John came
home last ;iig"ht; he is very wealthy. The winter was
<x)ld and ,the summer was wet. Is that book gMDod?
Yes, but it is very dirty. Whose is this good pen?
An old -maid gave it to my father. Where is the heavj^
bag-? The blue bag- is full, but the green one is
empty. Who waslied your face? It is very dirty.
Clean yourself and put on your brown coat. The
dirty boy is now very tidy.
20 — 22.— Were you ,at the loch yesterday? I was.
Will the girl be at school to-morrow? No. Isn't the
flower beautiftd? It is beautiful. Was it the fisher-
man who was in the boat? It was he. Am I not in
the house? Was not the soldier out with the gun? He
was not. If I shall not be here in the evening, lock
the door. Though he was big, he was not strong.
Though I should be there, I would not be happy.
Though I was not there I saw the ship. The master
said that his servant was lazy. He says (is saying)
that the servant is not good. T telit the tree which was
in the garden. I will eat the berries that will be ripe.
We met the boy who was not in the boat. Do not be
foolish and you will become (grow) wealthy. The
wealthy man is very vain.
23 — 24. — Keep this, but give that to the girl. I
met that man in the town yesterday. Who is he? He
is the man who sold the horse. The man paid what
he got. They turned out the boys who were not tidy.
There is no one in the town but is tidy. I slept in
the house which he was in. Whose horse is that in
the field? Is it not Malcolm's horse? The hunters
166
killed many deer. Which of them shot the big- one?
The soldiers broke their swords, and cut one another.
Someone said .that the soldier was quite dead. Who-
ever said that (he) was not "truthful. Everyone is
saying it now. 1 do not know which of them is right.
They are all wrong-. That is very queer.
26— 32.— (a) I found a boy's shoe. They sold the-
boy's shoes. He struck the horse's head. I saw the
hen's egg. They bruised the man's foot; the boys
tied the girl's fingers. The big fish broke the top
(point) of the rod. The mason laid the hanmier on the
top of the stone. The men went out after the shower.
The thrush's eggs are in the nest. The joiner's ham-
mer is broken. The branches of the tree are small.
The bird's wings are black. The lads burned the
twigs of the trees. We saw the ship's sails. We found
the boys' books on the bank of the river. John, the
piper, went Jto the market. I saw a young cow in
the byre. The farmer bought James -the -mason's mare.
Janet, the dairymaid, was very cross. The lad broke
a duck's wing with a stone.
(b). The girl sang a song. I heard the sound o'f
her voice. My brother shot a roe at the side of the
loch. The cat caught the head of the mouse in its
teeth. I sat by the stream and heard the sound of
the bag -pipe. The dog found a piece of bone in the
stream. The children carried their books on their
backs. M}- friend and I went to the country yesterday.
I lost one of my teeth. We gathered ears (of corn) in
the harvest field. We came home at milking--time .
Oux backs were sore, and our steps were slow; time
passed very c^uickly.
167
(c). The man tied the dog- to the leg of the chair.
The herd left the cow in the middle of the field. The
boy found a serpent in a tuft of rushes. I broke the
serpent's head. The fisherman got a letter from his
brother; the ^news of the letter was good.
The man opened the door with the key: his knife
stuck in Jhe key -hole. I met my nieoe (say, sister's
daughter) in ,the town earlj in the morning-. The little
son broke his father's pipe. The father spoke very
quietly .
(d). I heard the sound of bloA\-s. I was at the gate
of the town yesterday, and I saw the trees of the wood.
Whose are those houses? They are the fishermen's
houses. The walls are too hig'h. We met the fisher-
man's son at the boat-hoase. The hunters' children
were at the farmer's house. The tailor put a button
in the coat. He gathered a bag-ful of nuts in the
woods. Thousands of boat-s are on the sea. I saw the
glare (flame) of the fire late in the evening. The
village was very quiet. The queen went through the
village .
(e). The dog's ears are white. Give a bit of bread
to the dog. The dogs' legs are broken. I heard
the barking of dogs. I met the woman at the smithy.
The woman's son is in school. I gave a letter to the
woman. The merchant sold women's shoes. The dog
followed the women's cows. The woman gave fodder
to the cow. The lad struck the cow's horn with a
knife. The blade of the knife was very sharp. The
snow covered the tops of the mountains. The sick
man was in bed. The dog lay at the bedside.
33 — 34. — The knife is new but it is not sharp. A
little mouse is under the big stone. The large rat is
168
under the cat's paw. 'The st/Ones in that held are
large. The white dog- is on the hack of the brown
horse, but the black colt is with the brown mare. The
young calves are near the dark wood. The poor man's
black horse is lame. The girl is tall, but the boy is
taller. Milk is sweeter than water. There is no sweet-
ness in salt. The day is longer than the night. The
sea 18 nearer the town than the river. I gol the best
knife and my sister got the best book. This boy is
the tallest of the group. The son was wiser than his
father and the daughter was neater than her mother.
The girl played (on) the violin.
35 — 36.— There "were three lambs and two sheep in
the park. There are now twenty sheep and ten lambs
in the field. We saw sixty wedders on the hill. The
farmer left thirteen young calves in the small field.
We have fom- hens and two ducks in the byre. The
man and his three sons were at the 'door. The fourth
son is not at home. There are three salmon in the
herring net. How many scholars are in the school?
There are forty boys and twenty girls. One of the
windows is broken. How many men are in that boat?
Five. Are there not six men in the boat? No. Where
IS the sixth man? How many rabbits are in that
field? A score.
37 — 39. — (a). The house is between the river and
the sea. He gave me a little money. The girls went
to Islay during the siiromer. The carriag-e came to the
river and went across the bridge. I woke diu'ing the
night and saw a man in front of the house. I went
round the field about six o'clock. I saw a swift hare
opposite the church; the fierce dog caught it among the
trees.
169
The wind was ag-ainst us and we tooTv; shelter beliiiid
a wall. After the shower we walked towards tlie
town. The boat was at sea; the mist came down.
Tliey lost the oars 'during the nig-ht. The men were
tired and hungry on account of the hard work. They
waited in a house and warmed themselves. They ot)t a
fine view in the morning.
(b). I have a boat at the shore, but they have two
boats. The small boat is afloat (air bhog), and there
are five men in it (her). Two men poured the water
out of it (her). Put off your coat. I will not put off
my coat, but Jane will put off her shoes. John gave
me a book, and my father gave us new clothes (suits).
A letter came to me yesterday. I saw Jessie yester-
day. A letter came to her also. Take this letter w'dth
you to Mary. James will take it with him.
(c). Put on your hat and we shall go before them
to the church. William met the shepherd and spoke
to him. I saw a little boy also speaking (a' bruidhiun)
to them. We saw a rabbit and a weasel: the faithful
dog-s ran in front of them (sa}-, before themi. I fell
from the rock and the water went over me. The rain
was heavy and it went through us. The sow returned
to the milk -pail; it spilt half the milk out of it.
(d). Who was at the door last uight? I wa- not
there to-day, but I will be (in iti to-morrow. How
did you find the place? A nice girl showed it to me.
That was very good. Where is your son? He went
out of town. Will he be there long? He will (be) for
many a year. Was he ever from home before? He
was from home last year. When wiil he come (thig)
home? The shepherd went up the hill in the morning,
hut he came down in the evening. Come over and
170
see my -new horse. Where is it? Come to the stable.
The horse is very g-ood, indeed. Why did you buy a
young one? It is old enoug-h. I have a young one
already, but ;t is lame. What price was It? Come to-
morrow and perhaps I will tell you. I will. Good
night .
40— 42.— William, break the stick and put it in
the fire. William will break the sticks, but Mary will
jiut them into a basket. John would break the win-
dow, but Mary would mend the clothes. The window
is open. Let us break the window. The window will
be broken. The window was broken. *Had you been
there your head would have been broken. The win-
dow is broken, but my head is not broken. Fill the
bowl and drink the milk. The bowl is empty now.
I will eat the bread. Put butter and cheese on it. Cut
the cheese but leave your hand. Thank you. 1 shall
come again. Good-bye.
t43— 45.— fa). Throw that stone. Do not throw this
stone into the stream. Did you throw that stone? I
did not (throw). Did he not throw the hammer? He
did not. Will you not throw it? Yes. If I threw the
stone, I did not hit the window. If I shall strike the
window. I shall break it. If you Avould throw the
stone properly, you would not hit the pigieon. Though
I hit the pigeon it did not fall. If I should hit it,
it would fall. This man says that I threw a stone
at the ox. I say that I would not hit the ox. They
all say that I would not hit the ox. I saw a man who
* See Sections 22 and 22 (a).
t N. B. — The Exercises under these sections can be extended or varied
infinitely by introducing a fresh verb or two for each and running
over the various tenses and moods.
171
would throw the hammer. The one wlio would throw-
that stone '(he) would he very strong-.
(b). The man was striking- the horse. Why were
you kicking the door? I was not kicking the door,
I was calling the dog. The lad is breaking the
stones, but Mary was shutting the window. The boy
saw Mary and ran after her. He is striking- her now.
John, his brother, saw the boy. He raised his hand
to strike him. Their mother came out ana said: "1
see you: come in here." The boys are standing in
the room. John is sitting on the stool weeping, and
his little brother is asleep. The sun was shining, ana
the men are reaping- in the fields. The women are
binding the sheaves. The sun and the moon ripen
the corn. We have a new moon every month.
46 — 47.- a I. James is striking the door. Who says
that? Mary said it. Did she say that he was drinking
water? I would say that he was hungry' (i.e., that
the hunger was on him). Tell (i.e., say to) the man
to leave the boat. If I should say that he would be
angTy. Let me say it to him.
lb). Catch the cow and milk it. He caught the
cow by the long tail. If you will catch the cat's paw
I will give you a shilling. I would not catch the
cats skin (fur), though I would get a lot of money.
Wliy? The cat's claws are very sharp. The black
cow calved yesterday and I shall g-et milk next week. If
you will g-et me a horse -shoe I will give you a bunch
of berries. Did you g^et trout last night? The night
was too dark and stormy.
(c). I saw a man reaping corn Tcrops) to-day. Did
you see an3one sowing? No. I heard that you were
gathering nuts and that you fell into a pit (hole). If
you hear that again say (that) it is not true. Will you
see the farmer to-day? If I do not I will see him
to-morrow. If I should .see him to-night I would get
honey from him. If I hear that it is cheaper I will get
172
it (honey) in the town. Let me see; it is verv calm
to-night, I hear my daug-hter sing-ing.
(d). Come in, William, and you will get a drink
of milk. Thank you: I am very thirsty. Rise, Mary,
and give him a chair. When did you come to the
town? I come to town every day. Will you take this
letter to my son? I will. If I come to-morrow I will
bring my wife with me. If she would come we would
give her a hearty welcome. She is going to come, and
I am going to give her a new dress. We shall visit
other friends to-morrow.
(e). Go out and help your father. Leave that and
do your work. I will not go to the well; I shall fall
into it. If you do that you will drown yourself. If
I go will I get a penny? If you will arrive (reach)
home smartly you will (get). Would you do that
always? Did the men go fishing to-day? No, they
are going to hunt. Who is guiding them over the
'country? The man who made the boat. Let us g-o to
see them. When did they arrive here? Early in the
{morning. It was a rough day and I am sure they
were tired. The wind was high but it was very
warm. If I go to church to-morrow will you go with
me? Yes, come to our house at nine o'clock. Though
I should arrive at ten o'clock you would not sx). You
do that and see.
48. — Let us go out to see the moon. I cannot go.
I fell into a hole and I nearly broke my leg. Is it
you? Yes. You will need to see the doctor. W^e .should
wait to see the king. No (we should not); it is too
cold. I would need my ooat. Put on my coat and it
will warm you. I cannot, it is too heavy. Can you
open the pocket? Yes. Have you any money? I
have, but I must keep it. I must be g-oing. then.
Good-bve.
173
GAELIC-ENGLISH VOCABULARY.
ABBREVIATIONS USED.
Adj., adjective.
Adj. n.. adjectival noun.
Adv., ad veil).
Art., article.
Comp., comparative.
Cont . , contraction .
Conj . . con j unction .
Dat., dative.
Defect, v.. defective verb.
Dem. pron.. demonstTative
pronoun.
Emph. part., emphatic
particle .
Gen., g-enitive.
Imp., imperative.
Indef. pron., indefinite
pronoun.
Inter, pron.. interrogative
pronoun .
Intens. part., intensive
particle.
Irreg. v., irregular verb.
Xora., nominative.
N.f., noun feminine. '
N.m., noun masculine.
ISTeg-. part., negative
particle .
Nu. adj., numeral adjective.
Nu. n., numerical noun.
Pers. pron., personal
pronoun.
PL, plural.
Poss. pron., possessive
pronoun.
P.p., prepositional pronoun.
Prep., preposition.
Eel. pron., relative pro-
notin.
Sing., singidar.
v., verb.
V. adj., verbal adjective.
V.n., verbal noun.
NOTES.
(1 ) In the case of noims the genitive singular follows the nominative in
brackets where there is any likelihood of difficulty in determining
the genitive, thus : muir (mara), tobar (tobraeh).
(2) The word in brackets after most adjectives is the '' first compara-
tive'" of each, thus : ban (bàine), tioram (tiorma).
)3) The "verbal noun"' is given in brackets after most of the verbs^
thus : cum, v., keep, hold (ciimail).
174
A, rel. pron., who, tvhich.
A, poss. pron., his, her.
A', art., the.
Abair, irreg. v., say (ag
radh).
Abli, 11. m., a hand net.
Abhainn faibhue), n.f.,
a river.
Abaich, adj., ripe.
Acair, n.m., an acre.
Acairean, pi. of acair.
Acair (acrach), n.f., anchor.
Acraichean, pi. of acair.
Acairean, ,, ,,
Ach, oonj., but.
Aehadh, n.m., a field.
Achadh-buana, n.m., a
rea'ping- field.
Acras, n.m., hunger.
Ad (aide), n.f., a hat.
Adharc, n.f., a horn.
Ag-air, v., plead, claim
(agairt).
Agam, agad, etc. (see p-p's)
Aghaidh, n.f., a face.
Aghaidh, an aghaidh, prep.,
in the face of, against.
Agus, oonj., and.
Aig, prep., at.
Aiige, aice, etc., (see p.p.'s).
Ainm (ainme), n.m., a
name.
Air, prep., on (pp., on
him, etc.).
Aire, n.f., heed, attention.
Aireamli, n.f., a number.
Aireamh, v., count, number.
Airgiod (airgid), ii.iii.,
money.
Airigh (airigh), n.f., a
sheiling.
Air-son, prep., for, because.
Aisig, v., restore, ferry
(aiseag) .
Aithne, n.f., knoicledge,
acquaintance .
Aithris, v., tell, relate.
Aite, n.m., a plMce.
Aite (an aite), prep., in
place of.
Alasdair, n.m., Alexander.
Alba (Alba and Albainn),
n.f., Scotland.
Allt (uillt), n.m., a brook.
Aluiiin, adj., pretty.
Am, art., the.
Am, poss. pron., their.
Am (ama), n.m., time, a
point of time.
Amadan, n.m., a fool.
Amais, v., /aiiiwij, light iwpon
(amas).
Amhairc, v., look on
(amliarc) .
An, art., the.
An, poss. pron., their.
Anail (analach), n.f.,
breath, rest.
Anamoch, adj. and adv., late.
An dràsda, adv., now.
Ann, amis, prep., in, into.
Annam, Annad, etc. (see
p.p's).
Aobhar, n.m., cause,
Aon, h-aon, nu. adj., one.
Aodach, n.m., a cloth,
clothes.
17^
Aonar, nu. n., one persmi,
alone.
Ar. poss. pron., our.
Araidh, adj., certain,
particular.
Aran, n.m., bread.
Arbhar, n.m., com in sheaf
or groiving.
Ard (àirde), adj., high.
Ardaich, v., raise, heighten
(àrdachadli).
Arsa (are"), defect, v., said.
As, prep., out of.
As (rel. form of verb
■'is").
Asam, Asad, etc. (see
p.p's.).
At, v., swell, increase (at).
Ath, adj., the next.
Athair (athar), n.m., a
father.
B.
Bà, pi., of bo.
Bà-bhainne, n.f., milch-
cows.
Bac, v., prevent, restrain
(bacadh) .
Bad, n.m., a tuft, a bunch.
Bagair, v., threaten, terrify
( bag-air t).
Baile, n.m., a town, village.
Bainne, n.m., milk.
Balach, n.m., a hoy.
Balla, n.m., a wall.
Ballacb, adj., spotted.
Ban (bàine), adj., white,
fair.
Ban, bhan, gen. pi., of
bean.
Bànag-, n.f., a grilse.
Banarach, n.t.,a dairy^naid.
Bann (banna), n.m., a belt,
band, hinge.
Barail (baraile or baralach),
n.f., an opinion.
Bard, n.m., a poet.
Ban- (barra), n.m., a crop,
top.
Bas, n.f., palm of the hand.
Bata, n.m., staff.
Bàta, n.m., a boat.
Beaehd, n.m., an opinion.
Beag- (big« |or lug-ha), adj.,
small, little.
Beau (mnatha), u.f., a
woman.
Beannachd, n.m., a fare-
well, blessing.
Beaunaich, v., bless
(beannacbadh).
Beaiintan, pL, of beinn.
Beartach (beartaiche), adj.,
rich.
Beinn, n.f., a mountain.
hill.
Beir, irreg-. v., bear, bring
forth.
(breitb and beirsinn).
Beir (ail-), catdi, seize.
Beò, adj., alive, living.
Beotbaich, v., quicken,
waken up (beotbachadb).
Beuc, v., roar i beuoail).
Beud, n.m., pity, loss.
harm.
Beul (beoil),n.m., a mouth.
Bevdaobh, n.m., the front.
176
Beulaobh (air), prep., in
front of.
Beum I beumaj, n.f ., a blow.
Bheir, v., will give.
Bho, o, prep., from.
Blios (a bhos), adv., down,
heloiv.
Bhur, ur, poss. pron., your.
Bhuam, Bhuat (see p.p's.).
Bi, v., be.
Biadh (bidhe), n.m., food.
Bian (bein), n.m., a skin,
hide or fur (of animals).
Bior (biora), n.m., a pin,
a shar J) -pointed, goad.
Binn rbinne), adj., sweet,
melodious.
Blais. v., taste (blasadh,
blasad Ì .
Blath. adj., warm.
Bleith. v., grind (as in a
mill J, wear away.
Bleogliainn, v., milk,
(bleogharm) .
Bliadhna (bliadhna), n.f.,
a year; pi., bliadhnachan.
B(') (bà), n.f., a cow.
Boclid (bochda), adj., poor.
Bodach, n.m., an old man.
Bodhar (buidhre), adj.,
deaf.
Bòidheach (bòidhchei, adj.,
pretty, beautiful.
Bog- (bnigej, adj., soft.
Boineid (boineidi, n.m. or
f., a boiwiet.
Bonn fbmnn), n.m., a sole,
bottom.
Borb (buirbe), adj., fierce.
Bòrd (bùird), m.in.., a table,
hoard.
Bothan, n.m., a hut.
Bra (bràthan), n.f., a
quern, handmill.
Bradan, n.m., a salmon.
Bras (braise), adj., swifi.
Brat, n.m., a covering.
Bràth, gu bràth, adv., for
ever. .
Bràthair (brathar), n.m., I
a brother.
Breab, v., kick.
Breac (brie), n.m., a trout t
Breac (brioe), adj., spotted.
BTeug (breige), n.f., a lie.
Briogais, n.f., trousers.
Bris. v., break (briseadh).
Briste, V. adj., broken.
Brochan, n.m., gruel.
Bròg, n.f., a shoe.
Bruaeh, n.f., a bank, brink.
Bniicli, V. and n., boil,
boiling.
Buachaill (buachaiJle), n.m.
a coivherd, a shepherd.
Buail, v., strike (bualadh).
Buaile, n.f., a fold — for
sheep or cattle.
Buain, V. and n., reap,
reaping.
Buarach, n.f., a cow-fetter.
Buidlie, adj., yellow.
Buidheach, adj., satisfied,
pleased.
Biiille, n.f., a blow, a
stroke.
Bun, n.m., a root, a bottom.
177
Buntàta. n.m., a "potato, a
quantity of 'potatoes.
Bùth (bùtha), n.f., a shop,
pis., hùthan rbùthannan,
bùithean].
c
Cabhag-, u.f., a hiirnj.
each, iudef. pron., the
rest, the others.
Càch-a-chèile, one another.
Caidil, v., sleep (cadal).
Caileag- (caileige), n.f., a
little girl.
Caill, v.. lose (call).
Cailleacli (cailliclie), n.f.,
an old iroman; pi., caill-
eachan .
Caillte, V. adj., lost.
Cairt (cairte, cairteach),
n.f., a cart, a card.
Càirich, v.. mend (caradh).
Càise (càise), n.m., cheese.
C àite ? inter., where?
Caith, v., spend, wear
(caitheamh) .
Calaman. n.m., a pigeon.
Calltuinn, n.m., hazel.
Calum, n.m., Malcolm.
Can, v., say, sing (can-
tuinn) .
Caoidh, V. and n., mourn,
mourning, lament, etc.
Caol fcaoile). adj., thin,
slender.
Caomliainn. v., spare
(caomhnadh).
Caora (caorach), n.f., a
sheep.
Caorach, chaorach, gen. pi.,
of caora (i.e., with and
without the art. respec.)
Caoraich, pi., of caora.
Car, a.m., a twn. a tumble.
Caraid, n.m., a friend,
(pi., càirdean).
Car -air -char, adv. phrase,
tvirn on turn, pell-mell.
earn (cùirn), n.m., a cairn,
pile of stones.
Carson? inter., ivhy?
ifherejore ?
Cas (coise), n.f., a foot, a
shaft, or haft.
Cas (caise), adj., rapid.
Cat, n.m., a cat.
Cath (cathaK n.m., a battle.
Cathair (cathrach), n.f., a
chair; pi., cathraiehean .
Ceangail, v., tie, bind
(ceangal).
Ceann (cinn), n.m., a head.
Ceann (an ceann), among.
Ceannaich, v., buy
(ceannach).
Cearc (circe), n.f., a hen.
Ceàrdach, n.f., a .smithy.
Ceàrr, adj., wrong.
Ceart, adj., right, proper.
Ceathramh, nu. adj., the
fourth.
Ceis (ceise), n.f., a case.
an envelope.
Ceist (oeiste), n.f., a ques-
tion.
Ceithir, nu. adj., four.
Ceo (ceo and oeotha), n.m
or f., mist.
Ceòl (ciùil), n.m., music.
178
Ceud (an ceud, a' oheud),
nu. adj., the first.
Ceud, nu. adj., a hundred.
Ceudamh (an ceudamh),
the hundredth.
Ceudna, the same; mar an
ceudna, also, likewise.
Ceum (ceuma), n.m., a
step.
Cha, neg-. part., not.
Chaidh, v., went, past
tense of "rach."
Chaoidh (or, a chaoidh),
adv., ever, for ever.
Cheana (or^ a cheana), adv.,
already.
Cheile (le cheile), adv.,
together.
Chi, v., fut. of V. Faic, see.
Chionn, conj., because.
Chuala, v., did hear.
Chugam, chugad, etc. (see
p.p's.).
Chuireas, v., rel. fut. of
V. Cuir, put.
Chun, prep., to, towards.
Chunnaic, v., did see.
Chum (a chum), prep., in
order that, for the pur-
pose of.
Cia lion? adv., adj., how
many ?
Cia mar? inter., how?
Cia meud? inter., how
many ?
Cia mheud? inter., hoiv
many ?
Ciad, nu. adj., a hundred.
Ciadamli, nu. adj., the
hundredth {see ceud).
Ciall (cèille), n.f., sense,
under standing .
Cinn, v., grow, (^cinntinn)
Cinnteach (oinntiche), adj.,
sure, certain.
Ciohair, n.m., a shepherd.
Ciod? inter., what?
(=Gu de? de?).
Cionn (os cionn). adv.,
above.
Cir (cire), n.f., a comb.
Ciste, n.f., a chest, trunk,
box.
Ciùin, (ciùine), adj., calm,
gentle.
Claeh (oloiche). n.f., a
stone.
Cladach, n.m., a shore.
Clachair, n.m., a mason.
Claidheamh (claidheimh),
n.m., a sword.
Clarsach, n.f., the harp.
Cleachdadh, n.m., a custom.
Clisig-, v., startle (efegeadh)
Cluas, n.f., an ear.
Cluinn, irreg. v., hear
(cluinntimi).
Cnaimli (cnàmha'. n.m., a
bone.
Cnò (cnotha), n.f., a nut
pi., cnothan.
Cnoc (onuic). n.m., a hill.
Cnocan, n.m., a hillock.
Cnuic, pi., of cnoc.
Co ? inter, pron.. who?
Co leis? inter, pron., ivhosel
Cogadh, n.m., a war ;
pi., cogaidheau.
Coig, nu. adj., five.
179
Oòig^amh, nu. adj., the
fifth.
Còignear, nu. n., five per-
sons.
Coille, u.f., a tvood;
pi., coilltean.
Coiuean (coinein), n.m.,
a rabbit.
Coiimleir, coiunleix(e),
n.m.,, a oandlestick.
Coir (còrach, còire),
right, justice ; pis.,
còraichean, còirean.
Coirc (coirce), n.m., oats.
Coisinn, v., win, earn
(cosnadh).
Coisich, v., ivalk (ooiseachd)
Coltas, n.m., appearance.
Còmliradh, n.m., conversa-
tion.
Còmhla (.eòmhla ris), prep.,
along with.
Con, chon, gen. pL, of cù.
Còrr (corra), n.m., excess,
overplus.
Còta, n.m.,, a ooat.
Craidhleag (craidhleige),
n.f., a basket.
Crann (croinn), n.m., a
mast, plough.
Craobh, n.f., a tree.
Creag (creig«), n.f., a
rock.
Creid, v., believe (creid-
sinn ) .
Cridhe (cridhe), n.m., a
heart; pi., cridheachan.
Crioch (criche), n.f., a
finish, an end.
Crioman, n.m., a bit, frag-
ment.
Crodh (cruidh). n.m.,
cattle.
Crom, v., bend, come
down (cromadh).
Crom (cruime), adj.,
crooked, bent.
Crosda, adj., ooss.
Cruaidh, adj., hard.
Crùbach (orùbaiehe), adj.,
lame.
Crudlia (cruidhe), n.f.; a
horse-shoe.
Crninne (crninne), n.m., in
Nom., f. in Gen., the
world, the globe ; Gu
ericli na crninne, to the
ends of the earth ; Gu
latha na cruinne, to the
day of the world, the
last day.
Crninnich, v., gather
(eruinneachadh).
CÙ (coin), n.m., a dog.
Cuid, indef. pron., some,
certain (ones).
Cuid (codacli), n.f., share,
part, property;
pi., codaichean.
Cuid-eigin(n), indef. pron.,
some person or persons.
Cuide (ri, ris, etc.), prep.,
along with.
Cuideachd, adv., also.
likewise.
Cuideaciid, n.f., a company.
Cuileag- (cuileige), n.f., a
fly.
180
Cuileau (cuilein), n.m., a
whelp, a pup.
C'uin? iniev . àà\ . , when'f
Cuir, v., pui, set (cur).
Cuirm (cuirme), n.f., a
feast.
CÙ1 (cùil), n.m., the hack
part of anything.
Cùlax)bh, n.m., the hack,
the hack parts.
Cum, v., keep, hold
(cumail) .
Cuman, n.m., a m'dkincj-
pail.
Cùnnt, v., count (cunnt-
adh).
Cùrsa, n.m., a coursp.
D.
Da, n. adj., two.
Da, dhà, p.p., to him.
Dachaidh, n.f., a home.
Dàil ('dàlachi, n.f., dekii/:
pL, dàlaiehean.
Dall (doill I. n.m., a hlind
person.
Dall (doillei, adj., blind.
Damh, n.m., an ox, a stag.
Daoine, pi., of duine.
Daoiman, adv., always.
Daor (daoirej, adj., dear.
Dara, dàrna, nu. adj., the
second.
Darach, n.m., an oak.
Dath, dathf^a), n.m., colour.
De, an de, adv., yesterday.
De. inter, pron., ivhat?
De, prep., of.
Deaofh. adj. Tprec^des
noun), good.
Dean, irreg. v., do, niake
(deanamh).
Dearbh (gni dearbhi, adv.^
indeed, cer ta inly .
Dearc, dearc(a), n.f., a
herry.
Dearg- (deirg^), adj., red.
Deas, n.f., the south (for,
an àirde deas^the s. airt)'
Deieh, nu. adj., ten.
Deicheamh. nu. adj., tenths
Deichnear, nu. n., ten
persons.
Deidh (an deidh), prop
and adv., after.
Deoch (diglie), n.f., a
drink; pi., deochan or
deocliannan.
Dhachaidh ('dachaidh),
homewards; adv., is
generally aspirated.
Dhiom, dhiot, etc. (see
p.p's., de).
Dhomh, dhuit, etc. (see-
prep. p's., do).
Dias (deise), n.f., an ear
of corn.
Dileas (dilse), adj., faiih-
ful.
Dion, n. and v., guard ng,
guard, protecting, etc.
Dithis, nu. n., two persons.
Diubh, p.p., of them,.
Diug'h (an diug-li), adv.,.
to-day.
Do, poss. pron., thy.
Do, pre])., to.
181
Dochainn, v., hurt, harm
(dochann) .
Dòirt, v., pour, spill
(dòrtadh).
Dòirte, V. adj., spilt.
Dol, a' dol, v.n., gioing.
Domlinull (Dhomhnuill),
n.m., Donald.
Domi (duiiiue), ■a.dj., browit.
Dòrn (dùirn), n.f., a fist,
a blow with the fist.
Dorsair, n.m., a door-
Dorus, n.m., a door.
Dràsda (an dràsda), adv.,
just now.
Dreas (drise), n.f., a briar.
Driamlach, n.f., a fishing'
line, cord on a rod.
Droch, adj., had — precedes
the noun always.
Druid, v., shut, close
(druideadh).
Druidte, v. adj., closed.
Druim (droma), n.m., a
back: pi., dromannau.
Dual, due, hereditary {gift
or right).
bu dual da sin, that was
hereditary to him: i.e.,
just what you might ex-
pect of him.
Dubh (duibhe), adj., black.
D uibh , g-en . masc . , of dubh .
Duibh, p.p., to you.
Dùil (dùile), n.m., expecta-
tion, hope.
Diiilich rduilg-he or dorra),
ad]., sad, difficult, hard.
Dùin, v., close, shut
(diinadh).
Duine, n.m., a man.
Dùisg', v., waken, rise up
(dùsgadh).
Duit, p.p., to thee (see
dhomh).
Dun, n.m., a h,ill, a heap.
Dùthaich (dùtheha), n.f.,
a country; pi., dùth-
channau.
Each (eioh), n.'m., a horse.
Eadar, prep., hettc^eem.
Eadarainn (see p.p's.).
Eaglais, n.f., a church.
Eala, n.f., a swan; pi.,
ealachan.
Eallach, n.m., a had, a
burden.
Ear, the east (for, an àirde
'n Ear).
Earb, n.f., a roe.
Eathar (eathair), n.m., a
small boat; pi., eath-
raichean.
Eiginn (or eigin), indef.
pron., some, see cuid-
eiginn, fear -eiginn.
Eiginn, n.f., difficulty;
air eiginn, adv., unth
difficulty.
Eile, indef. pron., other,
another.
Eilean (eilein), n.m., an
island.
EiHd (eilid, eilde), n.f.,
a hind.
Eirich, v., rise (eirigh).
182
Eirinn, n.f., Ireland.
Eisd, v., hear, listen
(eisdeac'hd ) .
Eisg, igen., of iasg.
Eòlach (eòlaiche), adj.,
acquainted, skilled.
Eun (eòin), n.m., a bird;
pi., eòin.
Facal, n.m., a word.
Fad or fòd. n.m., see fòid.
Fada, adj., lomg.
Fag, v., leave (fàgail).
Fagus (faisge), adj., near.
Faie, irreg. v., see, h^ehold
(faicinn).
Fàidh (fàidhe), n.m., a
prophet.
Faidhir (faidhreach), n.f.,
a fair, a market; plur.,
faidhrichean.
Faigh, irreg. v., get (see
irreg. verbs).
Fàinne, n.f. and m., a
ring; plur., fainneachan.
Fairge, n.f., the sea.
Falaicli (or folaich), v.,
hide (falach).
Falbh, v., go (falbh).
Fait (fuilt), n.f., human
hair.
Fan, v., wait (fantainn).
Fang (faingej, n.f., a
sheep-pen.
Faod. v., depend, form of
f aodaidh .
Faodaidh mi, etc., /, thou,
etc., may.
Faotainn (see faigh).
Fead (fead). n.f.,
a wkisfle.
Feadan, n.m., pipe,
whistle, chanter.
Feadh, air feadh, prep.,
among, through.
Feàirrd, adj. (2nd comp-
of math), better, best.
Fear (fir), n.m., a man.
Fearann, n.m., land.
Fear-ciùil, n.m., a
musician.
Feàrr (see math).
Feasgar, n.m., evening.
Fein, emph. part., self.
Feith, v., wait (feitheamh)..
Feòil (feòla), n.f., flesh.
Feòraich, v., ask, enquire
(feorachadh, feorachd).
Feuch, v., try (feuchainn).
Feum (feuma), n.m. and f.,,
need, use.
Feumaidh mi, thu, etc., /
thou, etc., must.
Feur (feòir), n.m., grass,
hay.
Fiacaill (fiaclaj, n.f., a
tooth.
Fiadh (feidh), n.m., a deer^
Fianuis, am fianuis, prep.,
in presence of, before.
Fichead, nu. adj., twenty.
Ficheadamh, nu. adj.,
twentieth.
Fiodh (fiodhaj, n.m., tim-
ber, wood.
Fior (flora), adj., true.
Fios, n.m., knowledge,
information .
183
Fiosraicli. v.. find out. ask,
enquire f fiosrachadh).
Fhathaj^t, fathast, adv., yet.
Fhuair. past tense of
faigh.
Fliuch (fluiche or fliche),
adj., vyet.
Fo, prep., under.
Fodham. fodhad (seep.p's.)
Fògair, v., expel, drive
(f ògradh) .
Fogharadh. n.m., harvest.
autumn.
Fòid, u.f., a peat. turf.
Foirmeil (foirmeile), adj.,
lively, brisk, noisy.
FÒS, adv.. yet.
Fosgail. v., opeii (fosg-
ladh).
Fosgailte. v. adj., opened.
Fraoeh, n.m., heather.
Fras (froise). n.f., a
shower.
Freagair. v., answer
(freagairt).
Fritheil, v., take care of,
tend (f rithealadh) .
Fuaclid, n.m. (the) cold.
Fuaghail, v., sew (fuaghal).
Fuaim (fuaime), n.m. and
f.. a sound, a noise.
Fuar (fuaire), adj., cold.
Fuil (falai, n.f., blood.
Fuiling, v., suffer, endure
(fulang).
Fuirich, v., laait, stay
(fuireaeh, fmreachd;.
G.
Gabh. v., take.
Gabhail. n. and v.n., a tak-
ing, taking.
Gach, indef. pron., each,
every.
Gad, n.m., a tivisted twig,
a ivithe.
Gàidhlig, n.f., Gaelic (lan-
gaiage).
Gairm, v., call (gairm).
Gaisg-eaeh i gaisgeich), n.m.,
a champion, a hero.
Gaol, n.m., love.
Gaoth (gaoithe), n.f., wiiid.
Gàradh, n.m.. a garden.
a wall.
G^al (gile), adj., white.
Gealach, n.f., moon.
Gealag, n.f., a white trout.
Geall. v., promise (geallt-
\zinn).
Gearan. n.m., a complaint.
Geàrr, v., cut (gearradh).
Geàrr (geàrra), n.f., a hare.
Geàrr (gdorra), adj., short.
(reata, n.m., a gate; plur.,
geatachan.
G^d, conj., though.
Geòla, n.f., a yawl, a small
(ships) boat: plur.,geol-
aehan.
Geug (geige), n.f., a
branch.
Geur (geire, geòire), adj.,
sharp.
Geurachadh. v.n., sharp-
ening.
Gille, n.m., a lad, youth.
184
Gin. indef. pron., any.
Gin, v., beget, produce.
( gintinn, gineadh).
Giùran, n.m., gills of a
fish.
Giuthas, n.f., a fir.
Glac, v., catch, seize
(glacadh).
Glais, v., lock (g-laiseadh);
(see glas).
Glaiste, V. adj., locked.
Glan, v., wash, clean
(glanadh).
Glas, v., lock (glasadh).
Glas (glaise), adj., grey.
Glas (glaise), n.f., a look.
Glaodh, v., shout (glaodh-
aieh) .
Gle, an intensive particle,
very.
Gleann (glinne), n.m., a
glen.
Gle us, v., sharpen (gleus-
adh).
Glie (gliee), adj., wise.
Gloinne, n.f., a glass, a
Gluais, v., move, walk
(igliiasad , gluasaehd ) .
Goid, V. and n., steal and
stealing.
Goii-id (giorra), adj., short.
Gòrach fgòraiche), adj.,
silly, foolish.
Gorm (giiirme), adj., blue.
Greasaiche, n.m., a shoe-
maker.
Grian (greine), n.f., sun.
Grinn (grinne), adj., neat,
tidy.
Gruaidh (gruaidhe), n.f.,
a cheek.
Gu, gus, prep., to.
Gu, conj., that.
Gu, prefixed to adjectives
to form adverbs.
Gu 'n robli math agaibh,
thank you.
Gual, n.m., coal.
Guil, v., weejy <gxd).
Gun, prep., ivithout.
Gun (giiini, n.m.. a gown,
a skirt; plur., gùintean.
Gunna, n.mi., a g^m; plur.,
giinnachan.
Gus, prep., to (the).
Guth (giitha). n.m., a
voice; plur., gtithan,
gaithanuan.
I, ise, pers. pron., she.
lad, iadsan, pers. pron.,
they.
Iain, n.m., .John.
lar, n.f., west (for, an
àirde 'n lar).
larr, v., ask. seek (iarr-
aidh).
lariinn, n.m., iron.
lasg (eisg), n.m.. a fish.
lasgach, v.n., fishing.
lasgair, n.m., a fisherman.
Idir, adv., at all, yet (eha 'n
'eil e ann idir=it is not
there at all).
Im (ime), n.m., butter.
Imich, v., go, walk, pro-
ceed fimeachdj.
185
Imir, v., depend, form of
imiridh.
Imindh, v., must.
Inneal-buana, n.mi., a reap-
ing instrument.
Innis, v., tell, relate (inu-
seadh).
Innte, in her fsee'p.p's.
ann).
lolair (iolaire), n.f., an
e^ffle.
lomain, v., and n., drive,
play; driving, playing.
loniisaidh (a dh'ionnsaidli),
prep., to, towards.
Is, V. emph., is.
Is, a eonj., and.
Isean (isein), n.m., a chick-
en, any young bird.
Ite, n.f., a feather.
Ith, v., eat (itheadh).
luehair (iuchrach), n.f.,
a key.
plur., iuchraicliean.
La, latha, n.m., a day;
plur., laithean.
Lab hair, v., speak (labh-
airt).
Lagh (lagha), n.m., law.
Làidir (làidire or treasa),
adj., strong.
Lair (làire, làrach), n.f.,
a mare; plur., làraichean.
Làmh, n.f., a hand.
Lampa, n.f., a lamp;
pi., lampaichean.
Làn (làine), adj., full.
Laog-h, n.m., a calf.
Làr, n.m., the groiiud,
floor.
Las, v., light dasadh).
Lasair (lasrach). n.f., a
blaze, a flame: pi., las-
raichean.
Lathair, prep., aim an lathair,
in the. presence of.
Le, leis, prep., %f}ith.
Leac (lie, licei, n.f.. a flat
stone.
Leabaidh (leapa. leapacli),
n.f., a bed; pi., leap-
aichean.
Leabhar, n.mi., a book:
pi., leabhraichean.
Leag-, v., knock or throir
down ( leagail i .
Learn, leaf, etc. (see p.p's.
le).
Lean, v., ioll-oiv, pursue
(leantuinn).
Leanabli (leinibh). n.m.,
a child; pi., leanabain,
leanabaunan.
Leathann (leithne. leatlui,
leòtha), adj., broad.
Leig, v., let (leigeil).
Leighis, v., heal, cure
(leaghas).
Leir ,gu leir, adv.. alto-
gether, wholly.
Leth, n.m,., a half.
Leth, air leth, adv., apart,
exceedingly .
Leth-chiad, u. adj., half a
hundred.
Leugh, v., read.
186
Leughadh, n. and v.n., a
reading, reading.
Leum, V. and n., jump,
jumping (leumnaich) .
Liath (leithe, Hatha), adj.,
grey, grey-headed.
Ligliiche, n.m:., a doctor.
Linne, n.f., a pool, pond.
plur., linneaehan.
Lion (lin), n.m., a 'net;
pL, lin, liontan.
Lion-bhradain, n.mi., a sal-
mon net.
Lion-sg-adain, n.iuj., a her-
ring net.
Litir (litreach), n.f., a tet-
ter; pi., litrichean.
Loeh (locha), n.m., a loch,
hke.
Loisg, v., hurn (losgadh).
Lorn or lomair, v., cut,
shear Clomadh, lomairt,
respectively).
Lòn-feasgair, n.m., evening
meal, supper.
Long- (luinge), n.f., a ship.
Lorg (Kiirge), n.f., a track,
footstep.
Loth (lotha), n.f., a filly.
Luachair (luachrach), n.f.,
rushes: leabaidh luach-
rach, a bed of rushes.
Luath (luaithe), adj., swift.
Luch (lucha, luchainu),
n.f., a mouse.
Luchd-buana, u.pl., reapers.
Lugha (see beag).
M.
Ma, conj., if.
Mac (mic), n.m., a son.
Mach, adv., out.
Machair (machrach), n.f.,
a plain, a meadow;
pL, machraichean.
Madadh-ruadh (madaidh-
ruaidh), n.m., a fox;
pi., madaidh-riiadha.
Maduinn (maidne), n.f.,
mjorning.
Màgair, v., craivl — as on all
fours (magairt).
Maide, n.m., a stick.
Maighdean (maighdein),
n.f., a maiden.
Maigheach (maighiche),
n.f., a hare.
Maighstir, n.m., a master.
Maille, n.f., delay.
Mair, v., continue, last
(maireann, mairsinn).
Mai reach, am mai reach,
adv., to -morrow.
Màiri, n.f., Mary.
Maith, adj., good (see
math).
Maitheas (maitheis), n.m.,
goodness.
Mall (maille), adj., sloiv,
easy going.
Maol (maoile), adj., with-
out horns, polled, bald.
Maor, n.m., an officer of
justice, and other capa-
cities.
Mai'- mar sin, adv.. as,
lil-e as. in the same
manner.
Mara. g^en. of mulr (miiir,
ahvays feminine in gen.
case): taobh na mara,
seaside.
Marag-. n.f., a pudding.
Marbh i mairbhe ), adj.,
dead, lifeless.
Marbh. v.. kill imarbhadh).
Mareaicli. v., ride (marcac-
adh or mareaehdj.
Margadh, n.mj., a market.
Math tfeàrr), adj., good.
Màthair (mathar), n.f.,
a mother.
Meadhon-là, n.m., mid -day.
Meal, v., enjoy (the pos-
session of a thing);
mealtuinn.
Meas (measa), n.m., fruit.
Measg lam measg), prep.,
among.
Mèilich, n.f., bleating.
Meòir, meiiran. pis. of meur.
Meur imeoire), n.f., a
finger.
Mi. mise, pers. pron., 1.
Miann, n.f., a desire, ivisJi.
Mi-fhein. empli. pron., my-
self.
Mil imealai. n.f., honey.
Mile, n.m., a thousand.
Mile, n.f., a mile:
pis., miltean.
Mileamh. uu. adj., the
thousandth.
Mills (milsej, adj., sweet.
Min (niinej, n.f., meal.
Min (mine), adj., smooth.
Minic (gu minic), adv.,
often.
Ministeir, n.m., a minis' er.
MÌOS (miosa), n.m., a
month.
Miosa, adj., see 'olc,' and
"dona."
Misd, misde, comp. of olc,
iwjrse.
Mnà, mnatha, g-en. of hean.
Mnathan, pi. of bean.
Mo, poss. pron., mij.
Moch, adv., early.
Molt, mult imuilti. u.ni..
a ivedder.
Monadh, n.m., a mountain,
a heath.
Mor (mo, motha), adj..
great, large.
Mor, n.f., Sally, Sarah.
Moran adj. and n., many,
mueh.
Mosgail, v., waken (mosg-
ladh).
Mu, prep., about, around.
Muc (muioe), n.f., a sov.
Muigh, a muigh, adv., out
— (i.e., resting in a place)
Muin, air muin, prep., on
top of, on the back of;
air muin eich, on horse-
back.
Muir, a" mhuir, n.f., a sea,
the sea.
Muir, am muir, n.m., a sea,
the sea .
Mulan, n.m., a stack of
hay or corn.
188
Mullach, n.m., the fop,
summit.
Mur, conj. part., /"/ nol .
N.
Na, pi. art., the.
Na, neg-. imper. particle,
not.
Na, the rel. pron., ichat,
that, which.
'Na (cont. for ann a), in
his, her.
'Nam, 'n au (eout. for ann
am, ann an), in their.
Na 'm, na 'n, conj., f/.
Nacli, the rel. pron., neg-
ative, what not, that not,
etc.
Nach? inter, part., not.
Naidheachd, n.f., news,
tiding-s .
Nail, a nail, adv., over,
over from (i.e, coming^
towards usj.
Nan, g-en. pi. art., of the.
Naoi, nu. adj., nine.
Naoidheamh, nu. adj., the
ninth.
Naoinear. uu. n., iiine per-
sons.
Nàrach, adj.. shmiieful,
disgraceful.
Nathair inathraehi, n.f., a
snake, serpen f; pi . ,
nathraichean.
Nead (nidj, n.m., and f.,
a nest; pis., nid, neadan.
Neas, nios (neasa, nise),
n.f., a weasel.
NÌ, v., will make, do.
Nighean, n.f., a daughter;
g'en., nighimi(e»; gen.
with article=na h-ighine
(na h-inghine; prov. ì;
dat., nighinn: pi., nigii-
eannan.
Nios, a nios, adv.. up —
from heloiv (i.e.. motion
upwards from below i.
Nis, adv., noiv.
No, conj., or.
Nochd, an nochd, aiv., to-
night.
'Nuair (an uair). adv.,
when.
Nuas, a nuas, adv.. doivn—
from above; dhòirt an
t-uisge a niias: the rain
poured down.
Nidi, a null, adv.. over,
across — iuotion to.
o
O, prep., froin.
Obair (oibre, oibreach t,
n.f., work: pi., oibrich-
ean, obraichean.
Ochd, nu. adj., eight.
Ochdamh, nu. adj., the
eighth.
Ochdnar, nu. n.. eight per-
sons.
Og (òige;, adj.. goiing.
Oganach, n.m., a youth.
Oibriche, n.m., a workman,
ivorker, labourer.
Oidhclie, n.f., night.
Oigh (òighei. n.f., a
maiden., a ijoioig woman.
189
Oil' (oireì, n.f'., a border,
edge.
Oirun, p.p., on us.
Oirre, p.p., on her.
01, v., drink (ag- òl).
Olc (miovsa), adj., bnd.
wicked; gen. sing. masc.
uilc; g. s. fern., uilce.
Or {òiv). n.m., g'old.
pi., òir, na h-òir, gold
coins.
Oran ,n.m., a song.
Ord ( iiird i, a hammer ;
pi., ùird.
Ord ugh (^oi'duig-h), n.m.,
order, arrangement; pi.,
òvduig'hean.
Oiu). ort, etc. (see p.p'is.).
Oi-ra, „ ,, ,, (air).
Osao'. n.f., a
Failteas. n.m., 'plenty.
abundance.
Paipeir. n.m., a paper, a
newspaper .
Pàirc, n.f., a park.
Pàisd, n.m. or f., a child.
Paisg, v., fold (pasgadh).
Partan, n.m., a crab.
Pathadh, n.m., thirst.
Peann i pinn, peanua),
n.m., a pen; pi., plnii.
peannachan.
Peasair (peasrach), n.f.,
pease; pi., peasraichean.
Peighizm i peigliinne ), n.f..
a penny.
Peitean (peiteinj, n.m., a
iraistcoat, a vest.
Peiteag (peiteig), n.f.,
a nest, a waistcoat.
Peur (peire), n.f., a pear;
pis., peirean, peuran.
Piol) (pioba), n.f., (1) a
tobacco pipe ; (2) the
bag -pipe ; (3) a conduit—
i.e., a leaden pipe, etc.;
pi., pioban.
Pios (piosaj, n.m., a piece;
pi., piosan.
Piseag (pi.seige), n.f., a
kitten.
Piuthar (peathar), n.f., a
sister; pi., peathraichean.
Poca, n.m., a hug; pi.,
pocannan .
Pòcaid (pòcaide), n.f.,
a pocket; pi., pòcaidean.
Pòg (pòigie), n.f., a kiss.
Poit (poite), n.f., a pot.
Pònair (poiiaraeli), n.f.,
beuns.
Port (puirt), n.m.. a port,.
a harbour.
PÒS, v., murry (posadh).
Preas (pris), n.m., a bush,
a shrub.
Pris (prise), n.f., a price.
Priosan, n.m., a prison.
Putan, n.m., a button.
Rach, irreg. v., go (a'dol).
Radan, n.m., a rat.
Ràinig-, irreg. v., reached.
Ràmh, n.m., an oar;
pi., raimh.
190
Eàii, v., cry, roar (ranaich,
ranail).
Eaiinsaich, v., search (rann-
sachadh).
Raoir, an raoir, adv., last
night.
Rathad, n.m., a way.
Re. prep., during.
Reamhar (reamhra), adj.,
fat, stout.
Reic, V. and n., sell,
selling.
Reul (reil), n.f., a star;
pi., I'eultan.
Ri, ris, prep., to.
Riarah (a riamh), adv.,
ever, at any time before
— used of past tense only.
Rinn, v., did make, did.
Rioghachd, n.f., a coimtry,
a kingdom.
Ris, p.p., to him.
Ris, a ris, or rithisd, adv.,
again.
Rium, p.p., to me.
Rium, riut, etc. (see p.p's.
ris).
Robh? was?
Roimh , pi-ep . , before .
Roimhe, adv., before,
'previously.
Roiiin, V. and n., divide,
dividing.
Romliam, romhad (see
p.p's. roimh).
Ron (ròin), n.m., a seal;
pi., ròin.
Rosg (roisg), n.m., eye-lid,
eye-lash; pi., rosgan.
Ruadh (ruaidhe), adj., red,
reddish.
Rud (ruidj, n.m.. a thing,
a matter, an affair.
Rug, irreg". v., past of lieir,
caught.
Ruig, irreg. v., reach
(ruigsinn, ruighoaehl).
Ruith, V. and n.. run.
running.
s
Sabhal, n.m., o barn;
pi., saibhlean.
Saighdear (saighdeiri,
n.m., a soldier.
Sail (saile), n.f., a beam;
pL, sailean.
Sail (saile, salachi, n.i., a
heel; pis., sailean. sàil-
tean.
Salach (salaichej, adj.,
dirty.
Salann, n.m., salt.
Salm (sailm), n.f., a psahii.
Sàmhaeh (sàmhaiche). adj.,
quiet, calm.
Sam-bitli, ever, along ivith
CO, fear, etc.; co-sam-
bith, ivhoever; fear-sam-
bith, anyone.
Saoghal, n.m., an saoghal,
the world.
Saoil, v., think (saoilsinn).
Saor, n.m., a wright.
Saor (saoire), adj., free,
cheap.
Sàr, adj., excellent — used
as au intensive particle;
sàr mhatb, very good.
191
Sè, nu. adj., six.
Seach, seachad air, prep.,
past, by.
Seachd, nu. adj., seven.
Seachdamh. nu. adj.,
seventh.
Seachdnar, nu. n., seven
persons.
Seachduin (seachduinei,
n.f., a week.
Sealgair, n.m., a hunter.
Seall, v., see, look (seall-
tuinn) .
Seanair (seanar), n.m., a
grandfather .
Seanmhair (seanmliar),
n.f., a grandmother.
Seau(n). (sinei, adj.. old.
Searbli (seirbhe), adj.,
bitter.
Searbhant (searbhanta),
n.f., a maid servant.
Seargadh, v.n., withering.
Searrach, n.m., a foal, a
colt.
Searrag-, n.f., a bottle, a
flask.
Seas, v., stand (seasamh).
Sèathamh, nu. adj., the
sixth (also siathamli) .
Seid, V. and n., blow,
blowing.
Seinn, v. and u., sing.
singing.
Seòl (siùil), n.m., a sail;
pL, siùil.
Seòlta, adj., cunning.
Seòmar, n.m., a room, a
parlour.
Seònaid, n.f., Janet, Jessie.
Seòrsa, n.m., a sort, a
k ind ; pi . , seorsacha ii .
Seumas ( Sheumaisi. 'n.m.,
James.
Sgadan, n.m., a herring.
Sgaoil, v., spread fsgaoil-
eadh) .
Sgarbh, n.m., a cormorant.
Sg-eanan, pi. of sgian.
Sgeir, n.f., a rock in the
sea.
Sgeirean, pi. of sgeir.
Sgeul (sgieoil), n.f., a story,
a tale, news.
Sg-eulachd, n.f., a stor//,
a tale.
Sgian, n.f., a knife i see
irreg. declens.j.
Sgiath (sgeith, sgeitlie),
n.f., a wing.
Sgillinn (sgilliime), n.f.. a
penny; sgillinn Shasunn-
nach, an English penny,
i.e., a shilling.
Sgine, oten. of .sgian.
Sgiobair, n.m., a skipper,
master of a boat.
Sg-iobalta, adj., neat, tidy,
stnart.
Sgith (sgithej, adj., tired,
fatigued.
Sgoil, n.f., a school.
Sgoilear (sgoileir), n.m..</
scholar, a pupil.
Sgòr, sgòrr (sgoir, sgorra),
u.m., a 'peaki, a crag.
Sgrios, v., destroy, ruin
(sgi'ios, .sgi'iosadh) .
Sguab, n.f., a .sheaf.
192
Sgiiab, v., cleav, brush
I sguabadh).
Sguir, .v., stop, cease Tsgur
or sgurachd) .
Shios, adv., cloicn — resting
in a place.
Sid (side), n.f., weather
(fime): an t-sid, the
iceather.
Tid, is also used in some
places as the nom. case.
Sin, dem. pron., that,
those.
Sill, v.. stretch (sineadh).
Siol (sil), n.m., a seed of
any kind.
Sionnach, n.m., a fox.
Sios, a sios, adv., down.
doiimu-ards — motion to .
Sith (sithe), n.f., peace,
quietness.
Siubhail, v., go, travel, die
(siubhal ) .
Si ùcar I siùcair) , n.m.,
sugar, a sweetie.
Siuthad! a defect, verb,
go on\ proceed I
Slachdan, n.m|., a rod, a
Dtallef, a pestle — for
l>i»uH(ling potatoes or
l)f ating wet clothes, etc.
Slàn leibh, leat, farewell.
Slat (slaite), n.f., a rod;
pi., slatan.
Sleagh (sleagha), n.f., a
spear, a lance, javelin.
Slige, n.f., a shell.
Slig'be, n.f., a way, a road,
a method.
Sloe, slochd (sluic, sluichd),
n.m. or n.f., a pit, a hole.
Smeòrach, n.f., a thrush.
Smodan, n.m., drizzling
rain.
Snàmh, v. and n., swim,
swimming .
Snath (snàtha), n.m.,
thread, worsted, quantity
of thread.
Snàthad, n.f., a needle.
Sneachd, sneachd(a), n.m., ,
S710W.
Sniomh, v. and n., spin,
spinning.
So, dem. pron.. this, those.
Sòbhrach, n.f., a prmirose;
pi . , sòbhraichean .
Soitheach (soithich), n.m.,
a vessel, a dish, a
pitcher.
Soitheach (soithioh), n.f.,
a boat, a ship.
Solus, n.m., a light.
Sona, adj., happy.
Spàg, spòg (spàige, spòige)
n.f., a paw.
Spaid, n.f., a spade.
Speal (speala), n.f., a
scythe.
Spuir, spuir(e), n.f., a
spur, a claw.
Sraid (sràide), n.f., a street.
Srann (sranna, srainn),
n.m., a snore, a snort-
ing.
Srann, v., snore (srannail).
Sreang (sreinge), n.f., a
string.
Sròn (sròine), n.f., a nose.
19.:
Sruth, n.m., a sfrenn).
Stàbuil, n.mi., a stable.
Staidhir (steidhire, staklh-
i-each). n.t'., a stair; pL,
staidlireachean.
Steach, adv., in, inwards —
expressing motion.
Stig-li. a stig-h, adv., in,
inside — rest in.
Stiùir, v., direct, ffuide
(stiùireadh, stiuradh).
Stiùir (^stiiìire, stiùireach),
n.f., a steer, a rudder.
Stooainn, n.f., a stocking,
hose.
Stoirm. n.f., a storm.
Stòl (stùil), n.m., a stool,
a seat; pi., stùil, stòlan;
( — stòla, stòil, are also
used as Genitives).
Streap, v., climb (streap,
streapadh) .
Suas, adv., up, upwards.
Sud, an sud, adv., there,
yonder.
Sud (siod), a demons, pron.
and adj.. yon, that.
Sùgh (sùgha. sùigh), n.m.,
juice, soup, sap.
Suidheaehan, n.mi, a seat,
a pew.
Suidh, v., sit.
Suidhe, n. and v.n., sitting.
Sùil (sùla), n.f., an eye.
Suipeir (suipeire, suipeir-
each), n.f., a supper.
Sunndach (sunndaiche).
adj.. lively, jolly.
Tab hair (thoir), irre'g. v.,
give (tabhairt or toirt).
Tachair, v., meet, happen
(tachairt).
Tag-hail, v., visit (tag-hal).
Taig-h, n.m., a house,
a home.
Taigh-bainne, n.ml, a milk-
house.
Taig'h-bàta, n.m., a boat-
house.
Tàillear (tàilleir), n.m..
a tailor.
Taing, n.f., thanks.
Tairg-se, n.f., an offer.
Tàmailt, n.f., an insult.
Tana (taine), adj., thin,
slender.
Taom, v., pour, empty
(taomadh) .
Taobh, n.m., a side.
Tarbh, n.m., a bull.
Tarruing, v. and n., draw,
drawing.
Tasdan, n.f., a shilling.
Teachd, n.m., arrival,
coming.
Teachd (see thig-).
Teagiamli, n.m., a doubt.-
Teag'hlach, n.lnj., a family.
Teas, n.m. and f., heat.
Teasach, n.f., a fever.
Teich, v., flee, escape
(teich, teicheadli).
Teid? V. fut. inter, of rach.
Teine, n.m., a fire; pi.,
teintean , teineachan .
Teth (teotha), adj., hot.
194
Tha, v., is.
Thàinig', v., past of thig.
Thairis, thairis air, pi^p.,
over, across.
Thall, adv., over, beyond —
rest in.
Thar, prep., across, over.
Tharam, tharad (see p.p's.
^thar) .
Theab, defect, v., had al-
most, had nearly.
Theagamh, adv., perhaps.
Theid, fut. of rach.
Thig', irreg. v., come (tigh-
inn, teacM).
Thii, thusa, pers. pron.,
thou, thee.
Thubhairt, v. past of abair.
Thuca (see p.p's., gu,
thun) .
Thu-fhein, pers. pron.,
thyself.
Thug', v., past of thoir.
Thugad, defect, v., get outl
look outl
Thugam, thugad (see p.p's.
gu, thun).
Thun (chun), prep, and
adv., to, towards.
Tighinn , V . n . , oo ming .
Tilg, v., throiv (tilgeil).
Till, v., return, turn
(tiUeadh).
TimchioU, mu thimchioll,
prep., round about, re-
garding, concerning.
Tinn (tinne), adj., sick.
Tionail, v., gather (tional).
Tionjidaidh, v., turn
(tionndadh).
Tioram (tiormai. adj.. dry.
Tir (tire), n.f.. land.
Tiugainn, defect, v.. camel
Tobar or tobair ( tobrach ),
n.f., a ivell: pi., tob-
raichean.
Tog, v., lift, raise t togail).
Togail (togalach), n.f., a
building: pi., togalaich-
ean.
Togair, v., desire, wish.
(togairt, togradh).
Toilichte, adj.. pleased,
satisfied.
Tòisich, v., begin (tòis-
eachadh ).
Toll (tuill). n.m.. a hole.
Tolman, n.m., a hillock.
Toman, n.m., a little knoll.
Tomhais, v., weigh, meas-
ure (tomlias, tomhais).
Tonn (tuinn. tuinne). n.m.
and f., a wave, billow;
pis., tuinn, tonnan.
Tràigh (tràghad), n.f., a
sea-shore, a beach.
Tràth (tràithe). adj. and
adv., early.
Tràth-maidne. n.m., morn-
ing meal or diet, break-
fast.
Tre, prep., through.
Treas, nu. adj., third.
Treasa (compar. of làidir).
Treasaid (treasad), 2nd
and 3rd compars.
Treig, v., forsake (trèigsinn)
Tri, nu. adj., three.
Triall, V. and n., go,
195
Trie, gu trie, adv., often.
Trid, prep., on account of.
Tritheamh, nu. adj., the
third.
Triùir, nu. n., three (per-
sons) .
Trobhad, defect, v., coniel
trobhad so! oome herel
Troid, v., scold (trod).
Trom (truime), adj., heawj.
Tromham, tronihad, etc.
(see p.p's., — troimli).
Truinnsear (truinnseir),
u.m., a -plate.
Trus, v., gather, collect
(trusadh) .
Tu, tusa, pers. pron.,
thou, thee.
Tuath, north (An àirde
tuath, the north).
Tiiathanach, n.ml., a farmer.
Tiiig-, v., und-er stand
(tuigsinn).
Tuit, v., fall.
Tuiteam, n. and v.n., a
fall, falling.
Tunnag-, n.f., a duck.
u.
Uaig-h (uaig-he, uaghach),
n.f., a grave; pL,
uaighean.
Uaimh (uaimhe, uamha),
n.f., a cave, a den;
pis., uamhan, uaimhean.
Uai ne , ad j . , green .
Uair, n.f., an hour, time.
Uairean, pi. of uair.
Uaireadair, n.m., a time-
piece, a watch.
Uam, uat, etc. (see p.p's.
o).
Uan, n.m., a lamb.
Ubh (uibhe), n.m., an egg.
Ubhal (ùbhla), n.f., an
apple.
Ud, dem. pron., yon, yon-
der.
Uibhean, pi. of ubh.
Uilc, n.m., gen. of olc, evil,
Uile, indef. pron., all,
every.
Uine, n.f., time.
Uinneag, n.f., a window.
Uird, gen. and pi. of òrd.
Uiridh, an uiridh, adv.,
last year.
Uisige, n.m., water, rain;
pi., uisgeachan.
Ullaich, v., prepare (uU-
achadh).
Umam, umad, etc. (see
p.p's. mu).
Ur, poss. pron., your.
Ur (ùire), adj., new, fresh.
Urrainn, v., can; is urr-
ainn domh, / can.
196
ENGLISH-GAELIC VOCABULARY.
Abbreviations are the same as for the Gaelic-English
Vocabulary.
Past tenses of regular verbs are not given, Consider the
" Group " to which each verb belongs, then the forroation of
the past tense should give no trouble.
The verbal noun is given in brackets after some of the more
uncommon verbs, e.g., bruth (a' brùthadh), and in others
where there might be some difficulty in deciding the exact form.
The genitive case of some nouns is also indicated in brackets.
Reference to the Gaelic-English Vocabulary will give addi-
tional information on most of the words in this Vocabulary.
About, prep., mu, mu
thimehioll .
Account of Ton), prep., air
sgàth, a chionn.
Across, prep., thar, thairis,
air.
Afloat (floating-), air bhog-,
air seòladh.
After, prep., an deidh.
Again, adv., a ris (rithisd)
Against, prep., an ag-haidh.
All, indef. pron., na h-uile,
iad ujle; adj., e.g., all
men, a h-uile duine.
Already, adv., cheana; mar
tha (literally, as it is).
Also, adv., cuideachd, mar
an ceudna.
Always, adv., an còmh-
niiidh, a ghnàth.
Among, prep., am measg.
And, oonj., agiis.
Angry, adj., feargach.
Another, eile. fear eile;
one another, each -a -
cheile .
Answer, v., freagair (a'
f reagairt) .
Any, sam-bith; any money,
airgiod sam-bith.
Apple, n.f., ubhal.
Arrive (at), v., ruig (see
irreg. verbs).
Ask, v., iarr (ag iarraidh).
Asleep (sleeping), a' cadal;
he is asleep, tha e 'na
chadal .
At. prep., aig
Axe, n.f., tuagh (tuaighe).
197
B.
Back, n.m., driiim.
Bad, adj., olc, doiia.
Bag-, n.m., poca; bag-ful,
làn-poca.
Bag--pipe, n.m., a' phiob
(^mhòr).
Bank, n.f., bruach.
Barking, v.n., oomliartaich,
tabhann.
Barn, n.m., sabhal.
Basket, n.f., bascaid.
Beautiful, adj., àluinn,
bòidheach.
Become, v., fas; become
wealthy, fas beartacli.
Bed, n.f., leabaidli (gen.,
leapa ) .
Before, adv., roimhe.
Behind, adv. and prep., an
deidh, air cùlaobh.
Berry, n.f., dearc.
Better, adj., fearr, na 's
fearr.
Bet^\'«en, prep., eadar.
Big-, adj., mor.
Binding-, v.n., a' ceaugal.
Bird, n.m., eun, pi. eòin.
Bit, n.m., crioman.
Black, adj., dubh.
Blade, n.m., iaruun;
faobhar (edge).
Blow, n.f., buille.
Blue, adj., gorm.
Boat, n.m., bàta.
Boat-house, n.m., taigh-
bàta.
Bone, n.m., cnaimh (gen.
cnamha ) .
Book, n.m., leabhar.
Bottle, n.f., searrag.
Bowl, n.m., pòla.
Box, n.m., bocsa; pi.,
bocsaichean.
Boy, n.m., balach.
Branch, n.f., geug-.
Bread, n.m., aran.
Break, v., bris.
Briar, n.f., dreas.
Bridge, n.f., droehaid.
Bring, v., thoir (see irreg.
verbs) .
Broken, v. adj., briste.
Brother, n.m.. bràthair.
Brought, v., thug.
Brown, adj., donn.
Bruise, v., brùth (a' brùth-
adh).
Build, v., tog.
Bull, n.m., tarbh.
Bunch, n.m., bad.
Burn, v., loisg (a" losgadh).
Bush, n.f., preas.
But, conj., ach.
Butter, n.m., im.
Button, n.m., puran.
Buy, v., ceannaich.
B}^ prep., le; but, by the
tail, air earball; by the
head, air cheann.
Byre, n.f., bathaich (gen.
bathach). Bathaoh is
used for nom. sometimes.
c
Calf, n.m., laog-h.
Call, v., g-airm (a'gairm).
Calm, adj., ciùin.
198
Calved, v., the cow calved,
rug a bho (laogh).
Canie, v., thàinig.
Can, defect, v., is urrainn
(domh, etc.).
Cannot, defect, v., cha "n
urrainn (domh, etc.).
Cap, n.m. or f., boineid.
Carriage, n.f., carhad.
Cast, v., tilg.
Cat, n.m., cat.
Catch, v., glac, heir air.
Caught, v., rug (e, i, etc.),
air.
Chair, n.f.. cathair
(cathrach).
Cheap, adj., saor (saoire).
Cheese, n.m., càise.
Child, n.m, and f. pàisd.
Children, n.pl., pàisdean.
Church, n.f., eaglais.
City, n.m., baile.
Clean, v., glan, nigh (a'
nigheadh) .
Clever, adj., sgiobalta,
grinn.
Clock, n.m., uaireadair;
o'clock, uairean; e.g.,
ochd uairean, eight
o'clock.
Cloth, n.m., aodach
(clothes, aodaichean") .
Coat, n.m., eòta.
Cold, adj., fuar.
Colt, n.m., searrach.
Come, v., thig.
Corn, n.m., arbhar.
Country, n.f., duthaich, tir;
in the country, air an
duthaich.
Cover, v., còmhdaich.
Cow, n.f., bo; pi., bà.
Ci"op, n.m., bàrr.
Cross, adj., crosda, fearg-
ach.
Cut, v., geàrr.
Dairymaid, n.f., banarach.
Dark, adj., dorch (duircheV
Daughter, n.f., nighean;
(gen., nighinne; of the
daughtier, na h-ighne).
Day, n.m., la, latha.
Dead, adj., marbh.
Deer, n.m., fiadh; pi.,
feidh.
Dirty, adj., salach.
Dish, n.m., soitheacli.
Do, V. irreg-., dean (past,
rinn).
Dog, n.m., CÙ; pi., coin.
Door, n.m., dorus.
Down, adv., sios, a sios.
Dress, n.m., gun; dress
(n.f.), deise.
Drink, v., òl.
Drink, n.f., deoch (gen.
dighe) .
Drown, v., bath
(a' bàthadh) .
Duck, n.f., tuunag.
Dui'ing, prep., re, troimh.
Eagle, n.f., iolair.
Ear, n.f., cluas;
pi., cluasan.
Ear (of corn), n.f.. dias
(gen., deise); pi., diasan.
199
Early, adv., moch.
Eat, v.. ith (itheadh).
Eg^, n.m., ubh;
pi., uibhean.
Eight, nu. adj., ochd.
Empty, adj., falamh.
Enough, adv., gu leòir.
Evening-, n.m., feasgar.
Ever, adv., in the past —
riamh; in the future —
chaoidh.
Every, adj., a h-uile, gach.
Ever^'one (collectively), na
h-uile; distributively, a
h-uile neach, gach neach,
a h-uile duine, etc.
Eye, n.f., sùil; pi., siiilean.
Face, n.f., aghaidh, aod-
ami (n.m.); in face of,
an aghaidh.
Faithful, adj.. dileas.
Fall, v., tuit.
Farmer, n.m., tuathanach.
Father, n.m., athair.
Feather, n.f., ite.
Field, n.m., achadh.
Fierce, adj., borb.
Find, V. irreg., faigh.
Fine, adj., maith (math),
gasda.
Finger, n.f., meur (meòire).
Fire, n.m., teine.
Fish, n.m., iasg; gen. eisg.
Fish, v., iasgaieh.
Fisherman, n.m., iasg^ir.
Fishing, n. and v.n., iasg-
aeh; going a -fishing, a'
dol a dh' iasgach.
Five, nu. adj.. c6ig.
Five o'clock, coig uairean.
Floor, n.m., làr.
Flower, n.m., dithean, flùr.
Fly, n.f., cuileag.
Fodder, n.f., connlach.
Follow, v., lean (a' lean-
tuinn).
Food, n.m., biadh (g^n.,.
bidhe).
Foolish, adj., gòrach.
Foot, n.f., cas (coise).
Fort, n.m., dun.
Forty ,nu. adj., da fhich-
ead.
Found, V. irreg., fhuair.
Four, nu. adj., ceithir.
Fourth, nu. adj., ceath-
ramh.
Fox, n.m., sionnach, mad-
adh-ruadh.
Friend, n.m., caraid; pi.,
càirdean.
From, prep., bho, o.
Front (in front of), prep.
and adv., roimhe, air
beulaobh.
Fruit, n.m., meas; pi.,
measan.
Full, adj., Ian.
Garden, n.m., gàradh.
Garden, n.f., lios (g-en.,
lise).
Gate, n.m., geata.
Gather, v., trus, cruinuich.
Gathering, v.n., a' trusadh,
a' cruinueachadh.
200
Gave, v., thug.
Get, V. irreg., faigh.
Girl, n.f., caileag (^caileig-e ) ;
pi., caileagan.
Give, V. irreg., tabhair,
thoir.
Giving, a' tabhairt, a'toirt.
Glare (of a fire), n.f ., lasair.
Glare, n.m., deàrrsadh.
Glass, n.f., gloinne.
Glen, n.m., gleann (gen.,
glinne).
Go, v., rach, iniicli.
Going, v.n., a' dol.
Gold, n.m., or.
Good, adj., maith (math).
Good-bye, beannaehd leibh.
Good-night, oidhehe mliath
leibh.
Got, v., fhuair.
Grass, n.m., feur (gen.,
feòir or feòire).
Green, adj., uaine.
Grey, adj., glas.
Ground, talamh (gen., tal-
mhainn); masc. in nom..,
fern, in gen. An talamh,
the earth; uachdar na tal-
mhainn, the surface of
the earth.
Group ( company;, n.f.,
cuideachd.
Gruel, n.m., brochan.
Gruel, n.f., stiùireag.
Guide, v., stiùir, treoraich.
Gun, n.m., gunna.
H.
Half, adj., leth.
Hammer, n.m., òrd.
Hand, n.f., làmh; pL,
làmhan.
Happy, adj., sona.
Hard, adj., cruaidh.
Hare, n.f., maigheach.
Harvest-field, n.m., achadh-
buana.
Hat, n.f., ad (g-eu.. aide).
Have, v., tha — aig; tha
damli aig an dnine, the
man has an ox.
He, pers. pron., e;
emph., esan.
Head, n.m., ceann.
Hear, v. irreg., eliiinn
(a' clvunntinn).
Heard, v. irreg., chuala.
Hearty, adj., cridheil.
Heather, n.m., fraoch.
Heavy, adj., trom.
Help, v., cuidich laeuid-
eachadh).
Hen, n.f., cearc (g'en.,
ciroe).
Her, poss. pron., a.
Herd, n.m., bviachaill.
Hero, n.m., laoch, curaidh.
Herring, n.m., sgadan.
High, adj., àrd; high wind,
gaoth mhor, gaoth
chruaidh.
Hill, n.m., cnoc, monadh.
Hills., pi., cnuic.
Himself, pers. pron..
e-fhein.
201
His, poss. pron., a. —
aspirates its noun.
Hit, v., buail.
Hole, n.m., toll; pi., tuill.
Home, n.f., dacliaidh; at
home, aig' an taigh.
Honey, n.f., mil (gen.,
meala) .
Horn, n.f., adhare.
Horse, n.m., each; pi.,
eich.
Horse -shoe, n.f., crudha
(g-'en., criiidhe).
Hour, n.f., uair; pi., uair-
ean.
House, n.m., taigh, tigh.
How? inter, adv., ciamar?
How many? cia mlieud?
oia lion?
Hunger, n.m., acras.
Hungry, adj., acraeh.
Hunt, v., sealg.
Hunter, n.m., sealgair.
Himting, v.n., a' sealg.
Husband, n.m., fear-posda,
companach; (ceile, m. and
f., spouse).
I.
I, pers. pron., mi; emph.,
mise .
If, conj., ma.
It not, mur.
In, into, prep., aun an,
anus.
In, adv., a stigh.
Indeed, adv., g-u dearbh.
Is? Am bheil? An e? etc.
Island, n.m., eilean.
Islay, n.f., He.
J.
James, n.m., Seumas.
Jane, n.f.. Sine.
Janet, Jessie, n.f., Seonaid.
John, n.m., Iain.
Joiner, n.m., saor.
K.
Keep, v., cum fa'cumail).
Key, n.f., iuchair
(iuchrach).
Kick, v., breab (a' breab-
adh).
Kill, v., marbh.
King, n.m., righ; pi.,
righrean.
Kitten, n.f., piseag.
Knife, n.f., s'gian (see
irreg. declens.).
Know, v., I (know, tha fliios
I fios) agam; I do not know,
cha 'n 'eil fhios ag-am.
Lad, n.m., gille; pL,
g-illean.
Lamb, n.m., uan; j^l.. uuin.
Lame, adj., crùbach.
Land, n.f., tir.
Large, adj., mor.
Last (nig-ht), adv., an raoir.
Last (year), adv., an uiridh.
Late, adv., anamoch.
Lay (to lie down), v.,
laigh (a' laighe).
Lay (to place), v., cuir,
euir sios, càirich.
202
Lazy, adj., leisi^, slaodach.
Leave, v., ikg.
Leg-, n.f., cas.
Letter, n.f., litir.
Lift, v., tog.
Lion, n.f. or m., leòmhann.
Little, adj., beag.
Little, adj. n., beagau.
Loch, n.m., loch.
Lock, v., g'lais, g-las.
Lock, n.f., glas.
Locked, v. adj., ig-laiste.
Long, adj., fada.
Lose, v., caill (call).
Lo.st, V. adj., caillte.
M.
Made, v. irreg-., rinn.
Make, v. irreg-., dean.
Malcolm, n.m., Calum.
Man, n.m., fear, duine;
pi., fir, daoine.
Many, adj., (many a),
iomadh.
Many, adj. n., morau.
Mare, n.f., lair (làrach).
Market, n.m., margadh.
Mary, n.f., Màiri.
Mason, n.m., clachair.
Mast, n.m., crann (croiun,
gen. and pi.).
Master, n.m., maig-hstir.
Mavis, n.f., smeorach.
Meal, n.f., min.
Meet, v., tachair.
Mend, v., càirich (a' càr-
adh).
Merchant, n.m., ceannaiche.
Middle, n.m., meadhon; in
the middle, anns a'
mheadhon.
Milk, n.m., bainne.
Milk, v.. bleoghainn.
Milking, v.n., bleoghan.
Milk -house, n.m., taigli-
bainne.
Milking-time, n.m., am-
bleoighann.
Milk -pail, n.m., cuman.
Mine (see poss. prons.L
Mist, n.m., ceo.
Money, n.m., airgiod.
Month, n.m., mios.
Moon, n.f., gealach.
Morning-, n.f., maduinn
(niaidne).
Mother, n.f., mathair.
Mountain, n.f., beinn;
pi., beanntan.
Mountain, n.m., monadh,
sliabh .
Mouse, n.f., luch (gen.,
luchainn).
Must, feumaidh, is eudar;
I must, feumaidh mi, is
eudar dhomh.
My, poss. pron., mo.
Myself, pers. pron., mi-
fhein.
N.
Near, adj., faignos, faisg.
Nearly (see defective
verbs).
Neat, adj., gi-inn, sgiobalta;
she is neater than, tha i
na's gi-inne na, etc.
203
Xeed, 11. m., feiuu; clia"ii
"eil feum air, there is iio
need on it (for it).
Tha feum again air
bainne, I need milk —
literally, there is need at
me on (with) milk.
Needle, n.f., snàthad.
Xest, n.m. and f., nead.
Xet, n.m.. lion (lint.
New, adj., ùr.
Xews, n.f., uaidheaciid.
Xext, adj., an ath; the
next man, an ath fhear.
Xiee. adj., gasda,
maith .
Xiece, sav, sister's (or
brother's ) daughter, aiig-h-
ean mo pheathar ( or mo
bhràthari.
Xig'ht, n.f., oidhehe; at
night, am beul na h-
oidhche (at dusk).
Xiue, adj.. naoi.
Xoise, n.m. and f., fuaim.
Now, adv., a nis, an
dràsda .
Xut, n.f., cnò: pi., cnotli-
an.
Oar, n.m., ràmh; pi.,
ràimh.
O'clock Hiouri, uair,
uairean.
Off (awa}- 1, adv., air falbli
Off (e.g., put off you),
dhiot (see p.p's.).
Old. adj., aosda, sean.
Old-maid, n.f., seann
mhaig-hdean.
On, prep., air.
One, nu. adj., aon.
One (any one), indef . pron.,
fear-sam-bith.
One (one of) ,aon de. etc.
Open, v., fosgail (fosgladh).
Open, V. adj., fosgailte.
Opposite, prep., rau choinn-
eamh.
Other, adj., eile; other
friends, càirdean eile.
Our, poss. pron., ar.
Out, adv. (rest in), a m nigh.
Out, adv. (motion towards),
a mach.
Over (towards one), adv.,.
a nail.
Over (me), prep., thairis.
orm=tharam.
Ox. n.m.. damli Klaimhi.
Pan, n.f., poit.
Paper, n.m., paipeir.
Park, n.f., pàirc.
Parlour, n.m., seòmar.
Paw, n.f., spàg, spòg.
Pay, v., pàigh or pàidli
(paidheadh).
Pear, n.f., peui'; pi.,
peuran.
Pen, n.m., peann (gen..
pinn or peannaj.
Penny, n.f., sgillinn.
peighinn.
Perhaps, adv., theagamli
dh" fhaoidteadh.
204
Piece, n.m., pìos.
Pig-, n.f ., muc (gen., iiiuioe)
Pigeon, n.m., calaman.
Pipe, n.f., piob.
Piper, n.m., piobaire.
Pit, n.m. or f., .sloe, slochd.
Place, n.m., àite.
Plate, n.m., truinnsear.
Play, v., cluich (a'cluich).
Pluck, v., buain, spion.
Pocket, n.f., pòcaid.
Poet, n.m., bard.
Pool, n.m.. Ion (gen., loin,
lùin).
Pool, n.f., linne; pi., linn-
eaelian.
Poor, adj., bochd.
Porridge, n.m., lit (gen.,
lite).
Pour, v., dòirt (a' dòrtadh).
Price, n.f., pris.
Prinxrose, n.f., sobliracli.
Properly, adv., gu ceart;
mar bu^ choir.
Psalm, n.f., salm.
Put, v., cuir.
Queen, n.f., ban-righ.
Queer, adj., neònach, iong-
antach.
Question, n.f., ceist.
Quick, adj., luath, clis;
(adv., gu luath).
Quiet, adj., samhaeh, ciiiin.
Quietly, adv., g-u samliach,
gni ciùin.
Quite, adv., tur, gu tur,
UU leir.
Rabbit, n.m., coinean;
pi., coineanan.
Rain, n.m., uisg'e.
Rat, n.m., radan; pi.,
radain.
Reach, irreg.v., ruio-.
Reached, v., ràinio-.
Reap, v., buain.
Reaping-, n. and v.n.. buain.
Return, v., till.
Ring-, n.f., fàinne.
Right, adj., ceart.
Ripe, adj., abaich.
Ripen, v., abaich (ag
abachadh).
Rise, v., eirich.
River, n.f., abhainn
(aibhne).
Rock, n.f., creag (gt'ii.,
creige).
Rod, n.f., slat; pi., slatau.
Roe, n.f., earb.
Room, n.m., seòmar, rum.
Root, n.m., bun.
Rough, adj., garbh, fiadli-
aich.
Rushes, n.f., hiachair
(luachrach).
Said, irreg-. v., thubhairt.
Sail, n.m., seùl (siùih.
Salmon, n.m., bradan.
Salt, n.m., salann.
Say, irreg. v., abair.
Saying, ag radh, a' cant-
uinn.
Saw, v., cluinnaic.
205
Scholar, n.m., sg-oilear;
pi., sgoilearan.
School, n.f., sgoil.
Score, nu. adj., fichead.
Sea, n.m. or f., muir,
fairge (g-enerally iised
for. 'ang-ry sea"); to sea
gni muir. chim na mara.
Seal, n.m., ròii.
Sea -trout, n.f., g-ealag.
Seat, n.m., suidheachau.
Second, nu. adj., dara.
See, V. irreg., faic.
Sell, v., reie (a' reic).
Serpent, n.f., nathair
( nathrach ).
Servant, n.f., searbhant.
Set, v., cuir (set a net).
Seven, nu. adj., seaclid.
Sharp, adj., geur.
Sharpen, v.. g-leas, g-euraich.
Sheaf, n.f., sg-uab; pi.,
sg-uaban.
Sheep, n.f., caora; pi.,
caoraich.
Shell, n.f., slige.
Shelter, n.m., fasgadh.
Shepherd, n.m., ciobair.
Shieling-, n.f., àirig-h.
Shilling-, n.f., tasdau.
Shining, v.n., a' dealradh.
Ship, n.f., long, soitheach.
Shoe, n.f., bròg; pi.,
brògan.
Shoe I off a horse), n.f.,
crudha .
Shoot (an animal with a
gun), tilg le gunna.
Shoot (at a thing-), loisg
(fire,) air.
Shoi-e, n.m., eladacli; f.,
tràig-h (tràghad).
Show, v., seall (a'seallt-
uinn).
Shower, n.f., fras ifroi>e).
Shut, v., druid, dùin.
Shut, V. adj., druidte,
dùinte.
Sick, adj., tinn.
Side, n.m., taobh.
Sing., v., seinn (a'seinn).
Sister, n.f., piuthar.
Sit, v.. suidh (8uidliei.
Six, nu. adj., se.
Sixth, nu. adj., sèathamh.
Sixty, nu. adj., tri -fichead.
Skipper, n.m., sg-iobair.
Skin ( or furi, n.m., bian.
Sleep, n.m., cadal.
Sleep, v., caidil (a' cadal).
Slow, adj., mall, slaodach.
Smartly, adv., gTi sgiobalta,.
gu h-aithghearr.
Smithy, n.f., eeàrdach.
Snow, n.m., sneachd.
Soldier, n.m., saighdear.
Someone, indef. pron.,
ciud-eigin.
Son, n.m., mac; pi., mic.
Sortg, n.m., òran.
Sore, adj., goirt.
Sound, n.m. and f., fuaim.
Sow, n.f., muc.
Sowing (seed), v.. a' cur
(sU).
Spade, n.f., spaid.
Speak, v.. labhair. bru: ih-
inn.
Spill, v., dòirt.
Spoon, n.f., Spain.
206
Stable, n.m., stàLull.
Step, n.m., ceiim (gen.,
ceumaj.
Stick, n.m., maide.
Stone, n.f., clach (cloiche);
pL, clachan.
Stool, n.m., stòl (stùil).
Stormy, adj., stoirmeil,
fiadhaich.
Stream, n.m., sruth.
Strike, v., buail.
String-, n.f., sreang (sreinge)
Strong, adj., laidir.
Summer, n.m., samhradh.
Sun, n.f., grian (gen.,
greine).
Supper, n.f., suipeir.
Sui-e, adj., cinnteach.
Swan, n.f., eala.
Sweet (in tas<«), adj.,milÌ8.
Sweet (music), adj., binn,
ceòlmhor.
Sweetness, n.f., milsead,
milseachd.
Swift, adj., luath.
Sword, n.m., claidheamli.
Table, n.m., bòrd.
Tailor, n.m., 'taillear.
Tall, adj., àrd.
Tell, v., innis (ag innseadh).
Tell (say to), v., abair ri
or ris.
Ten. nu. adj., deieh.
Than, conj., na.
Thank you, gu 'n robh math
agaibh, taing dhuibh.
That, those, dem. pron.,
sin.
That, rel. pron., a.
That, conj., girmm).
Their, poss. pron.. an (am).
Then, adv., an sin.
There, adv., ann. an sud.
Thirst, n.m., pathadh.
Thirsty, adj., pàiteach.
Thirteen, nu. adj.. tri-deug.
Thirty, nu. adj., deich air
fhichead.
This, dem. pron., so.
Though, conj., ged (a).
Thousand, adj. and n.,
mile; pi., miltean.
Thread, n.m., snath.
Three, nu. adj., tri.
Throw, v., tilg.
Thrush, n.f., smeòrach.
Tidy, sgiobalta, grinn.
Tied, adj., ceangailre.
Time, n.f. J ùine, am.
Tired, adj., sigith.
To, prep., do, ri, ris.
To-day, adv., an diugh.
To-morrow, adv., am
màireach.
To-night, adv., an noehd.
Too, adv. (of deg. I, ro.
Too (also), cuideachd.
Took, v., thug-.
Top, n.m., barr, mullach.
Tooth, n.f., fiacail (fiacla).
Towards, prep., g-u, thun, a
dh' ionnsuidh.
Town, n.m., baile.
Tree, n.f., craobh.
Trout, n.m., breac (g-en.,
brie).
Truthful (true), fior, fir-
inneach.
207
Tuft, n.m., bad, torn.
Turn, v., till.
Twenty, nu. adj., fichead.
Tsvig, n.f., geug-; n.m.,
meangan or meanglan.
Two, nu. adj., da.
u.
Under, prep., fo.
Until, adv. and prep., gus;
gus a' chriooh, until the
end.
Up, adv. (motion towards),
suas, a suas.
Up, adv. (rest in), shuas.
Us, sinn, sinne.
Use, n.m., feum; cha 'n 'eil
feum ann, there is no use
in it (see under "need").
V.
Vain, adj., faoin, stràiceil
Very, adv., gle; very big,
gle mhor.
View, n.m., sealladh, fradh-
arc.
Village, n.m., baile-beag,
baile -duthcha ; baile -
duthcha also means,
comity -town.
Violin, n.f., fiodhull (gen.,
fidhle).
Visit, v., taghail, rach a'
cheilidh; we shall visit,
theid sinn a' cheilidh
(air).
Voice, n.m., guth (gutha).
w.
Wait, v., fan (a' fautoinu).
Waken, v., dùisg (a' dùsg-
adh).
Wall, n.m., balla; pi.,
ballachan.
Walk, v., coisich (a' cois-
eachd) .
Warm, adj., blàth.
Warm (at a fire), gar
(a' garadh).
Warm (generally), blàth-
aich (a' blàthachadh) .
Wash, v., nigh (a' nigh-
eadh) .
Watch, n.m., uaireadair.
Water, n.m., uisge.
Way, n.m., rathad.
Way, n.f., slighe.
Wealthy, adj., beartach.
Weasel, n.f., neas.
Wedder, n.m., molt, mult
(gen., muilt).
Week, n.f., seachduin.
Welcome, n.f., fàilte; cuir
fàilte air, givie a welcome
to.
Well, adv., gu math.
Well, n.f., tobar (gen.,
tobraeh) .
Weeping, v.n., a' gid.
Went, v., chaidli.
Wet, adj., fliuch.
What? inter., ciod? de?
What, rel. pron., na.
When? inter., c'mn?
When, adv., nuair, an uair.
Where? inter., c'àite?
Which, rel., a.
208
Which Cof themì? c6 aca?
White, adj., gieal, ban.
Vrho? inter., co?
Whoever, indef. prou., co-
air -bith.
Whose? inter., co leis?
Why? inter., c' arson?
Wife, n.f., beau (see irreg-.
deelens.).
William, n.m., Uilleam.
Wind, n.f., 2:aoth.
Window, n.f., uinueag;
pi., uinneagun.
Wing', n.f., sg-iath (sgeithe).
Winter, n.m., geamhradh.
Wise, adj., g'lic.
With, prep., le, leis.
Woman, n.f., bean;
j)l., mnathan (see irreg.
decleu.).
Wood, n.f., coille.
Work, n.f., obair (gen.
oibre, oib reach).
Wrig-ht, n.m., saor.
Wrong-, adj., ceàrr, mì-
cheart.
Year, n.f., bliadhna;
pi., bliadhnachan; many
a year, iomadh bliadhna.
Yesterday, adv., an de.
Young-, adj., òg'.
Young- (girl), n.f., òigh.
Young (lad), n.m., òg-anach.
Youi-, poss. pron., bhur, ur.
Yom-self, poss. pron.,
thu-fhein.
'^^^
