MacLaren's GAELIC SELF-TAUGHT - LEASAN a DHÀ-DHEUG - Gnàthasan-cainnte: Seilbh - BI agus AIG
(Lesson12 - Idioms: Possession - to have
Aithris-àichidh (Disclaimer) :--
Tha an leasan seo (agus leasanan sam bith a leanas) às an leabhar Gaelic Self-Taught le Alexander MacLaran (1923). Tha na mìneachaidhean gràmair agus na obair-lesanan agus na cuidichean fuaimneachaidh às an leabhar gu buileach. Tha mi a' sgrìobhadh na òrduighean a bha anns a' Ghàidhlig.
This lesson (and any lessons that follow) are from the book Gaelic Self-Taught by Alexander MacLaran (1923). The grammar explanations, the work-exercises and the pronunciation tips are entirely from the book. I am writing the instructions in Gaelic.
Gnàthasan-cainnte - {Idioms}
Leugh na roinnean 107 gu 110.
107. An Idiom is an expression that has acquired by usage a certain meaning, which becomes lost in a word-for-word translation into another language ; so that in order to convey the meaning in that other language the form of the expression must be changed.
108. Thus tha an leabhar aig an duine is a Gaelic Idiom, for its sense is lost in a word-for-word English translation like the book is at the man, and in order to convey the true meaning, the English expression must be changed to "the man has the book."
109. Idioms constitute one of the chief difficulties in learning any language, and the student is recommended to master the few Gaelic Idioms which will now be introduced into these excercises.
110. These Idioms enter much into the spoken and written language and well deserve particular attention, for htere is not a page written in which they are not to be found, nor can there be a single conversation without their use.
To Denote Possession - to have
Leugh na roinnean 111 -113
111. Comharrachadh Seilbh leis an gnìomhar "bi" agus an riomhear "aig
{Denoting possession with the verb "be" and the preposition "at"}
The verb "have" is in English generally an auxiliary verb, but it is not always such. When it is used in English to indicate "possession" it must be translated by the Gaelic verb bi along with the preposition aig, at. Thus "I have a book" becomes in this idiom "a book is at me," or "there is a book at me" or "to me," and similarly through all the pronouns. This is a somewhat similar idiom to the Latin form, "est mihi liber," "there is a book to me," &c.
112. Such a sentence one might expect to be translated into Gaelic tha leabhar aig me, "a book is at me." Instead, however, we use a combination of pronoun and preposition called a prepositional pronoun (ro-riochdair). Hence we write tha leabhar agam. (Prep. Pro. Par. 404)
113. Observe that in this construction the subject of the English sentence becomes the object in the Gaelic idiom. In tha leabhar agam "I have a book," leabhar is nominative to the tha (and so comes after the verb), and not as in the corresponding English sentence "I have a book," in which "book" is in the objective case. This order of the words holds good no matter how many subjects to the verb are introduced. They are all in the Gaelic nominatives to tha, and in English objectives after "have."
Sgrìobh an clàr 114.
114. Ro-riochdairean a tha a' dèanamh dhen roimhear aig
Prepositional pronouns that are formed from the preposition aig - "at"
aig mi becomes agam (akum) = at me = I have
aig thu => agad (akud) = at thee = thou hast
aig e => aige (ayku) = at him = he has
aig i => aice (aych-ku) = at her = she has
aig sinn => againn (akyun) = at us = we have
aig sibh => agaibh (akyv) = at you = you have
aig iad => aca (ach-keh) = at them = they have
Leugh roinnean 115 gu 117.
115. Eisimpleirean Cleachdaidh
{Examples of Use}
Tha peann agad(sa). = You have a pen.
Tha bò aige(san). = He has a cow.
Tha ad aice(se). = She has a hat.
Nach eil sgian aig a' ghille? = Doesn't the lad have a knife?
Chan eil dà leabhar aig a' chaileig. = The girl doesn't have two books.
Ged nach robh an t-airgead aige an-dè, bidh e aige a-màireach. = Although he didn't have the money yesterday he will have it tomorrow.
116. These pronouns, agam, agad, aige &c., denote possession but do not necessarily signify ownership, take this example: tha taigh aige, "he has a house," which means that he possesses a house which may or may not be his own, i.e. he may be only a tenant. (See par. 184 - idioms of the verb is with the preposition le to denote absolute ownership.)
117. And the idiom which thus expresses our relation to our material property is also used to express our relation to our immaterial properties, or bodily and mental activities, which are in some way subject to our control.
Tha fuath agam dha. = I loath him. {I have loathing toward him. Loathing is at me for him.}
Tha gràin agam air. = I hate him. {I have hatred (on/for/concerning) him. Hatred is at me (on/for/concerning) him.}
Tha truas agam ris. = I pity him. {I have pity towards him. Pity is at me towards him.}
Tha gaol agam air. = I love him. {I have love (on/for/concerning) him. Love is at me (on/for/concerning) him.}
But I cannot say tha tinneas agam, "sickness is at me" when I mean to tell you that "I am sick." Sickness is generally outside our control and is looked on as an infliction which comes "on us," as will be shown.
118. Faclan
ainmearan boireannta - (feminine nouns)
ad (at) = hat
fuath (do) (foou) = loathe, detest
gràin (air) (gra-an) = hate
ainmearan fireanta - (masculine nouns)
an t-airgead (an target) = the money
gaol (air) (goll) = love
an leabhar (an llyo-ur) = the book
peann (pyawnn) = a pen
truas (ris/de) (troous) = pity
roimhearan - {prepositions agus abairtean roimhearaichte}
aig a' chaileig (nf) (ak eh challyk) = at the girl {the girl has}
aig a' ghille (nm) = at the boy {the boy has}
Cleachdaidhean
119. Leugh a-mach na seantasan Gàidhlig. Sgrìobh iad anns a' Ghàidhlig agus chuir Beurla orra.
1. Am bi bò agam?
2. Bidh bò agam agus cha bhi bò agad-sa.
3. Ged nach eil bò agad.
4. Ma bhios bò aice.
5. Tha peann aige.
6. Tha taigh agad.
7. Nach eil sgian agam?
8. Chan eil sgian agam.
9. Tha an sgian aig a' ghille.
10. Tha am bàta aige.
11. Tha na h-eich sin agad.
12. Tha an sgian agad.
13. Tha na coin aca ach tha bò againn.
14. Tha an t-each agam ach tha an cù agad.
15. Tha an leabhar agam agus tha leabhar aig a' chaileig.
16. Bha na h-eich sin againn a-raoir.
120. Cuir Gàidhlig air na seantansan a leanas. Leugh na seantansan Gàidhlig a-mach.
1. I have a horse.
2. He as a house.
3. Has he not a house? {Doesn't he have a house?}
4. We have a horse and a dog.
5. He had a dog but he has not it now. {..doesn't have it now}
6. We have a cow.
7. Have you a hat?
8. She has a hat.
9. I have not a hat now.
10. I pity him.
11. Has he not a book? {Doesn't he have a book?}
12. he had the book yesterday.
13. He has not a knife today. {He doesn't have a knife today.}
14. You had the knife last night.
15. We had the dogs on the hill but the cow was in the {animal} pen there.
16. There it is now.
17. You will have a cow tomorrow.
18. Will the farmer have a cow today?
19. Will the girl have that book now?
20. I have the book today, the boy will have it tomorrow, and the girl will have it the day after.
21. The man had it last night.
Aithris-àichidh (Disclaimer) :--
Tha an leasan seo (agus leasanan sam bith a leanas) às an leabhar Gaelic Self-Taught le Alexander MacLaran (1923). Tha na mìneachaidhean gràmair agus na obair-lesanan agus na cuidichean fuaimneachaidh às an leabhar gu buileach. Tha mi a' sgrìobhadh na òrduighean a bha anns a' Ghàidhlig.
This lesson (and any lessons that follow) are from the book Gaelic Self-Taught by Alexander MacLaran (1923). The grammar explanations, the work-exercises and the pronunciation tips are entirely from the book. I am writing the instructions in Gaelic.
Gnàthasan-cainnte - {Idioms}
Leugh na roinnean 107 gu 110.
107. An Idiom is an expression that has acquired by usage a certain meaning, which becomes lost in a word-for-word translation into another language ; so that in order to convey the meaning in that other language the form of the expression must be changed.
108. Thus tha an leabhar aig an duine is a Gaelic Idiom, for its sense is lost in a word-for-word English translation like the book is at the man, and in order to convey the true meaning, the English expression must be changed to "the man has the book."
109. Idioms constitute one of the chief difficulties in learning any language, and the student is recommended to master the few Gaelic Idioms which will now be introduced into these excercises.
110. These Idioms enter much into the spoken and written language and well deserve particular attention, for htere is not a page written in which they are not to be found, nor can there be a single conversation without their use.
To Denote Possession - to have
Leugh na roinnean 111 -113
111. Comharrachadh Seilbh leis an gnìomhar "bi" agus an riomhear "aig
{Denoting possession with the verb "be" and the preposition "at"}
The verb "have" is in English generally an auxiliary verb, but it is not always such. When it is used in English to indicate "possession" it must be translated by the Gaelic verb bi along with the preposition aig, at. Thus "I have a book" becomes in this idiom "a book is at me," or "there is a book at me" or "to me," and similarly through all the pronouns. This is a somewhat similar idiom to the Latin form, "est mihi liber," "there is a book to me," &c.
112. Such a sentence one might expect to be translated into Gaelic tha leabhar aig me, "a book is at me." Instead, however, we use a combination of pronoun and preposition called a prepositional pronoun (ro-riochdair). Hence we write tha leabhar agam. (Prep. Pro. Par. 404)
113. Observe that in this construction the subject of the English sentence becomes the object in the Gaelic idiom. In tha leabhar agam "I have a book," leabhar is nominative to the tha (and so comes after the verb), and not as in the corresponding English sentence "I have a book," in which "book" is in the objective case. This order of the words holds good no matter how many subjects to the verb are introduced. They are all in the Gaelic nominatives to tha, and in English objectives after "have."
Sgrìobh an clàr 114.
114. Ro-riochdairean a tha a' dèanamh dhen roimhear aig
Prepositional pronouns that are formed from the preposition aig - "at"
aig mi becomes agam (akum) = at me = I have
aig thu => agad (akud) = at thee = thou hast
aig e => aige (ayku) = at him = he has
aig i => aice (aych-ku) = at her = she has
aig sinn => againn (akyun) = at us = we have
aig sibh => agaibh (akyv) = at you = you have
aig iad => aca (ach-keh) = at them = they have
Leugh roinnean 115 gu 117.
115. Eisimpleirean Cleachdaidh
{Examples of Use}
Tha peann agad(sa). = You have a pen.
Tha bò aige(san). = He has a cow.
Tha ad aice(se). = She has a hat.
Nach eil sgian aig a' ghille? = Doesn't the lad have a knife?
Chan eil dà leabhar aig a' chaileig. = The girl doesn't have two books.
Ged nach robh an t-airgead aige an-dè, bidh e aige a-màireach. = Although he didn't have the money yesterday he will have it tomorrow.
116. These pronouns, agam, agad, aige &c., denote possession but do not necessarily signify ownership, take this example: tha taigh aige, "he has a house," which means that he possesses a house which may or may not be his own, i.e. he may be only a tenant. (See par. 184 - idioms of the verb is with the preposition le to denote absolute ownership.)
117. And the idiom which thus expresses our relation to our material property is also used to express our relation to our immaterial properties, or bodily and mental activities, which are in some way subject to our control.
Tha fuath agam dha. = I loath him. {I have loathing toward him. Loathing is at me for him.}
Tha gràin agam air. = I hate him. {I have hatred (on/for/concerning) him. Hatred is at me (on/for/concerning) him.}
Tha truas agam ris. = I pity him. {I have pity towards him. Pity is at me towards him.}
Tha gaol agam air. = I love him. {I have love (on/for/concerning) him. Love is at me (on/for/concerning) him.}
But I cannot say tha tinneas agam, "sickness is at me" when I mean to tell you that "I am sick." Sickness is generally outside our control and is looked on as an infliction which comes "on us," as will be shown.
118. Faclan
ainmearan boireannta - (feminine nouns)
ad (at) = hat
fuath (do) (foou) = loathe, detest
gràin (air) (gra-an) = hate
ainmearan fireanta - (masculine nouns)
an t-airgead (an target) = the money
gaol (air) (goll) = love
an leabhar (an llyo-ur) = the book
peann (pyawnn) = a pen
truas (ris/de) (troous) = pity
roimhearan - {prepositions agus abairtean roimhearaichte}
aig a' chaileig (nf) (ak eh challyk) = at the girl {the girl has}
aig a' ghille (nm) = at the boy {the boy has}
Cleachdaidhean
119. Leugh a-mach na seantasan Gàidhlig. Sgrìobh iad anns a' Ghàidhlig agus chuir Beurla orra.
1. Am bi bò agam?
2. Bidh bò agam agus cha bhi bò agad-sa.
3. Ged nach eil bò agad.
4. Ma bhios bò aice.
5. Tha peann aige.
6. Tha taigh agad.
7. Nach eil sgian agam?
8. Chan eil sgian agam.
9. Tha an sgian aig a' ghille.
10. Tha am bàta aige.
11. Tha na h-eich sin agad.
12. Tha an sgian agad.
13. Tha na coin aca ach tha bò againn.
14. Tha an t-each agam ach tha an cù agad.
15. Tha an leabhar agam agus tha leabhar aig a' chaileig.
16. Bha na h-eich sin againn a-raoir.
120. Cuir Gàidhlig air na seantansan a leanas. Leugh na seantansan Gàidhlig a-mach.
1. I have a horse.
2. He as a house.
3. Has he not a house? {Doesn't he have a house?}
4. We have a horse and a dog.
5. He had a dog but he has not it now. {..doesn't have it now}
6. We have a cow.
7. Have you a hat?
8. She has a hat.
9. I have not a hat now.
10. I pity him.
11. Has he not a book? {Doesn't he have a book?}
12. he had the book yesterday.
13. He has not a knife today. {He doesn't have a knife today.}
14. You had the knife last night.
15. We had the dogs on the hill but the cow was in the {animal} pen there.
16. There it is now.
17. You will have a cow tomorrow.
18. Will the farmer have a cow today?
19. Will the girl have that book now?
20. I have the book today, the boy will have it tomorrow, and the girl will have it the day after.
21. The man had it last night.