GAELIC SELF-TAUGHT - LEASAN a CÒIG DEUG - Gnàthan-cainnt cleachdadh "BI" còmhla ri "AIR"
(Lesson 15 - Idioms using "BI" with "AIR")
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.
Leugh na mìneachaidhean a tha anns na roinnean 134 gu 137. Ath-sgrìobh na abairtean air a bha an loidhne fodha anns an leabhar-sgrìobhaidh agat. {Read the explanations in sections 127 through 131. Copy the passages that are underlined into your notebook.}
134. The use of the verb bi with the preposition air "on," and the prepositional pronouns formed from it is also the cause of several peculiar idiomatic forms of expression.
135. The things which we keep as near as we can; they are the things that are "at us" ; but there are things that come "to us" not by any act of ours, but against our will ; they are visitations, they come "to us" from without and probably from the Unseen. In Gaelic idiom these involuntary visitations are said to be "on us." Hunger, thirst, sickness, sadness, fear, joy, death, in fact, any state, quality, feelings or sufferings that affect the body, mind or soul, are express in Gaelic as being a burden laid upon the individual or sufferer.
{Nota Bene: The preposition AIR is used to express any state, quality, feelings or sufferings that affect the body, mind or soul. These are considered burdens laid on one.}
136. Thus "I am thirsty" becomes in this idiom "thirst is on me" ; "are you angry?" becomes "is anger on you?" &c *
Dè a tha ort? = What ails thee? What's wrong? What's the matter with you? {lit. - what is it that's on you?}
Tha bròn mòr oirnn. = We are very sorrowful. {lit. - great sorrow is on us}
Tha am fiabhras air. = He has a fever. {lit. - the fever is on him.}
Tha eagal oirre. = She is afraid. {lit. - fear is on her.}
tha an t-acras air. = He's hungry. {lit. - the hunger is on him.}
Bha iongantas air an duine. = The man was surprised. {lit. - astonishment was on the man.}
Na biodh eagal ort. = Be not afraid. {lit. - let not fear be on thee.}
* * * * *
* bun-nòta : It is because Gaelic has no primary adjectives for a number of these terms that the nouns are used in this idiom. Where primary adjectives are available they are used, mar eisimpleir Tha mi tinn for I am sick.
137. The same idiom applied to money betokens debt. The fact that "I owe John money" or that "I am under any obligation to pay money to John" is expressed by saying "John has money on me," the preposition air being used before the name of the debtor, and the act of "having" being expressed by tha and aig as in the previous lesson. "I own John a hundred pounds" is translated according to idiom, "John has a hundred pounds on me," tha ceud notaichean* aig Iain orm. (lit. - there is a hundred pounds at (of) John on me).
Tha deich sgillinn agam air an fhear sin. - That man owes me ten pence. (lit. - I have ten pence on that man.)
Oddly enough, love (gràdh, gaol) uses the same idiomatic construction of tha aig and air.
Tha gràdh agam ort-sa. = I love thee/ you. {lit. - love is at me on you.}
Bha gaol aig Romeo air Juliet. = Romeo loved Juliet.
Another example of this use of A BHITH, AIG, and AIR is one we learned last lesson involving aithne "know (by sight)".
Chan eil aithne air. = I'm not familiar with it. I have no knowledge of it.
Bha aithne aige oirre. = He knew her.
* * * * *
* bun-nòta 2 : Formerly, the expression for pound-note or pound sterling was written punnd Sasanach and even now the word punnd might be used for the monetary unit, but now the word nota is far more common.
Ath-sgrìobh an clàr seo anns an leabhar-sgrìobhaidh agat. {Copy this table into your notebook.}
138. The following are the prepositional pronouns formed from air :--
air + mi => orm (or-um) = on me
air + thu => ort (orsht) = on thee/you
air + e => air (ar) = on him
air + i => oirre (orru) = on her
air + sinn => oirnn (orynn) = on us
air + sibh => oirbh (or-yv) = on you
air + them => orra (orreh) = on them
139. Faclan
ainmearan boireannta - (feminine nouns)
adharcan/adhaircean (oyarkun) (plural) = horns
cluas (kloous) = ear
nota = pound (money)
slat (sllaht) = rod
uair (oor) = time, hour
ainmearan fireanta - (masculine nouns)
arbhar (arrar) = corn
breac (bprachk) = trout
damh (dav) = stag
lìon (leen) = net
punnd (poont) = pound (weight and money)
sporan = purse
uaireadair (oo-ar-utur) = watch (timepiece)
{Tha na ainmearan fodha air na cleachdadh anns an gnàth-cainnt leis air. The nouns below are used in the idiom with air}
an t-acras = (the) hunger
bron = sorrow
eagal = fear; {also appears as an t-eagal}
am fiabhras = fever
gaol = love {romantic}
gràdh = love, affection {not necessarily romantic love}
iongantas = astonishment, amazement
gnìomhairean - {verbs}
fhuair (hoour) = got
an d'fhuair ... ? (an doour) = did ... get?
ag iasgach (ak yuskuch) = fishing
co-gnìomhairean - (adverbs)
gu tràth (kootra) = soon, anon
a dh'aithghearr (a gah-year) = soon, shortly
roimhearan agus abairtean roimhearaichte - {prepositions and prepositional phrases}
air na h-eildean (ar un haldjen) = on the hinds
riochdairean ceisteach - interrogative pronouns
dè djay = what?
{Nota Bene: In common with most of the interrogative pronouns, dè? takes the relative forms of the verb. To wit ...}
Dè a tha ...? = What is ...?
Dè a bha ...? = What was ...?
Dè a bhiodh ...? = What would be ...?
Dè a bhios ...? = What will be ...?
Dè nach eil ...? = What isn't ...?
Dè nach robh ...? = What wasn't ...?
Dè nach biodh ...? = What wouldn't be ...?
Dè nach bi ... ? = What won't be ... ?
{When asking about something in specific, the object is place between the interrogative pronoun and the relative pronoun introducing the verb.}
Dè an uair a tha e? = What time is it?
Dè a' Ghàidhlig a tha agat air "Merry Christmas"? = What do you say in Gaelic for "Merry Christmas"?
Dè an t-ainm a tha ort? = What's your name?
Cleachdaidhean
140. Leugh na seantansan a-mach anns a' Ghàidhlig agus sgrìobh iad anns an leabhar-sgrìobhaidh agad. Cuir Beurla air na seantansan. Leugh iad a-mach anns a' Ghàidhligh a-rithist fhad 's a' smaoineachadh dè a tha iad a' ciallachadh.
{Read the sentences aloud in Gaelic and write them into your notebook. Translate the sentences into English. Read them aloud in Gaelic again while thinking about what they mean.}
1. Bha an t-acras air an duine.
2. Bha adharcan air an damh.
3. Chan eil adharcan air na h-eildean.
4. Tha nota aig a' chaileig.
5. Tha cluas air a' chat.
6. Mur eil fios aig an tuathanach gu'm bheil na caoraich anns an arbhar, bidh fios aige a dh'aithghearr.
7. Càit' an robh sibh an-dè?
8. Bidh mi anns a' bhaile a dh'aithghearr.
9. Bha bròn mòr ort.
10. Dè a tha air?
11. Tha eagal orra.
12. An robh sibh aig iasgach air an loch an-dè? Bha.
13. An d'fhuair thu breac?
14. Bha bròn mòr air an duine.
15. A bheil fios agaibh dè 'n uair a tha e?
16. Chan eil uaireadair agam.
141. Cuir Gàidhlig air na seantansan a leanas. Leugh iad a-mach (anns a' Ghàidhlig). Sgrìobh na seantansan ùra anns an leabhar-sgrìobhaidh agat.
{Translate the following sentences into Gaelic. Read them aloud (in Gaelic). Write the new sentences in your notebook.}
1. That horse is lame.
2. Did the man not know that his horse was lame?
3. He did not know.
4. James has a purse.
5. We had a rod and a net when we were fishing.
6. I did not know that the sheep were in the corn.
7. Was it not very warm when you were in town? It was.
8. Are you going fishing today? Yes. {i.e. - Will you be fishing today?}
9. I do not know if he has a watch.
10. Have you not a watch?
11. James has a watch now.
12. Was the boy not hungry?
13. He was not hungry but he was very tired.
14. The man was very astonished.
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.
Leugh na mìneachaidhean a tha anns na roinnean 134 gu 137. Ath-sgrìobh na abairtean air a bha an loidhne fodha anns an leabhar-sgrìobhaidh agat. {Read the explanations in sections 127 through 131. Copy the passages that are underlined into your notebook.}
134. The use of the verb bi with the preposition air "on," and the prepositional pronouns formed from it is also the cause of several peculiar idiomatic forms of expression.
135. The things which we keep as near as we can; they are the things that are "at us" ; but there are things that come "to us" not by any act of ours, but against our will ; they are visitations, they come "to us" from without and probably from the Unseen. In Gaelic idiom these involuntary visitations are said to be "on us." Hunger, thirst, sickness, sadness, fear, joy, death, in fact, any state, quality, feelings or sufferings that affect the body, mind or soul, are express in Gaelic as being a burden laid upon the individual or sufferer.
{Nota Bene: The preposition AIR is used to express any state, quality, feelings or sufferings that affect the body, mind or soul. These are considered burdens laid on one.}
136. Thus "I am thirsty" becomes in this idiom "thirst is on me" ; "are you angry?" becomes "is anger on you?" &c *
Dè a tha ort? = What ails thee? What's wrong? What's the matter with you? {lit. - what is it that's on you?}
Tha bròn mòr oirnn. = We are very sorrowful. {lit. - great sorrow is on us}
Tha am fiabhras air. = He has a fever. {lit. - the fever is on him.}
Tha eagal oirre. = She is afraid. {lit. - fear is on her.}
tha an t-acras air. = He's hungry. {lit. - the hunger is on him.}
Bha iongantas air an duine. = The man was surprised. {lit. - astonishment was on the man.}
Na biodh eagal ort. = Be not afraid. {lit. - let not fear be on thee.}
* * * * *
* bun-nòta : It is because Gaelic has no primary adjectives for a number of these terms that the nouns are used in this idiom. Where primary adjectives are available they are used, mar eisimpleir Tha mi tinn for I am sick.
137. The same idiom applied to money betokens debt. The fact that "I owe John money" or that "I am under any obligation to pay money to John" is expressed by saying "John has money on me," the preposition air being used before the name of the debtor, and the act of "having" being expressed by tha and aig as in the previous lesson. "I own John a hundred pounds" is translated according to idiom, "John has a hundred pounds on me," tha ceud notaichean* aig Iain orm. (lit. - there is a hundred pounds at (of) John on me).
Tha deich sgillinn agam air an fhear sin. - That man owes me ten pence. (lit. - I have ten pence on that man.)
Oddly enough, love (gràdh, gaol) uses the same idiomatic construction of tha aig and air.
Tha gràdh agam ort-sa. = I love thee/ you. {lit. - love is at me on you.}
Bha gaol aig Romeo air Juliet. = Romeo loved Juliet.
Another example of this use of A BHITH, AIG, and AIR is one we learned last lesson involving aithne "know (by sight)".
Chan eil aithne air. = I'm not familiar with it. I have no knowledge of it.
Bha aithne aige oirre. = He knew her.
* * * * *
* bun-nòta 2 : Formerly, the expression for pound-note or pound sterling was written punnd Sasanach and even now the word punnd might be used for the monetary unit, but now the word nota is far more common.
Ath-sgrìobh an clàr seo anns an leabhar-sgrìobhaidh agat. {Copy this table into your notebook.}
138. The following are the prepositional pronouns formed from air :--
air + mi => orm (or-um) = on me
air + thu => ort (orsht) = on thee/you
air + e => air (ar) = on him
air + i => oirre (orru) = on her
air + sinn => oirnn (orynn) = on us
air + sibh => oirbh (or-yv) = on you
air + them => orra (orreh) = on them
139. Faclan
ainmearan boireannta - (feminine nouns)
adharcan/adhaircean (oyarkun) (plural) = horns
cluas (kloous) = ear
nota = pound (money)
slat (sllaht) = rod
uair (oor) = time, hour
ainmearan fireanta - (masculine nouns)
arbhar (arrar) = corn
breac (bprachk) = trout
damh (dav) = stag
lìon (leen) = net
punnd (poont) = pound (weight and money)
sporan = purse
uaireadair (oo-ar-utur) = watch (timepiece)
{Tha na ainmearan fodha air na cleachdadh anns an gnàth-cainnt leis air. The nouns below are used in the idiom with air}
an t-acras = (the) hunger
bron = sorrow
eagal = fear; {also appears as an t-eagal}
am fiabhras = fever
gaol = love {romantic}
gràdh = love, affection {not necessarily romantic love}
iongantas = astonishment, amazement
gnìomhairean - {verbs}
fhuair (hoour) = got
an d'fhuair ... ? (an doour) = did ... get?
ag iasgach (ak yuskuch) = fishing
co-gnìomhairean - (adverbs)
gu tràth (kootra) = soon, anon
a dh'aithghearr (a gah-year) = soon, shortly
roimhearan agus abairtean roimhearaichte - {prepositions and prepositional phrases}
air na h-eildean (ar un haldjen) = on the hinds
riochdairean ceisteach - interrogative pronouns
dè djay = what?
{Nota Bene: In common with most of the interrogative pronouns, dè? takes the relative forms of the verb. To wit ...}
Dè a tha ...? = What is ...?
Dè a bha ...? = What was ...?
Dè a bhiodh ...? = What would be ...?
Dè a bhios ...? = What will be ...?
Dè nach eil ...? = What isn't ...?
Dè nach robh ...? = What wasn't ...?
Dè nach biodh ...? = What wouldn't be ...?
Dè nach bi ... ? = What won't be ... ?
{When asking about something in specific, the object is place between the interrogative pronoun and the relative pronoun introducing the verb.}
Dè an uair a tha e? = What time is it?
Dè a' Ghàidhlig a tha agat air "Merry Christmas"? = What do you say in Gaelic for "Merry Christmas"?
Dè an t-ainm a tha ort? = What's your name?
Cleachdaidhean
140. Leugh na seantansan a-mach anns a' Ghàidhlig agus sgrìobh iad anns an leabhar-sgrìobhaidh agad. Cuir Beurla air na seantansan. Leugh iad a-mach anns a' Ghàidhligh a-rithist fhad 's a' smaoineachadh dè a tha iad a' ciallachadh.
{Read the sentences aloud in Gaelic and write them into your notebook. Translate the sentences into English. Read them aloud in Gaelic again while thinking about what they mean.}
1. Bha an t-acras air an duine.
2. Bha adharcan air an damh.
3. Chan eil adharcan air na h-eildean.
4. Tha nota aig a' chaileig.
5. Tha cluas air a' chat.
6. Mur eil fios aig an tuathanach gu'm bheil na caoraich anns an arbhar, bidh fios aige a dh'aithghearr.
7. Càit' an robh sibh an-dè?
8. Bidh mi anns a' bhaile a dh'aithghearr.
9. Bha bròn mòr ort.
10. Dè a tha air?
11. Tha eagal orra.
12. An robh sibh aig iasgach air an loch an-dè? Bha.
13. An d'fhuair thu breac?
14. Bha bròn mòr air an duine.
15. A bheil fios agaibh dè 'n uair a tha e?
16. Chan eil uaireadair agam.
141. Cuir Gàidhlig air na seantansan a leanas. Leugh iad a-mach (anns a' Ghàidhlig). Sgrìobh na seantansan ùra anns an leabhar-sgrìobhaidh agat.
{Translate the following sentences into Gaelic. Read them aloud (in Gaelic). Write the new sentences in your notebook.}
1. That horse is lame.
2. Did the man not know that his horse was lame?
3. He did not know.
4. James has a purse.
5. We had a rod and a net when we were fishing.
6. I did not know that the sheep were in the corn.
7. Was it not very warm when you were in town? It was.
8. Are you going fishing today? Yes. {i.e. - Will you be fishing today?}
9. I do not know if he has a watch.
10. Have you not a watch?
11. James has a watch now.
12. Was the boy not hungry?
13. He was not hungry but he was very tired.
14. The man was very astonished.