Gaelic Notes
1. Bha Mairi trang
Mary was busy
Bha Calum agus Mairi ag obair
Calum and Mary were working
Bha =was
2. “an robh” is past tense
Was Mary Busy
An robh Msairi trang?
3. The affirmative answer to “an robh” is “bha”
An robh thu sgith? Bha
Were you tired? Yes
4. The negative to “an robh” is “cha robh” (cha roi)
e.g;
An robyh sibh anns an achadh an diugh? Cha robh)
Were you in the field today? No.
Cha robh mi anns an taigh.
I was not at home>
5. As in the present tense, “nach” asks a negative question, e.g,;
Nach robh Mairi trang? Bha/Cha robh
Was not Mary busy? Yes/no.
6. Before masculine singular nouns in their primary form, beginning with b, f, m, or p, the definite article changes from “an” to “am”, e.g.:
am balach (em bai-ech) the lad
am fear (em fer) the man
am maide (em ma-cha) the stick
am peann (em peaun) the pen
7. After the simple prepositions-e.g. “air” on, “aig” at “anns” in, “leis” (lash) with, “ris” (resh) to-masculine nouns beginning with b, m, p, c, and g when used in conjunction with the definite article are aspirated, and the definite article changes to “a”, thus forming what is known as the dative case, e.g.:
Tha an duine anns a bhata.
(ha en doonn auns e vaat-e)
The man is in the boat.
Tha am bata air a chladach.
(ha wem baat-e ar a chlat-ech)
The boat is on the shore.
N.B. The simple prepositions “that”, “re”, “chun” and “trid” govern the genitive case; and after “search”, “esadar”, “gus” and “mar” the noun retains the nominative form.
8. The following examples of definite and indefinite forms should be carefully noted:
leis a’ chi (jash e choo) with the dog
le cu (la loo) with a dog
anns a bhata (auns em vaat-e) in the boat
ann am bata (aun em baat-e) in a boat
ris a balach (resh e valach) to a lad
air a mbonadh (ar e von agh) on the moor
air monadh (ar mon egh) on a moor
9. When a noun beginning with “f” followed by a vowel is aspirated, the resulting “fh” combination being soundless, the primary form (an) of the definite article is retained, e.g,:
am fear (em fer) the man
but, air anfhear (ar a nner) on the man
Scottish Gaelic 