Root & Imperative

The Root of the Verb, Imperatives and Past Participles

**VERB ROOT & IMPERATIVES**
In Gàidhlig the 2nd person singular (thu) imperative is the same as the ROOT of the verb. For the 2nd person plural and formal form (sibh) add: **-ibh / -aibh** to the root according to the spelling rule :
Verbal Noun	Verb Root and 2nd Person Singular Imperative	2nd Person Plural Imperative
bualadh - striking	buail - strike	buailibh - strike
togail - lifting	tog - lift	togaibh - lift
sgrìobhadh - writing	sgrìobh - write	sgrìobhaibh - write

For 1st person plural adds **-eamaid** / **-amaid** to the root :
Cuireamaid litir thuige - Let us send a letter to him
Rachamaid dhachaigh - Let us go home

Negative forms have Na before the imperative (**Na h-** before vowels) :
Na dùin an doras - Don't close the door
Na h-òlaibh am bainne - Don't drink the milk
Na bitheamaid* muladach - Let us not be sad

* With the verb To Be this is more usually written as biomaid for the 1st person plural unless emphasis is required

1st person singular adds -im / **-aim** to the root.
3rd person singular and plural add -eadh / **-adh** to the root.
Both these forms are becoming less frequent in spoken Gàidhlig; being replaced by the verb **leig** (let) followed by the preposition le and its associated prepositional pronouns :
Leig leam fhaicinn - Let me see it
Leig leotha a dhol dhachaigh - Let them go home
Leig leis a-muigh - Let him out
Leig leatha a-staigh - Let her in

**PAST PARTICIPLES**
These are formed by adding **-te** to the root of the verb. The past participle ending may break the spelling rule :
Tha an uinneag dùinte - The window is closed
Bha an doras fosgailte - The door was open(ed)
Tha an litir sgrìobhte - The letter is written

There are a few resistant historic forms that add **-ta** in preference to **-te** :
Tha an obair dèanta - The job is done
Tha iad pòsta trì bliadhna - They are married three years

As in English the past participles can be used as adjectives :
Tha a' chàraid phòsta ag obair còmhla - The married couple are working together
Bha an copan briste air an ùrlar - The broken cup was on the floor

NEW WORDS

**Adjectives**
dìreach - straight, direct	muladach - sad

**Nouns**
càraid (f) - couple, pair	dìnnear (f) - dinner
sùil (f) - eye, glimpse, look	teanga (f) - tongue

**Phrases**
mas e do thoil e - please (informal,singular)	mas e ur toil e - please (formal,plural)

**Verbs**
can, cantainn (ri) - say (to)	cluinn, cluinntinn - hear
cum/cùm, cumail - keep, hold	faigh, faighinn - get, find
fan, fantainn (ri) - wait (for)	fàs, fàs - grow
fosgail, fosgladh - open	gluais, gluasad - move
rach, dol - go	seas, seasamh - stand
suidh, suidhe - sit	thig, tighinn - come
thoir, toirt (do) - take, give (to)	tilg, tilgeil (air) - throw (at)
tog, togail - lift, build

**EXERCISE 1 Translate into English**
1.Thoir an leabhar dhan chaileig sin	2.Dùinibh an doras mas e ur toil e
3.Na ruith cho luath	4.Can a-rithist e
5.Rach dhan t-seòmar agad fhèin a-nis	6.Cumaibh ur sùilean fosgailte
7.Bha an taigh togte an-uiridh	8.Seas gu dìreach
9.Thigibh a-staigh agus suidhibh sìos	10.Na creidibh e

EXERCISE 2 Translate into Gàidhlig using (i) *sibh*, (ii) *thu*
1.Don't throw paper on the floor	2.Give the pen to the boy
3.Move your hand please	4.Put the cup down
5.Say that again slowly please	6.Wait here
7.Eat your dinner	8.Don't do that again
9.Believe me, I'm correct	10.Think again

sibh

thu

**ANSWERS - EXERCISE 1**
1.Give the book to that girl	2.Close the door please
3.Don't run so fast	4.Say it again
5.Go to your own room now	6.Keep you eyes open
7.The house was built last year	8.Stand (up) straight
9.Come in(side) and sit down	10.Don't believe him/it

ANSWERS - EXERCISE 2 using *sibh*
1.Na tilgibh pàipear air an làr	2.Thoiribh am peann dhan bhalach
3.Gluaisibh ur làmh mas e ur toil e	4.Cuiribh an copan sìos
5.Canaibh a-rithist sin gu mall mas e ur toil e	6.Fuirichibh an seo
7.Ithibh ur dìnnear	8.Na dèanaibh a-rithist sin
9.Creidibh mi. Tha mi ceart	10.Smaoinichibh a-rithist

ANSWERS - EXERCISE 2 using *thu*
1.Na tilg pàipear air an làr	2.Thoir am peann dhan bhalach
3.Gluais do làmh mas e do thoil e	4.Cuir an copan sìos
5.Can a-rithist sin gu mall mas e do thoil e	6.Fuirich an seo
7.Ith do dhìnnear	8.Na dèan a-rithist sin
9.Creid mi. Tha mi ceart	10.Smaoinich a-rithist

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