More Incomplete Verbs

More Incomplete Verbs

**Group 1: Verbs based on the Assertive Verb**
A number of verbs in this group were met in . Some other common ones are introduced here.

a. Assertive form of the verb + preposition le. With the prepositional pronouns these are :
Present Tense	Past Tense	Conditional Tense
Is coma leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c care not, do not like	Bu choma leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c cared not, did not like	Bu choma leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c would care not, would not like
Is cuimhne leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c remember	Bu chuimhne leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c remembered	Bu chuimhne leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c would remember
Is dòcha leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c suppose, think it likely	Bu dòcha leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c supposed, thought it likely	Bu dòcha leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c would suppose, would think it likely
Is fada leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c long	B' fhada leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c longed	B' fhada leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c would long
Is iongnadh leam / leat / &c - I / you / he / &c wonder, am astonished	B' iongnadh leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c wondered, was astonished	B' iongnadh leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c would wonder, would be astonished
Is leisg leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c am loath, reluctant	Bu leisg leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c was loath, was reluctant	Bu leisg leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c would be loath, would be reluctant
Is miann leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c desire, wish	Bu mhiann leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c desired, wished	Bu mhiann leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c would desire, would wish
Is truagh leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c pity, feel sorrow	Bu truagh leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c pitied, felt sorrow	Bu truagh leam / leat / &c - I / you / &c would pity, would feel sorrow

A number of these can be rendered using regular verbs :
cuimhnich, cuimhneachadh - remember	Tha mi a' cuimhneachadh - I remember
miannaich, miannachadh - desire, wish	Mhiannaich e - He desired
gabh iongantas, gabhail iongantas - be astonished	Ghabhadh e iongantas - He would be astonished

b. Assertive form of verb + preposition do. With the prepositional pronouns these are :
Present Tense	Past Tense	Conditional Tense
Is èiginn dhomh / dhut / &c - I / you / &c really have to, am compelled to	B' èiginn dhomh / dhut / &c - I / you / &c really had to, was compelled to	B' èiginn dhomh / dhut / &c - I / you / &c would really have to, would be compelled to
Is fheàrr dhomh / dhut / &c † - It's better for me / you / &c	B' fheàrr dhomh / dhut / &c - It was better for me / you / &c	B' fheàrr dhomh / dhut / &c - It would be better for me / you / &c
Is fheudar dhomh / dhut / &c † - I / you / &c have to, must	B' fheudar dhomh / dhut / &c - I / you / &c had to	B' fheudar dhomh / dhut / &c - I / you / &c would have to
Is fhiach dhomh / dhut / &c ‡ - It's worth my / your / &c while	B' fhiach dhomh / dhut / &c - It was worth my / your / &c while	B' fhiach dhomh / dhut / &c - It would be worth my / your / &c while

‡ This is often rendered colloquially as 'S d' fhiach dhomh / dhut &c
† Words beginning with f are lenited after Is

The Other Forms of the Verb

For the present tense drop the Is and add :
Cha for negative statements	Cha mhiann leam sin - I don't desire that Chan fhada leam mo dhùthaich fhèin - I don't long for my own country
An for interrogative	An èiginn dhut falbh? - Do you really have to leave? 'S èiginn - Yes, Chan èiginn - No An truagh leibh e? - Do you pity him? 'S truagh - Yes, Cha truagh - No
Nach for negative interrogative	Nach cuimhne leat i? - Don't you remember her? 'S cuimhne - Yes, Cha chuimhne - No Nach fhiach dhasan sin? - Is that not worth his while? 'S fhiach - Yes, Chan fhiach - No ‡

‡ These are often rendered colloquially as Nach d' fhiach / 'S d' fhiach / Cha d' fhiach

For the past and conditional tenses add :
Cha for negative statements	Cha b' fhiach dhomhsa sin - That wouldn't be worth my while? / That wasn't worth my while? Cha bu chuimhne leis an sgeul - He didn't remember the story
Am for interrogative	Am miann leò taigh ùr? - Do they wish for a new house? Bu mhiann - Yes, Cha bu mhiann - No Am b' fheudar dhut innse dha? - Did you have to tell him? B' fheudar - Yes, Cha b' fheudar - No
Nach for negative interrogative	Nach b' iongnadh leat sin? - Did that not astonish you? B' iongnadh - Yes, Cha b' iongnadh - No Nach bu truagh leat iad? - Did you not fell sorrow for them? / Would you not feel sorrow for them? Bu truagh - Yes, Cha bu truagh - No

**Examples of Use**

When the incomplete verbs are followed directly by a verb, the verbal noun is used. Exceptions in both literature and the spoken language are the verbs To Be (a bhith), **To Go** (a dhol) and **To Come** (a thighinn) :
Is coma leam leughadh - I do not like reading
An cuimhne leat coiseachd dhan sgoil? - Do you remember walking to the school?
Nach fhada leibh tilleadh dhan dùthaich agaibh fhèin ? - Don't you long to return to your own (native) country?
Bu dòcha leis tilleadh dhan sgoil - He thought it likely to return to school
Is iongnadh leatha a bhith anns a' cho-fharpais? - She is astonished to be in the competition?
Bu leisg leò bruidhinn rinn - They were loath to speak to us
Bu mhiann leam suidhe sìos - I wished to sit down
B' èiginn dha coiseachd dhachaigh - He really had (was compelled) to walk home
Is fheàrr dhaibh a bhith cùramach - They are right to be careful
Am feudar dhomh a thighinn a-staigh? - Must I come in?
Is d' fhiach dhaibh a dhol ann - It's worth their while going there

When incomplete verbs are followed by a verbal noun taking a direct object word order reversal takes place. Here the object comes first followed by **a + lenited verbal noun**. The a is dropped before verbal nouns beginning with vowel or beginning with f + vowel :
An iongnadh leat ceòl a chluinntinn? - Are you surprised to hear music?
An cuimhne leat am fiolm fhaicinn air an TBh? - Do you remember seeing the film on TV?
Is truagh leam an naidheachd sin a chluinntinn - I am sorry (consider it a pity) to hear that news
Cha b' fheudar dhut do chòta a chur ort - You wouldn't have to put your coat on
Nach b' fheàrr dha litir a sgrìobhadh ga mhàthair? - Would he not be better writing a letter to his mother?
Cha b' fhiach dhut an litir a fhreagairt - It wouldn't be worth your while answering the letter

When the object of the sentence is a pronoun then the pronoun is replaced by its possessive adjective placed before the verbal noun. The possessive adjectives mo, do and a (his/its) lenite the following word whenever possible :
Cha b' iongnadh leò m' fhaicinn? - They weren't surprised to see me?
An cuimhne leis a bualadh? - Does he remember hitting her?
Am fiach dhaibh a thogail an sin? - Is it worth their while building it (=taigh) there?
B' fheàrr dhaibh a cur anns a' phost - They had better (It would be better for them to) send it by post

Group 4: A few others can be added to the miscellany of incomplete verbs

a. Reporting a completed action using An dèidh + do + subject + verbal noun. The verbs To Be (a bhith), **To Go** (a dhol) and **To Come** (a thighinn) are used in preference to the verbal noun in both literature and the spoken language. When the subject is a pronoun the corresponding prepositional pronouns must be used :
An dèidh do Mhàiri a dhol dhachaigh, dheasaich i an dìnnear - After Màiri went home, she prepared the dinner
An dèidh dhomh trod ris, thòisich e ri gul - After I scolded to him, he started crying

When the verbal noun takes a direct object word order reversal takes place. Here the object comes first followed by **a + lenited verbal noun**. The a is dropped before verbal nouns beginning with vowel or beginning with f + vowel :
An dèidh do Mhàiri an dìnnear a dheasachadh - After Màiri prepared the dinner
An dèidh dhomh am balach fhaicinn - After I saw the boy
An dèidh dhì an litir a fhreagairt - After she answered the letter

When the object of the sentence is a pronoun then the pronoun is replaced by its possessive adjective placed before the verbal noun. The possessive adjectives mo, do and a (his/its) lenite the following word whenever possible :
An dèidh do Mhàiri a deasachadh - After Màiri prepared it (the dinner)
An dèidh dhomh fhaicinn - After I saw him (the boy)
An dèidh dhì a freagairt - After she answered it (the letter)

b. A very common way to describe **need** is to use the verb **To Be + aig + subject + ri + verbal noun**. When the subject is a pronoun the corresponding prepositional pronouns must be used :
Tha aig Màiri ri dhol dhachaigh † - Màiri has to go home
Bha aig Màiri ri thighinn dhachaigh - Màiri had to come home
Bidh aig Màiri ri bruidhinn riutha - Màiri will need to speak to them
Bhiodh aig Màiri ri bhith sàmhach - Màiri would need to be quiet
Bha aige ri trod rithe - He had to scold her

† The verbs To Be (a bhith), To Go (a dhol) and To Come (a thighinn) are used in preference to the verbal noun in both literature and the spoken language. The initial a of the infinitive is elided after the preposition ri in both literature and the spoken language.

When the verbal noun takes a direct object word order reversal takes place. Here the object comes first followed by **a + lenited verbal noun**. The a is dropped before verbal nouns beginning with vowel or beginning with f + vowel :
Bha aig Màiri ri(s) an dìnnear a dheasachadh ‡ - Màiri had to prepare the dinner
Tha agam ri(s) an litir a fhreagairt - I have to answer the letter
Bha aig Calum ri(s) am balach fhaicinn - Calum had to see the boy

‡ ri in this situation is not followed by the dative as is does not directly qualify the object

When the object of the sentence is a pronoun then the pronoun is replaced by its possessive adjective placed before the verbal noun. The possessive adjectives mo, do and a (his/its) lenite the following word whenever possible :
Bha aig Màiri ra (ri a) deasachadh † - Màiri had to prepare it (the dinner)
Tha agam ra (ri a) freagairt - I have to answer it (the letter)
Bha aig Calum rim (ri m') fhaicinn - Calum had to see me

† the augmented prepositions of ri are commonly used. These can be found in

Although not standard language, in some dialects the preposition ri has been dropped giving such forms as :
Tha aig Màiri a dhol dhachaigh - Màiri has to go home
Bha aige trod rithe - He had to scold her
Bha aig Màiri an dìnnear a dheasachadh - Màiri had to prepare the dinner
Bha aig Calum m' fhaicinn - Calum had to see me

A common alternative is to use the noun **feum** (= need) after the verb **To Be** :
Bha feum aig Màiri ri thighinn dhachaigh † - Màiri had to come home
Bha feum aige ri trod rithe - He had to scold her
Tha feum agam ri an litir a fhreagairt - I have to answer the letter
Bha feum aig Calum rim' fhaicinn - Calum had to see me

† All other incomplete verbs constructed using the verb To Be + noun + aig follow the same pattern

NEW WORDS

**Adjectives**
truagh - sorrowful, miserable

**Nouns**
faradh (m) - fare	feum (m & f) - need
fiach (m) - value, worth	foirm (m) - form
iongantas (m) - astonishment, phenomenon	leisgeul (m) - excuse, apology
miann (m) - desire, wish	pàrtaidh (m) - party
stiùireadh (m) - instruction
boglach (f) - bog(land)	cuimhne (f) - memory
èiginn (f) - compulsion, emergency	pile (f) - pill
riaghailt-bhìdh (f) - diet

**Verbs**
aidich, aideachadh - admit, confess	beàrr, bearradh - shave
biadh, biadhadh - feed	buair, buaireadh - disturb, upset
cuimhnich, cuimhneachadh - remember	feuch, feuchainn - test
fiosraich, fiosrachadh - experience	gabh iongantas, gabhail iongantas - be astonished
guil, gul - cry, weep	miannaich, miannachadh - desire, wish
troid, trod (ri) - scold, reprimand

**Verbal Phrases**
thoir leabaidh air - go to bed
thug mi mo leabaidh orm - I went to (my) bed
bheir e a leabaidh air - he will go to (his) bed
bheireadh sibh ur leabaidh oirbh - you would go to (your) bed
tha i a' toirt a leabaidh oirre - she is going to (her) bed

**EXERCISE 1 Translate into English**
1.B' fheàrr dhuibh ur seacaid a chur oirbh	2.'S coma leam cofaidh
3.Nach fhada leat na saor-làithean?	4.B' iongnadh leam an tigeadh e dhan phàrtaidh
5.Bu leisg dha aideachadh gun d'rinn e an eucoir	6.B' fhada leatha pìos mòr de chèic sheòclaid
7.'S truagh leam cluinntinn mu bhàs do mhàthar	8.'S èiginn dhut a dhol air riaghailt-bhìdh
9.Nach b' fheàrr dhì an obair-sgoile a dhèanamh anns an t-seòmar aice fhèin?	10.Cha b' fhiach dhomhsa an trod-san
11.Gabhaibh mo leisgeul ach cha chuimhne leam sibhse ag innse ur n-ainm dhomh	12.B' fheudar dhomh na cearcan a bhiadhadh
13.An dèidh dhì na soithichean a nighe, thug i a leabaidh oirre	14.Bha agam ra fhaicinn dhomh fhèin
15.Thuirt e nach robh feum aige ri faradh a' bhus a phàigheadh	16.Chuir mi umam mo lèine an dèidh dhomh bearradh
17.An dèidh dha an talamh fheuchainn, choisich e thairis air a' bhoglaich	18.Cha chuimhne leam sin innse dhaibh

**EXERCISE 2 Translate into Gàidhlig**
1.You really must tell me the truth	2.I was sorry to hear them say he was guilty
3.I know he will be astonished when he hears that	4.I wasn't sure if she would be surprised to see me
5.You would be better reading the instructions again	6.I wouldn't wish to upset you
7.Calum was not surprised to hear the sad news	8.Would it not be better for them to fill (out) the form again?
9.After I experienced their situation, I pitied them	10.I am astonished he did as you asked him
11.I had to make sure everything was alright	12.They were compelled to build their house near the river
13.Do you know if he remembers me?	14.It's not worth her while taking the pills
15.Màiri was reluctant to hold the party in her own house	16.They longed for a calm moment to themselves
17.No-one wishes to hear your lies	18.I had to get a new job

**ANSWERS - EXERCISE 1**
1.You had better put on your jacket	2.I don't care for coffee
3.Do you not long for the holidays?	4.I would be surprised if he came to the party
5.He was reluctant to admit he committed the crime	6.She longed for a large piece of chocolate cake
7.I am sorry to hear of your mother's death	8.You really must go on a diet
9.Would she not be better doing her schoolwork in her own room?	10.It wasn't worth my time chastising them
11.Excuse me but I don't remember you telling me your name	12.I had better feed the chickens
13.After she washed the dishes she went off to bed	14.I had to see it (him) for myself
15.He said he didn't need to pay the bus fare	16.I put on my shirt after I shaved
17.After testing the ground, he walked over the bog	18.I don't remember telling them the story

**ANSWERS - EXERCISE 2**
1.'S èiginn dhut an fhìrinn innse dhomh	2.Bu truagh leam cluinntinn iad ag ràdh gun robh e ciontach
3.Tha fios agam gun gabh e iongantas nuair a chluinneas e sin	4.Cha robh mi cinnteach nam b' iongnadh leatha m' fhaicinn
5.B' fheàrr dhut na stiùiridhean a leughadh a-rithist	6.Cha bu mhiann leam do bhuaireadh
7.Cha b' iongnadh le Calum an naidheachd mhuladach a chluinntinn	8.Nach b' fheàrr dhaibh am foirm a lìonadh a-rithist?
9.An dèidh dhomh an suidheachadh aca fhiosrachadh, bu truagh leam iad	10.'S iongnadh leam gun d'rinn iad mar a dh'iarr thu orra
11a.Bha agam ri dèanamh cinnteach gun robh a h-uile nì ceart gu leòr 11b.B' fheudar dhomh dèanamh cinnteach gun robh a h-uile nì ceart gu leòr	12.B' èiginn dhaibh an taigh aca a thogail faisg air an abhainn
13.Eil fhios agad an cuimhne leis mi?	14.Cha d' fhiach leatha na pilichean a ghabhail
15.Bu leisg le Màiri am pàrtaidh a chumail anns an taigh aice fhèin	16.B' fhada leò ùine chiùin dhaibh fhèin
17.Cha mhiann le duine sam bith na breugan agad a chluinntinn	18a.Bha agam ri obair ùr fhaighinn 18b.B' fheudar dhomh obair ùr fhaighinn

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