We also saw gum b’ e twice:
Gum b’ e mo mhiann …
How I wish [that it would be my wish]
Gum b’ e mo shòlas …
How happy I would be [that it would be my happiness, joy, solace]
Although this looks like a subordinate clause, it’s really a rhetorical device often heard in songs and poetry – instead of plain B’ e mo mhiann: Gum b’ e mo mhiann.
[And]But? we’ll return to that subject before the end of B2!
This is our final grammar point.
When we use a preposition to link a clause to the first part of a sentence, we need to use clàsan roimhearach (prepositional clauses) We first saw them at ìre B1.
The clause which follows the preposition is always in the dependent (question) form of the verb.
We saw this in the first line of the song: Chì mi ‘n tìr san robh ….
Chì mi an tìr anns an robh mi nam bhalach.
I see the land in which I was a boy.
An tè sin air a bheil mi an geall.
That woman to whom I am promised.
When linking a negative prepositional clause we use nach with the dependent form:
An esan am balach ris nach bruidhinn thu?
Is that the boy to whom you don’t speak?
Chì mi an tàite anns nach? fuirich sinn.
I see the place in which we won’t? stay.
How would you translate these sentences from two songs into Gaelic?
As they are songs, the words/lyrics may be different:
And every place in which I used to be kissing my love | ‘Is trom leam an àirigh’ | |
A golden ring in which I could see an image | ‘Fear a’ Bhàta’ |
And every place in which I used to be kissing my love | ‘S gach àit’ anns am b’ àbhaist a bhith / anns am bithinn? a’ pògadh mo ghaoil | ‘Is trom leam an àirigh’ |
A golden ring in which I could see an image | Fàinn’ òir anns am faicinn ìomhaigh | ‘Fear a’ Bhàta’ |
These songs can be heard on the Tobar an Dualchais website.
https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/41089?l=gd: Is trom leam an àirigh
https://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/track/92004?l=gd: Fear a’ Bhàta