When I was young
Nuair a bha mi òg
In this section we're going to look at explaining and explanations. There are some linking words (conjunctions) and different forms of the verb which will help us to do this.
You'll remember from earlier lessons in A2 that we have learnt that there are two forms of the verb, depending on context:
- the positive statement or answer, known as the independent (or primary) form and
- the question, negative question and negative statement or answer: the dependent (or secondary) form.
and in Cuspair 6, we looked at some of the question words which are used with the independent (primary) form of verb:
Ciamar
How
Cò
Who
Dè
What
Cuin(e)
When
Cia mheud
How many
We can use the following linking words (conjunctions) in conversation when explaining things.
| independent (primary) | dependent (secondary) |
| nuair a | … gun |
| when … | … that … |
| mar a | … nach |
| as … | that … not |
| ged a | gus an/am |
| though … | until … |
| ma | far an/am |
| if | where … |
| a | mus |
| that/who | before … |
nuair a
when …
… gun
… that …
mar a
as …
… nach
that … not
ged a
though …
gus an/am
until …
ma
if
far an/am
where …
a
that/who
mus
before …
and the question:
Carson a
Why …?
Let's put that together with the past tense of can/abair (say): thuirt and tuirt .
| THUIRT | AN TUIRT |
| nuair a thuirt | … gun tuirt |
| when … said | that … said |
| mar a thuirt | … nach tuirt |
| as … said | that … didn't say |
| ged a thuirt | … gus an tuirt |
| though … said | until … said |
| ma thuirt | … mura tuirt |
| if … said | if … didn't say |
| a thuirt | … mus tuirt |
| that … said | before … said |
nuair a thuirt
when … said
… gun tuirt
… that … said
mar a thuirt
as … said
… nach tuirt
that … did not say
ged a thuirt
though … said
gus an tuirt
until … said
ma thuirt
if ... said
mura tuirt
if … didn't say
a thuirt
that/who said
mus tuirt
before … said
And let's see some examples from our conversation.
Carson a chaidh thu dhan Eilbheis?
Why did you go to Switzerland?
Nuair a bha mi òg …
When I was young …
Mar a thuirt mi roimhe, airson saor-làithean …
As I said before, for holidays …
Mar a tha fios agad, chan eil mòran sneachd an seo …
As you know, there isn't much snow here …
Ged a bha e cosgail, bha e math.
Although it was expensive (costly) it was good.
Ma bha latha math ann …
If it was a good day …
An tuirt thu gun robh seòclaid theth aca?
Did you say they had hot chocolate?
Gus an robh mi sia-bliadhn'-deug …
Until I was sixteen …
Mura bi mi ro anmoch …
If I'm not too late …
Mus tèid sinn nas fhaide air adhart …
Before we go any further …