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Vocabulary/Translations - 2 Scottish Gaelic Grammar Questions - Language Exchange


Category: Vocabulary/Translations
Discussion: 2 Scottish Gaelic Grammar Questions

All messages in this discussion:
# Message Posted By
201617
2 Scottish Gaelic Grammar Questions
I’m teaching myself Scottish Gaelic. I’m doing well so far, but I’ve come across two questions.

First: Is learning feminine dative singular nouns worthwhile since native speakers don't modify them?

I do not plan on speaking the Gaelic - just reading and writing. It was noted in the few sources I'm using that the feminine dative singular nouns are not modified when speaking and writing informally. (It is used in formal speech.) Before I drive myself mad trying to learn the different types and changes, I wanted to be sure it would be worthwhile for me. I have only read through it so far.

Second:
I'm a little confused with some sample sentences I have come across with that begin with 'there'. I know 'ann' is used when denoting a presence, but the location of the word switches in my sample sentences. I'm wondering if location matters or if there is a reason for the different places.

For example - a few of my sample sentences:
There is green grass in the field = Tha feur gorm ann anns an achadh
There are no fish in the burn = Chan eil iasg anns an allt ann
There was water under the table = Bha uisge ann fon bhòrd

Most of the time 'ann' is located in the middle, but sometimes it is at the end. Is there a reason for this?

Thanks a lot!


Language pair: Gaelic (Scottish); All
Maria
October 14, 2013

Reply
212100
Re:2 Scottish Gaelic Grammar Questions
Hi, I'm only 3 months into my class, but I will tell you what I have learned. We are just covering these topics now. And I wouldn't be surprised if it all changes later in the year because of some grammarical rule I haven't learned yet.

Dative? I'm just starting the fem dative and someone shoot me now. I'm going through it because I want to be able to write Gaelic properly. If I was into just the speaking then I wouldn't have bothered.

Ann - I had a discussion about this very topic last night. People don't speak it as ann anns an. It ends up being contracted to 'san (I think - haven't learned it yet). It's supposed to appear after the noun adjectives (if there are any used). And sometimes it is just implied. And other times it's just plunked down at the end. Most times you would still be correct if you forgot the 'there' in the translation to English.

Clear as mud?
Donna



Language pair: Gaelic (Scottish); All
This is a reply to message # 201617
Donna
Murray

December 5, 2014

Reply
212101
Re:2 Scottish Gaelic Grammar Questions
Hi, I'm only 3 months into my class, but I will tell you what I have learned. We are just covering these topics now. And I wouldn't be surprised if it all changes later in the year because of some grammarical rule I haven't learned yet.

Dative? I'm just starting the fem dative and someone shoot me now. I'm going through it because I want to be able to write Gaelic properly. If I was into just the speaking then I wouldn't have bothered.

Ann - I had a discussion about this very topic last night. People don't speak it as ann anns an. It ends up being contracted to 'san (I think - haven't learned it yet). It's supposed to appear after the noun adjectives (if there are any used). And sometimes it is just implied. And other times it's just plunked down at the end. Most times you would still be correct if you forgot the 'there' in the translation to English.

Clear as mud?
Donna



Language pair: Gaelic (Scottish); All
This is a reply to message # 201617
Donna
Murray

December 5, 2014

Reply

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