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A2
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Complete for 2 points

Am faod mi ceist a chur ort?

May I ask you a question?

So far, we have seen simple sentences using faod (may, might) and feum (must, need to) but when faod or feum have a direct object, the order of the sentence is changed using iomlaid (inversion). A sentence such as ‘Tha mi a’ gabhail biadh’ becomes ‘Am faod mi biadh a ghabhail?

Am faod mi ceist a chur ort?Faodaidh. Faodaidh tu ceist a chur orm.
Am faod mi deoch fhaighinn dhut?Chan fhaod. Faodaidh tu biadh fhaighinn dhomh!
Am faod iad Gàidhlig ionnsachadh?Faodaidh! Faodaidh a h-uile duine Gàidhlig ionnsachadh.

We can see that the verbal noun lenites where possible and we use the infinitive particle a before the verb. This a disappears when the verbal noun starts with a vowel, or f + vowel.

VERBSUBJECTVERBAL NOUNDirect OBJECT
Thathua’ dràibheadha’ chàr
Bhaea’ leughadhleabhar
Bhaiag òldeoch
Thèidiada dh’fhaicinnan fhilm
MODALSUBJECTDIR. OBJECT VERB
Faodaidhtuan càradhràibheadh
Feumaidheleabharaleughadh
Faodaidhideoch òl
Feumaidhiadam film fhaicinn

That’s quite a lot to take in! Perhaps easier it’s easier to see these in context. In the conversation in the previous section, we saw and heard a few examples.

Am faod mi an càr agam a chur dhan gharaids agad?

May I put my car in your garage?

Am faod mi am baidhsagal agam fhàgail an àiteigin?

May I leave my bike somewhere?

Nach fhaod mi deoch fhaighinn dhut, Anna?

(May I not …) Can’t I get you a drink, Anne?

Am faod mi an taigh-beag agad a chleachdadh?

May I use your toilet?

Faodaidh tu an taigh-beag a chleachdadh a-nis!

You may use the toilet now!

and also in the conversation in this section:

Feumaidh mi biadh fhaighinn mus tèid sinn gu pàrtaidh Dhòmhnaill.

I need to get something to eat (food) before we go to Donald’s party.

Am feum?

Do you (need to)?

Feumaidh.

I do (need to).

Nach fheum thu rudeigin ithe?

Don’t you need to eat something?

Chan fheum.

I don’t.

Feumaidh mi deoch òl mus tèid sinn ann.

I need a drink before we go there.

Feumaidh mi airgead fhaighinn.

I need to get money.

Feumaidh mi botal fìona a cheannach aig a’ bhùth.

I must buy a bottle of wine at the shop.

Feumaidh mise a dhol dhachaigh mus tèid sinn chun a’ phàrtaidh agus aodach-pàrtaidh spaideil a chur orm!

But I need to go home before we go to the party and put on some smart party clothes!