FAQS
How do I type the Gaelic accents?
You can just copy and paste these
Lowercase letters
Uppercase letters
Keyboard shortcuts
Windows
Some simple ways to type grave accents in MS Windows, depending on which version you use. The grave accent ` is next to the number 1 at top of keyboard
à, è, ì, ò, ù Ctrl+`, release and type letter;
À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù Ctrl+Shift+`, release and type letter
OR
Alt key + character code on the numeric keypad on right of keyboard (laptops will vary). Ensure that the NUMLOCK is on.
à Alt+133 or 0224
è Alt+138 or 0232
ì Alt+141 or 0236
ò Alt+149 or 0242
ù Alt+151 or 0249
À Alt+0192
È Alt+0200
Ì Alt+0204
Ò Alt+0210
Ù Alt+0217
Mac
Push and hold a character to bring up a menu and choose.
E.g. hold the letter e to choose the letter è
What is the Gaelic Alphabet?
> Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu
For more information visit LearnGaelic’s Scottish Gaelic Alphabet https://learngaelic.scot/scottish-gaelic-alphabet.jsp
How do I pronounce Gaelic sounds?
SpeakGaelic always gives you a sound file for the word you are learning. For more information on individual sounds, visit LearnGaelic’ Sounds section https://learngaelic.scot/sounds/index.jsp
What are slender and broad vowels?
The slender vowels are e and i.
All the others are broad.
SpeakGaelic says my email is taken and I can’t log in. Can you help?
This is usually because your account has not been properly activated – there should be an email from us with a link to activate your account (remember to check spam / junk folders too). If you can’t find the email, let us know.
If you have already activated your account, you may be on the wrong page. Please ensure you are on the login page and not the registration page.
Can you fix my link SpeakGaelic emailed to activate my account?
Yes – please forward us the email to fios@speakgaelic.scot and ask us to activate your account.
How do I log in after activating my account?
Please make your way to the login page.
Can you help me move on after completing a test?
This commonly happens if you have not logged on. You also need to have passed with 60% correct answers, if you think you have been unfairly treated, let us know. We may have a mistake in that particular test and we will fix it.
My dashboard says I’ve completed X number of topics but I should have more. How do I complete all steps to finish my topics?
You should be able to scroll and expand each topic to see which one has a step missed out. In the following example, all the sections apart from the intro and completed topic section have been completed, so the topic is incomplete.
Go into the incomplete section and follow the all the steps in the section to complete the topic.
How can I see how many steps I have missed out?
You can tell how many steps are in each section by the score on the counter at the top of the page.
How can I see what steps I have missed out?
You can see these by going to the left-hand side of screen of any section and selecting See Lesson Content. Mobile users have an extra fist step, you can see this extra step below.
This will pull out all an index of all the pages and you can see your progress – a completed section will have a big green tick, an incomplete section will be empty. To resolve, navigate to the incomplete pages. If a quiz has not been completed it will be blue. if it is complete, the quiz icon is green.
Extra step for small screens
Mobile users will have an extra step: you have to select the three stacked lines (officially known as the hamburger) beofre the other steps.
How do I report an error?
Either use the contact form or send us an email at fios@speakgaelic.scot. Please send us the page title at the top of page (or URL) with a short description of error. If you can send a screengrab, that will help us identify the issue.
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This is usually as something is muted somewhere on your device. Check volume controls, speaker settings and device settings. Please make sure you are pressing the speaker icon.
Why was I marked wrong on this quiz question?
We hate to break it to you, but you might be wrong. Check you have read the question correctly. Please ensure your apostrophes are facing the correct way and finally make sure you don’t have too many spaces.
If you think you have been unfairly treated, let us know. We may have a mistake in that particular test and we will fix it. Either use the contact form or send us an email at fios@speakgaelic.scot. Please send us the quiz title at the top of page (or URL) with a short description of error. If you can send a screengrab, that will help us identify the issue.
Can you translate something for me?
We are a tiny wee team and our main focus is on our resources. There are also professional translators who will talk you through your requirements and provide appropriate translations (some words may be context-dependent). We can send you a list of professional translators if you need them.
I think I’ve found a typo/mistake on the website. How do I report this?
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Clàsan roimhearach
Prepositional clauses
We saw the structure clàs roimhearach (prepositional clause) at level B1.
This is a structure in which the preposition comes before a clause in the sentence.
We have to use an cruth eisimeileach (the dependent or question form) of the verb.
Tha Beileag, boireannach air am bi mi a’ tadhal gach latha a’ dol gu dachaigh cùraim a dh’aithghearr.
Bella, a woman I visit every day is going to a care home soon.
When we use a preposition to link the first part of the sentence with a clause, we need to use the dependent (question form) of the verb.
Sin an dùthaich + Chaidh sinn dhan dùthaich sin as t-samhradh.
That’s the country + We went to that country in the summer.
Sin an dùthaich dhan deach sinn as t-samhradh.
That’s the country we went to this summer.
Sin an tè + Cha robh falt ruadh oirre.
That’s the one + She didn’t have red hair.
Sin an tè air nach robh falt ruadh.
That’s the one who didn’t have red hair.
Is esan am fear + Bruidhnidh mi ris aig an tìodhlachadh.
He is the one + I will talk to him at the funeral.
Is esan am fear ris am bruidhinn mi aig an tìodhlachadh.
He is the one I will talk to at the funeral.
Be careful not to confuse this with questions using cò + preposition, such as: cò às …?, cò thuige …?, cò aige …? and so on.
Here the preposition is part of the question and is followed by the cruth neo-eisimeileach (independent form) of the verb:
Cò am port-adhair às a bheil sibh a’ falbh?
From which airport are you leaving?
Cò às a tha sibh a’ falbh?
From where are you leaving? (Where will you be leaving from?)
Cò an duine ris an robh thu a’ bruidhinn?
Who is the person to whom you were talking?
Cò ris a bha thu a’ bruidhinn?
To whom were you talking? (Who were you talking to?)
How would you combine the sentences below using a prepositional clause? Maybe grab a pen/pencil and paper!
Thoir an leabhar seo do ur nàbaidh Sìne. + Thachair mi rithe aig a’ phàrtaidh an-dè.
Give this book to your neighbour Jane. + I met her at the party yesterday.
‘S e Rònaigh an t-ainm air an eilean. + Thèid mi dhan eilean a-rithist as t-samhradh.
Rònaigh is the name of the island. + I will go to the island again this summer.
An e seo a’ bhùth? + Cha cheannaich thu rud sam bith anns a’ bhùth seo.
Is this the shop? + You will not buy anything in this shop.
Sin an taigh. + Chan fhuiricheamaid ann ach dà oidhche nuair a bha sinn beag.
That’s the house. + We would only stay there for two nights when we were little.
Agus seo dhut na freagairtean!
And here are the answers!
Thoir an leabhar seo do ur nàbaidh Sìne.+ Thachair mi rithe aig a’ phàrtaidh an-dè.
Thoir an leabhar seo do ur nàbaidh Sìne ris an do thachair mi aig a’ phàrtaidh an-dè.
Give this book to your neighbour Jane whom I met at the party yesterday.
‘S e Rònaigh an t-ainm air an eilean.+ Thèid mi dhan eilean a-rithist as t-samhradh.
‘S e Rònaigh an t-ainm air an eilean dhan tèid mi a-rithist as t-samhradh.
Rònaigh is the name of the island I will go to again this summer.
An e seo a’ bhùth? + Cha cheannaich thu rud sam bith anns a’ bhùth seo.
An e seo a’ bhùth anns nach ceannaich thu rud sam bith?
Is this the shop in (from) which you will not buy anything?
Sin an taigh.+ Chan fhuiricheamaid ann ach dà oidhche nuair a bha sinn beag.
Sin an taigh anns nach fhuiricheamaid ach dà oidhche nuair a bha sinn beag.
That’s the house in which we would only stay for two nights when we were little.