As we saw in Cuspair 7, there are different ways to say ‘if’ in Gaelic. We use Ma in the past and future tense, but we use Nan in the conditional tense. However, we use Mura to say ‘if not’ in all tenses.
CAITHTE
Ma rinn
If did …
Mura do rinn …
If didn’t …
TEACHDAIL
Ma nì …
If will do …
Mura dèan …
If won’t do …
CUMHACH
Nan dèanadh …
If would do …
Mura dèanadh …
If wouldn’t do …
CAITHTE
Ma thàinig …
If came …
Mura tàinig …
If didn’t come …
TEACHDAIL
Ma thig …
If will come …
Mura tig …
If won’t come …
CUMHACH
Nan tigeadh …
If would come …
Mura tigeadh …
If wouldn’t come …
Dè dhèanadh tu dhomh nan tiginn gu dinnear aig an taigh agad?
What would you make me if I came to dinner at your house?
Mura h–ith mi feòil, dè dhèanadh tu airson mo dhinnear?
If I don’t eat meat, what would you make for my dinner?
Nan tigeadh bhìogain dhan taigh agad airson dinnear, dè dhèanadh tu dhaibh?
If vegans came to your house for dinner, what would you make them?
Nan dèanadh cuideigin guga dhut airson dinnear, an itheadh tu e?
If someone made guga for you, would you eat it?
Nan dèanadh cuideigin sgadan saillte dhut, an itheadh tu sin?
If someone made salt herring for you, would you eat that?