As we learned in the cuspairean so far there are many ways that we can use an guth fulangach (the passive voice) in Gaelic.
We can use the regular verb gabh (take, give) as an gnìomhair taiceil (auxiliary verb) in Gaelic to say that something ‘can be’ or ‘could be’ or to say that something can be or could be believed, eaten, done (creidsinn, ithe, deanamh) and so on.
But unlike the passive structure with rach, when gabh is used in this way it should be used with an un–lenited verbal noun:
Cha ghabh seo creidsinn!
This can’t be believed!
Ò, dè nach gabh creidsinn?
Oh, what can’t be believed?
An gabh am biadh ithe?
Can the food be eaten?
Cha ghabhadh an coimpiutair càradh
The computer could not be fixed
Dè ghabhas dèanamh?
What can be done?
How would you say these sentences in Gaelic, in the passive voice and using the verb gabh?
The cake could not be eaten because there was too much salt in it. |
Can the people be saved? |
The architect said that the church could be fixed. |
Here are the answers!
Cha ghabhadh a’ chèic ithe leis gun robh cus salainn innte.
The cake could not be eaten because there was too much salt in it.
An gabh na daoine sàbhaladh?
Can the people be saved?
Thuirt an t–ailtire gun gabhadh an eaglais càradh.
The architect said that the church could be repaired.