A2
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Complete for 2 points

Nuair a bha mi òg

When I was young

In this section we’re going to look at explaining and explanations. There are some linking words (conjunctions) and different forms of the verb which will help us to do this.

You’ll remember from earlier lessons in A2 that we have learnt that there are two forms of the verb, depending on context:

  • the positive statement or answer, known as the independent (or primary) form and
  • the question, negative question and negative statement or answer: the dependent (or secondary) form.

and in Cuspair 6, we looked at some of the question words which are used with the independent (primary) form of verb:

Ciamar

How

Who

What

Cuin(e)

When

Cia mheud

How many

We can use the following linking words (conjunctions) in conversation when explaining things.

independent (primary)dependent (secondary)
nuair a… gun
when …… that …
mar a… nach
as …that … not
ged agus an/am
though …until …
mafar an/am
ifwhere …
amus
that/whobefore …

nuair a

when …

… gun

… that …

mar a

as …

… nach

that … not

ged a

though …

gus an/am

until …

ma

if

far an/am

where …

a

that/who

mus

before …

and the question:

Carson a

Why …?

Let’s put that together with the past tense of can/abair (say): thuirt and tuirt.

THUIRTAN TUIRT
nuair a thuirt… gun tuirt
when … saidthat … said
mar a thuirt… nach tuirt
as … saidthat … didn’t say
ged a thuirt… gus an tuirt
though … saiduntil … said
ma thuirt… mura tuirt
if … saidif … didn’t say
a thuirt… mus tuirt
that … saidbefore … said

nuair a thuirt

when … said

… gun tuirt

… that … said

mar a thuirt

as … said

… nach tuirt

that … did not say

ged a thuirt

though … said

gus an tuirt

until … said

ma thuirt

if … said

mura tuirt

if … didn’t say

a thuirt

that/who said

mus tuirt

before … said

And let’s see some examples from our conversation.

Carson a chaidh thu dhan Eilbheis?

Why did you go to Switzerland?

Nuair a bha mi òg …

When I was young …

Mar a thuirt mi roimhe, airson saor-làithean …

As I said before, for holidays …

Mar a tha fios agad, chan eil mòran sneachd an seo …

As you know, there isn’t much snow here …

Ged a bha e cosgail, bha e math.

Although it was expensive (costly) it was good.

Ma bha latha math ann …

If it was a good day …

An tuirt thu gun robh seòclaid theth aca?

Did you say they had hot chocolate?

Gus an robh mi sia-bliadhn’-deug …

Until I was sixteen …

Mura bi mi ro anmoch …

If I’m not too late …

Mus tèid sinn nas fhaide air adhart …

Before we go any further …