Structure: gun robh/ nach robh

Structair: gun robh / nach robh

gun robh
that was*
nach robh
that was not*

*this is not a direct translation

What are  gun  robh  and  nach  robh ?  

They are both parts of speech formed of a particle and verb, but they allow us to link two sentences together to form indirect statements.  They are like  gu bheil  and  nach eil , but in the past tense. 

What is the difference between an  indirect statement  and a  direct statement?  

An indirect statement in English is  I think that Tommy was sick.  A direct statement is  Tommy was sick.  

Why do I use  gun robh  and  nach robh?  How do I use  gun robh  and  nach robh?  

You use  gun robh  and  nach robh  to   tie two sentences together  Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh gun robh mi tinn.  

How do I use  gun robh  and  nach robh?  

[Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh.] + [bha mi sgìth] =  Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh  gun robh mi sgìth. 

Replace the second sentence’s  bha  with  gun robh.  

Tha i a’ smaoineachadh gun robh mi sgìth
She thinks that I was tired

Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh. + Cha robh mi leisg = Tha mi a’ smaoineachadh + [nach robh] + mi leisg.

Replace  cha robh  with  nach robh.  

Tha i a’ smaoineachadh nach robh mi leisg
She thinks that I was not lazy

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