The copula again
An ceanglaiche a-rithist
We can use an ceanglaiche (the copula): is and bu , with adjectives.
We saw this in Cuspair 6 where we learned about empathy:
An ceanglaiche: Is, Bu
The copula: Is, Bu
We learned very early in the A1 course that Gaelic has two ways to use the verb 'is, (to) be'—the verbs bi ( tha, bha, bidh ) and is/bu .
This second form, is , is known in linguistics as an ceanglaiche (the copula), as it is used to link nouns, pronouns, or adjectives directly—to define things.
To make simple statements or descriptions we use bi in its different tenses.
We learned in A2 and B1 that we can use is ann agus b' ann with prepositions and verbs for emphasis:
Throughout the course we have seen examples of is and bu used directly with nouns and adjectives in compounds, is urrainn , bu toil , is fheàrr , is mòr and so on.
This type of structure give us some very useful phrases, often with negatives cha or nach , and commonly in double negative phrases.