To talk about work plans, we can use an tràth cumhach (conditional tense). We can see the questions and answers with bu mhiann (would desire, wish, like) and bu toil (would like) in the table. Remember that iomlaid (inversion) happens when there is a cuspair dìreach (direct object) in these modal sentences.
Am bu mhiann? | leam | obair ùr fhaighinn? | ✅ Bu mhiann |
Nach bu mhiann | leat | an obair a dhèanamh? | ⛔ Cha bu mhiann |
leis | càr ùr a cheannach? | ||
Am bu toil | leatha | dol a Ghlaschu? | ✅ Bu toil |
Nach bu toil | leinn | falbh dhachaigh? | ⛔ Cha bu toil |
leibh | fuireach san obair seo? | ||
leotha |
In the bottom three examples above there is no direct object, so no inversion. With dol a Ghlaschu (going to Glasgow) and fuireach san obair seo (staying in this work) there is a preposition between the verb and the noun object. With falbh dhachaigh (going home(wards)), dhachaigh (homewards) is a co–ghnìomhair (adverb) rather than a noun.
Thoir gu buil
We looked again at the irregular verb thoir! in Cuspair 4. We also use this verb with the following idiomatic phrase:
thoir gu buil! | accomplish! achieve! bring to fruition! implement! |
a’ toirt gu buil | accomplishing, achieving, bringing to fruition, implementing |
An tug thu na h–amasan agad gu buil?
Did you bring your aims to fruition?
An toir thu do chuid bheachdan gu buil?
Will you bring your ideas to fruition?
An toireadh tu na planaichean agad gu buil?
Would you implement your plans?
Ciamar a bheireadh tu na planaichean gu buil?
How would you implement the plans?