The topic/subject of this lesson is miannan (desires) and we’ll be talking about the things we want, and the things we would like.
First we’ll look at iomlaid (inversion) again. We saw bu mhiann in Cuspair 7. Here it is below: Is miann (like, desire, wish) and Bu mhiann (would like, desire, wish).
Am miann | leatha | taigh ùr | a thogail? | ✅Is miann | ⛔Cha mhiann |
Nach miann | leibh | cofaidh | òl? | ✅Is miann | ⛔Cha mhiann |
Nach miann | leotha | airgead | a choisinn? | ✅Is miann | ⛔Cha mhiann |
Am bu mhiann | leam | ✅Bu mhiann | ⛔Cha bu mhiann | ||
Nach bu mhiann | leat | obair ùr | fhaighinn? | ✅Bu mhiann | ⛔Cha bu mhiann |
Nach bu mhiann | leis | leabhar | a sgrìobhadh? | ✅Bu mhiann | ⛔Cha bu mhiann |
We can see how we use bu mhiann with the questions ceistean (questions) we learned.
BU MHIANN [neo–eisimeileach] | AM BU MHIANN [eisimeileach] |
Ciamar a bu mhiann? | Càit am bu mhiann? |
Cò | Dè bu mhiann? | … gum bu mhiann … |
Cuin a bu mhiann? | …nach bu mhiann … |
Carson a bu mhiann? |
Remember that we use inversion with other modal phrases as well.
We saw and heard some of these in the conversation at the beginning of this section.
Is/’S toil [+ le] | Is/’S toil leam | I like … |
Bu toil [+ le] | Bu toil leam | I would like … |
Is/’S caomh [+ le] | Is/’S caomh leam | I like … |
Bu chaomh [+ le] … | Bu chaomh leam … | I would like … |
Is/’S math [+ le] | Is/’S math leam | I like … /I am fond of … |
Bu mhath [+ le] … | Bu mhath leam … | I would like … [more common] |
Is àill [+ le] | Is àill leam | I want, like, desire … |
B’ àill [+ le] | B’ àill leam | I’d want, like, desire … |
And there are some more useful modal phrases which use inversion.
Bu dùraig [+ do] | Bu dùraig dhomh | I’d like to/I’d dare to |
Is fhiach [+ do] | Is fhiach dhut | It’s worth/you should |
B’ fhiach [+ do] | B’ fhiach dhut | It would be worth/You should have |
Is/’S àbhaist [+ do] | Is/’S àbhaist dhomh | I usually … |
B’ àbhaist [+ do] | B’ àbhaist dhomh | I’d usually … |
Am bu toil leat taigh ùr a thogail?
Would you like to build a new house?
Is fhiach dhut flat a cheannach.
It’s worth [you] buying a flat.
Bu dùraig dhomh turas cuairt an t–saoghail a dhèanamh.
I’d like to/I’d dare to do a round–the–world trip.
‘S àbhaist dhomh èisteachd ri Na Dùrachdan feasgar Dihaoine.
I usually listen to Na Dùrachdan [programme] on Friday evening.
We’ll look more closely at iomlaid as we progress through this section.
Dè bu mhiann leat dèanamh le do chuid Gàidhlig?
What would you like/wish to do with your Gaelic?
Am bu mhiann leat obair fhaighinn ann an saoghal na Gàidhlig?
Would you like to get a job in the world of Gaelic?
Am bu mhiann leat fuireach ann an àite far a bheil Gàidhlig ga bruidhinn?
Would you like to stay/live in a place where Gaelic is spoken?
Am bu mhiann leat SpeakGaelic B2 a dhèanamh?
Would you like to do SpeakGaelic B2?