What are the things that you want?
Look at the things which many of us want.
beartas (beairteas) (m)
wealth, riches
soirbheas (m)
success
saidhbhreas (m)
opulence
toileachas (m)
happiness
beartach (beairteach) (adj)
rich
carthannas (m)
charity
iarrtas (m)
demand, request
slàinte (f)
health
If we are saying that we want a thing—ainmear (noun)—we have to change the order of the sentence.
Inversion
We saw the rule for iomlaid first in A2 Cuspair 12, and we saw this again with bu mhiann in B1 Cuspair 7.
abairt mhòdail | cùisear | cuspair dìreach | gnìomhair |
modal phrase / verb | subject | direct object | verb |
Iomlaid (inversion) occurs when we swap around the order of a verb/verbal noun and direct object.
There are a few structures which cause inversion, but the most common one is mòdail (modal) verbs or phrases.
This simply means verbs or phrases which express miann (desire), comas (ability) or feum (necessity) to do something.
You can take another look at the rules and patterns in 23A Duilleag Mìneachaidh or in A2 Cuspair 12.
gabh saor–làithean | Nach eil Donnchadh ag iarraidh saor–làithean a ghabhail am–bliadhna? |
Isn’t Duncan wanting to take a holiday this year? | |
tog taigh ùr | Chan fhaod iad taigh ùr a thogail an seo. |
They cannot build a new house here. | |
dèan an obair sin | Am bu toil le Sìne an obair sin a dhèanamh? |
Would Jane like to do that work? | |
ith seòclaidean | Nach fheàrr le Seonaidh seòclaidean ithe? |
Won’t Jonny prefer to eat chocolates? | |
càirich seann chàr | Feumaidh iad an seann chàr a chàradh. |
They have to repair the old car. | |
cosg airgead | Cha bu mhiann leam airgead a chosg air brògan ùra! |
I wouldn’t like to spend money on new shoes! | |
ionnsaich cànan | A bheil thu ag iarraidh cànan eile ionnsachadh? |
Do you want to learn another language? | |
ionnsaich Cuimris | Tha mi ag iarraidh Cuimris ionnsachadh. |
I want to learn Welsh. |