Although some of the phrases and grammar used on news reports can be quite difficult, lots of these phrases appear frequently in news items, and with a little practice, they’ll become familiar.
Sùil a–rithist air na prìomh naidheachdan …
Another look at the headlines (main news) …
Thathas a’ cur fàilte air na naidheachdan …
The news is being welcomed …
Thathar a’ dol às àicheadh gun …
It is being denied that …
Thathar a’ dol às àicheadh nach …
It is being denied that … not
Cha chualas dad gu ruige seo …
Nothing has been heard so far/up to now …
Cha chualas dad thuige seo …
Nothing has been heard to date/until now …
Chan fhacas dearbhadh air seo …
Confirmation of this has not been seen …
Chualas gun robh …
It has been heard that …
Chunnacas àrdachadh ann an …
An increase has been seen in …
Went and will go
There is another passive structure which is very common in Gaelic. We very often see chaidh (went) and thèid (will go) in sentences where they don’t actually mean ‘went’ or ‘will go’
The questions were answered
In English we can say something ‘got done’ , that questions ‘got answered’. In Gaelic we use the verb rach (go) to do this. This structure causes inversion when used with direct objects, as we saw previously in Cuspair 9 and in A2 Cuspair 9.
Chaidh na ceistean a fhreagairt.
The questions got/were answered.
Thèid an obair a dhèanamh.
The work will get/be done.
An deach moladh mòr a dhèanamh air?
Did it get/Was it greatly praised?
Chaidh leasanan ionnsachadh.
Lessons got/were learned.
Nach tèid sin aontachadh?
Won’t that get/be agreed?