We know the word rach (go), in most of its forms: a’ dol (going), chaidh (went) and thèid (will go). And we have also looked at a’ falbh (going away/leaving). As well these, Gaelic has some great idiomatic phrases to express going.
Let’s look at two of these, using gabh (take) and dèan (do/make). First a quick reminder of the different forms of gabh (take) in the past tense.
An do ghabh?
Did take?
Nach do ghabh?
Didn’t take?
Ghabh
Took
Cha do ghabh
Didn’t take
and gabh (take) in the future tense
An gabh?
Will take?
Nach gabh?
Won’t take?
Gabhaidh
Will take
Cha ghabh
Won’t take
Some useful words for a trip or excursion we can use with gabh (take) are:
sgrìob (f)
jaunt
cuairt (f)
excursion
turas (m)
trip, tour
An gabh iad sgrìob a Dhùn Èideann as t-samhradh?
Will they go (take a jaunt) to Edinburgh in the summer?
Gabhaidh. Gabhaidh iad cuairt ghoirid ann san Lùnastal.
They will (take). They’ll take a short trip in August.
We saw and heard an example or two already in the conversation and in the previous section.
… a’ dèanamh air an aiseag aig Malaig feasgar.
… making for the ferry at Mallaig in the afternoon.
An uair sin bidh sinn a’ gabhail sgrìob a Phort Rìgh.
Then we’ll be taking a trip to Portree.
Bha sinn a’ dèanamh air an aiseag…
We were heading for the ferry …
Feumaidh sinn dèanamh às an-dràsta fhèin …
We’ll have to make off right now …
We can use dèan (make/do) + air (on) or dèan + às (out of) to describe going to or leaving somewhere.
a’ dèanamh air
making for/going to/heading for
a’ dèanamh às
making off, leaving.
Tha mi a’ dèanamh air Dùn Èideann
I’m heading for Edinburgh
Tha mi a’ dèanamh às a-nis.
I’m leaving now.
Let’s remind ourselves about different forms of dèan (make/do) in the past tense
An do rinn?
Did make/do?
Nach do rinn?
Didn’t make/do?
Rinn
Made/did
Cha do rinn
Didn’t make/do
and dèan (make/do) in the future tense
An dèan?
Will make/do?
Nach dèan?
Won’t make/do?
Nì
Will make/do
Cha dèan
Won’t make/do
An dèan iad air Dùn Èideann as t-samhradh?
Will they head for Edinburgh in the summer?
Nì. Nì iad air Dùn Èideann san Lùnastal.
They will (make for). They’ll head for Edinburgh in August.
Cha dèan. Nì iad air Dùn Èideann aig àm na Nollaige.
They won’t (make for). They’ll head to Edinburgh at Christmastime.
An do rinn iad air Dùn Èideann as t-samhradh?
Did they head for Edinburgh in the summer?
Rinn. Rinn iad air Dùn Èideann san Lùnastal.
They did (make for). They headed for Edinburgh in August.
Cha do rinn. Rinn iad air Dùn Èideann aig àm na Nollaige.
They didn’t (make for). They headed for Edinburgh at Christmastime.