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Gnìomhairean gun chuspair

Verbs with no direct object

When we use inversion sentences with a direct object, the verbal noun always lenites where possible. When there is no direct object the verbal noun is not lenited.

NO DIRECT OBJECT DIRECT OBJECT
An urrainn dhut dràibheadh?An urrainn dhut càr a dhràibheadh?
Can you drive? Can you drive a car?

As we saw in Cuspair 9 of A2, dol (going) and tighinn (coming) are often found in their lenited forms in different dialects:

Nach urrainn dhut dol ann?An urrainn dhut tighinn ann?
Nach urrainn dhut a dhol ann?An urrainn dhut a thighinn ann?

Sentences with urrainn will take two forms depending on whether the verbal noun has a direct object or not.

Where there is no direct object, we don’t use ag or a’ with the verbal noun.

MODALSUBJECTVERB
An urrainndhuibhseinn?
Chan urrainndhomhseinn.

Where there is a direct object, the verbal noun comes at the end, just as we saw with faod and feum in Cuspair 9. The verbal noun is lenited and preceded by a (no apostrophe). Look at what happens to òl (drink) which begins with a vowel, it doesn’t take a and cannot lenite: and with faicinn which lenites to fhaicinn and so also starts with a vowel sound.

MODALSUBJECTDIRECT OBJECT VERB
An urrainndhiclàrsachachluich?
Chan urrainndhaleabharaleughadh
Nach urrainndhicofaidh òl?
Chan urrainndhaibhfilm fhaicinn