A2
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'S urrainn dhomh snàmh

I can swim

To express our ability to do something we can use a phrase or sentence using is (to be) + urrainn (ability, power) + do (to, for).

Is /’S  + urrainndo
to be (assertive/copula)(m) ability, powerto, for (preposition)
‘S/Is + urrainn + doCan, be able
Chan + urrainn + doCan’t, not be able
An + urrainn + do?Can, be able?
Nach + urrainn + do?Can’t, not be able?

‘S/Is + urrainn + do

Can, be able

Chan + urrainn + do

Can’t, not be able

An + urrainn + do?

Can, be able?

Nach + urrainn + do?

Can’t, not be able?

We can also use the prepositional pronouns as well.

‘S/Is An Nach Chanurrainndhomh
dhut
dha
dhi
dhuinn
dhuibh
dhaibh

Let’s put this all together.

An urrainn do Mhàiri dràibheadh?

Can Màiri drive?

‘S urrainn do Mhàiri dràibheadh.

Màiri can drive.

Chan urrainn do Mhàiri dràibheadh.

Màiri can’t drive.

Nach urrainn do dh’Eòghann sgitheadh?

Can’t Ewan ski?

‘S urrainn do dh’Eòghann sgitheadh.

Ewan can ski.

Chan urrainn do dh’Eòghann sgitheadh.

Ewan can’t ski.

Remember that where English says I can / You can,  Gaelic uses not the simple pronouns mi / thu, but the prepositional pronouns dhomh / dhut (for me / for you).

‘S urrainn dhomh fuine.

I can bake.

An urrainn dhut bogsadh?

Can you box?

Nach urrainn dha dannsa?

Can’t he dance?

Chan urrainn dhi seinn.

She can’t sing.

‘S urrainn dhuinn peantadh.

We can paint.

An urrainn dhuibh leum?

Can you (polite/plural) jump?

Chan urrainn dhaibh leughadh.

They can’t read.

We can also use prepositional pronouns to answer the questions with Màiri and Eòghann above.

An urrainn do Mhàiri dràibheadh?

Can Màiri drive?

‘S urrainn dhi dràibheadh.

She can drive.

Chan urrainn dhi dràibheadh.

She can’t drive.

Nach urrainn do dh’Eòghann sgitheadh?

Can’t Ewan ski?

‘S urrainn dha sgitheadh.

He can ski.

Chan urrainn dha sgitheadh.

He can’t ski.