We looked at a few examples of the tràth cumhach fulangach (passive conditional tense) in Cuspair 10.
Here we will look at the irregular verbs faic and faigh.
We saw gheibhte (would be got) in the introduction to this cuspair:
Gheibhear tòrr fiosrachaidh oifigeil sa Ghàidhlig …
A lot of official information in Gaelic is available …
… ach gheibhte barrachd nam biodh achd Gàidhlig aig Westminster.
… but more could be available (got, obtained) if there were a Gaelic Act at Westminster.
FAIC—GUTH FULANGACH | ||
TRÀTH CAITHTE | TRÀTH TEACHDAIL | TRÀTH CUMHACH |
Chunnacas | Chithear | Chìte (Chìteadh) |
Chan fhacas | Chan fhaicear | Chan fhaicte |
Am facas? | Am faicear? | Am faicte? |
Nach fhacas? | Nach fhaicear? | Nach fhaicte? |
FAIGH—GUTH FULANGACH | ||
TRÀTH CAITHTE | TRÀTH TEACHDAIL | TRÀTH CUMHACH |
Fhuaradh/fhuaras | Gheibhear | Gheibhte |
Cha d’ fhuaradh | Chan fhaighear | Chan fhaighte |
An d’ fhuaradh? | Am faighear? | Am faighte? |
Nach d’ fhuaradh? | Nach fhaighear? | Nach fhaighte? |
MÌNEACHADH | EXPLANATION:
Passive forms don’t tell us who or what is doing the action.
The forms chìte (would be seen) and gheibhte (would be got) are passive conditional forms:
Chìte tòrr dhaoine a’ togail fianais nan cuirte cìsean an-àirde.
Lots of people would be seen protesting if taxes were increased.
Gheibhte barrachd taice nan cuirte tuarastalan an-àirde.
More help would be had if salaries were raised.