I hope so

Tha mi an dòchas gum bi

What are gum bi and nach bi?

They are the versions of bidh and cha bhi we use inside a sentence, after a statement like Tha mi an dòchas … ‘I hope’ … or Tha eagal orm … ‘I fear…’

When do I use gum bi and nach bi? Why do I use gum bi and nach bi?

You use gum b i and nach bi to tie two sentences together: Tha mi an dòchas and bidh i tioram.

How do I use gum bi and nach bi?

Replace bidh in the second sentence with gum bi.

Tha mi an dòchas + Bidh i tioram

I hope + It will be dry

becomes  Tha mi an dòchas + [gum bi] + i tioram

I hope + [that it will be] dry

Tha mi an dòchas gum bi i tioram

I hope it will be dry

Replace cha bhi with nach bi.

Tha eagal orm + cha bhi turadh ann

I fear + There will not be a dry spell

Becomes Tha eagal orm + [nach bi] + turadh ann

I fear + [that there will not be] a dry spell

Th a eagal orm nach bi turadh ann

I fear there will not be a dry spell

Play with the sentence until you are happy with gum bi and nach bi.