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We have asked the question Càit a bheil thu ag obair? (Where do you work?), but how to get there? We can use two of the ten irregular verbs we have in Gaelic: faigh (get) and rach (go).
Ciamar a gheibh thu dhan oifis?
How will you get to the office?
Gheibh mi ann air an trèan
I will get there on the train.
Ciamar a bhios tu a’ faighinn dhan oifis?
How will you be getting to the office?
Bidh mi a’ faighinn ann air an trèan.
I will be getting there on the train.
Ciamar a thèid e dhan stèisean?
How will he get (go) to the station?
Gheibh e lioft.
He’ll get a lift.
Ciamar a bhios i a’ faighinn dhachaigh?
How will she be getting home?
Bidh i a’ faighinn tagsaidh.
She’ll get a taxi.
Remember that these future tense questions and answers can also be used in a ‘habitual present’ sense to talk about what we do, not just what we will do:
Ciamar a gheibh thu dhan ospadal?
How do you get to the hospital? / How will you get to the hospital?
Bidh mi a’ coiseachd.
I walk. / I will walk.
What are the other ways of getting to work?
trèan (f)
train
bus (m)
bus
càr (m)
car
rothair (m)
bicycle
baidhsagal (m)
bicycle
bàt’‑aiseig
ferry
a’ ruith (vn)
running
a’ coiseachd (vn)
walking
We can use another two irregular verbs: ruig (reach) and beir (bear/take/hold) in describing our travel to work. With beir we must use air (on) when talking about catching a bus or train.
RUIG! (REACH) | ||
An do ràinig? | Ràinig | Cha do ràinig |
Did reach? | Reached | Didn’t reach |
An ruig? | Ruigidh | Cha ruig |
Will reach? | Will reach | Won’t reach |
An do ràinig?
Did reach?
Ràinig
Reached
Cha do ràinig
Didn’t reach
An ruig?
Will reach?
Ruigidh
Will reach
Cha ruig
Won’t reach
A very common saying featuring ruig is:
Ruigidh each mall muileann
It bears repeating! With beir we must use air (on) when talking about siubhal (travel): beir + air (catch), otherwise the meaning is completely different!
BEIR + AIR (CATCH) | ||
An do rug … air? | Rug … air | Cha do rug … air |
Did catch? | Caught | Didn’t catch |
Am beir … air? | Beiridh … air | Cha bheir … air |
Will catch? | Will catch | Won’t catch |
An do rug … air?
Did catch?
Rug … air
Caught
Cha do rug … air
Didn’t catch
Am beir … air?
Will catch?
Beiridh … air
Will catch
Cha bheir … air
Won’t catch
We can also use beir air to talk about ‘getting’ someone or ‘catching’ someone.
Rug i air feasgar.
She caught him/it in the afternoon.
Tha iad an dòchas gum beir iad air a‑màireach.
They hope they’ll catch him/it tomorrow
Beiridh mise ort!
I’ll get you!
Play with the sentences below. There are no wrong answers!
An do ràinig i …?