Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Cookies do not provide us with any personally identifying information.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

These are enabled at all times as they are required perform essential functions, such as remembering your preferences for other cookie settings.

Web Analytics Cookies

This website uses Google Analytics cookies to collect anonymous statistical information about user behaviour on our site, such as the number of visits and most popular pages. Keeping these cookies enabled helps us improve our website for you.

Tha-bha

Tha gu bha

Joy explains the simple past tense and its positive and negative forms.

What happens if you want to talk about the weather a few days ago in the past? You might have had incredible weather over the past few days, or you might be struggling to keep a conversation going. We’ll learn the simple past tense just now. You already know the structures. 

Cò ris a bha an aimsir coltach an-dè?
What was the weather like yesterday?
Cò ris a bha an t-sìde coltach Diciadain?
What was the weather like on Wednesday?

Only one word has changed:  tha  to  bha . Tha  is the present tense of ‘to be’ (‘am, are, is’) and  bha  is the past tense (‘was, were’).

Bha i fliuch
It was wet
Bha i teth
It was hot

To say the weather  wasn’t  something we need a negative form of the verb. In the present tense we used Chan eil, but in the past tense we say  Cha robh .

Tha -> Bha  

Chan eil -> Cha robh  

Bha
(It) was
Cha robh
(It) was not

To ask a Yes/No question in the present tense we used A bheil…?  In the past tense, we ask  An robh…?   The answer Yes is  Bha  and the answer No is  Cha robh  .

We also learnt the negative question  Nach eil…?  In the past tense, the negative question is  Nach robh…?   

A bheil …? -> An robh …?  

Nach eil …? -> Nach robh …?  

An robh …?
Was …?
Nach robh …?
Wasn’t …?

This gives us a whole new structure we can add to the ones we have learnt already.

Previous Next

FAQs

What does “Level” mean (A1, A2, B1, B2)?

All courses and resources on SpeakGaelic are organised according to internationally recognised language levels. If you have learnt a language before you may be familiar with this terminology—the SpeakGaelic levels map onto those defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). Within SpeakGaelic, levels are colour-coded to help you find your way about.

A1 is “Inntrigeadh” (Entry). Absolute beginners should start here!

A2 is “Bunaiteach” (Foundation). Widen your knowledge of sentences and frequently-used expressions. Communicate simple tasks and basic descriptions.

B1 is “Eadar-mheadhanach” (Intermediate). Start becoming an independent user of Gaelic.

B2 is “Adhartach” (Advanced). Complete your journey to becoming an independent user of Gaelic.

How do I type the Gaelic accents?

Tap or click on a letter to put it on your clipboard, you can then paste it anywhere:

Lowercase letters:

Uppercase letters:

Alternatively, these methods may work for you:

Windows

Some simple ways to type grave accents in MS Windows, depending on which version you use. The grave accent ` is next to the number 1 at top of keyboard.

à, è, ì, ò, ù Ctrl+`, release and type letter;

À, È, Ì, Ò, Ù Ctrl+Shift+`, release and type letter

OR

Alt key + character code on the numeric keypad on right of keyboard (laptops will vary). Ensure that the NUMLOCK is on.

à Alt+133 or 0224
è Alt+138 or 0232
ì Alt+141 or 0236
ò Alt+149 or 0242
ù Alt+151 or 0249

À Alt+0192
È Alt+0200
Ì Alt+0204
Ò Alt+0210
Ù Alt+0217

Mac

Push and hold a character to bring up a menu and choose.

E.g. hold the letter e to choose the letter è

What is the Gaelic Alphabet?

Aa, Bb, Cc, Dd, Ee, Ff, Gg, Hh, Ii, Ll, Mm, Nn, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Tt, Uu

For more information visit LearnGaelic’s Scottish Gaelic Alphabet

How do I pronounce Gaelic sounds?

SpeakGaelic always gives you a sound file for the word you are learning. For more information on individual sounds, visit LearnGaelic’ Sounds section.

What are slendar and broad vowels?

The slender vowels are e and i.

All the others are broad.

SpeakGaelic says my email is taken and I can’t log in. Can you help?

This is usually because your account has not been properly activated – there should be an email from us with a link to activate your account (remember to check spam / junk folders too). If you can’t find the email, let us know.

If you have already activated your account, you may be on the wrong page. Please ensure you are on the login page and not the registration page.

The code in my activation email doesn’t work?

We can help—please forward the email to fios@speakgaelic.scot and ask us to activate your account.

How do I log in after activating my account?

Please make your way to the login page.

Can you help me move on after completing a test?

This commonly happens if you have not logged on. You also need to have passed with 60% correct answers, if you think you have been unfairly treated, let us know. We may have a mistake in that particular test and we will fix it.

My dashboard says I’ve completed X number of topics but I should have more. How do I complete all steps to finish my topics?

You should be able to scroll and expand each topic to see which one has a step missed out. Go into the incomplete section and follow the all the steps in the section to complete the topic.

How do I report an error?

Either use the contact form or send us an email at fios@speakgaelic.scot. Please send us the page title at the top of page (or URL) with a short description of error. If you can send a screengrab, that will help us identify the issue.

Why isn’t my sound working?

This is usually because something is muted somewhere on your device. Check volume controls, speaker settings and device settings. Please make sure you are pressing the speaker icon.

Why was I marked wrong on this quiz question?

We hate to break it to you, but you might be wrong! Check you have read the question correctly. Please ensure your apostrophes are facing the correct way and finally make sure you don’t have too many spaces.

If you think you have been unfairly treated, let us know. We may have a mistake in that particular test and we will fix it. Either use the contact form or send us an email at fios@speakgaelic.scot. Please send us the quiz title at the top of page (or URL) with a short description of error. If you can send a screengrab, that will help us identify the issue.

Can you translate something for me?

We are a tiny wee team and our main focus is on our resources. There are also professional translators who will talk you through your requirements and provide appropriate translations (some words may be context-dependent). We can send you a list of professional translators if you need them.

I think I’ve found a typo/mistake on the website. How do I report this?

Either use the contact form or send us an email at fios@speakgaelic.scot. Please send us the page title at the top of page (or URL) with a short description of error. If you can send a screengrab, that will help us identify the issue.

Why won't you provide your email address in a format I can open?

We will get ambushed by spam! If you email fios@speakgaelic.scot we will get back to you as soon as possible. Please don’t be mean, we are human beings and it will ruin our day!

Need more help or see something that is not working?

Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you see anything wrong or if you want to leave us a message.