When the verbal noun acts as an infinitive following verbs of motion or the verb sguir (cease), it is preceded by the particle a which lenites the following verbal noun. This particle becomes a dh' before words beginning with vowels and fh+vowel.
In this structure, the direct object follows the verbal noun/infinitive. The definite direct object appears in the genitive when linked to a verbal noun/infinitive.
tha Uilleam a' dol a dh'fheitheamh William is going to wait
tha Calum a' dol a thighinn cuideachd Calum is going to come too
dh'falbh iad a chluich ball-coise they left to play football
thàinig Iseabail a dh'ithe Iseabail came to eat
thàinig Iseabail a dh'ithe a' bhidhe Iseabail came to eat the food
sguir a' chlann a chaoineadh the children stopped crying
When the verbal noun acts as an infinitive following all other verbs, it takes the particle a only when there is a direct object. In this case, the direct object precedes the infinitive. The definite direct object appears in the genitive when linked to a verbal noun/infinitive.
The particle a may be omitted before words beginning with vowels and fh+vowel, as it is not pronounced. In this structure, the particle a does not add dh- to vowels or fh+vowel.
Irregular variants of the infinitive are a bhith (to be), a dhol (to go) and a thighinn (to come) which always include the particle a.
tha Calum ag iarraidh seinn Calum wants to sing
tha Calum ag iarraidh a thighinn cuideachd Calum wants to come too
tha Calum ag iarraidh an òrain sin a sheinn Calum wants to sing that song
bu toil leam bruidhinn I would like to speak
bu toil leam Gàidhlig a bhruidhinn I would like to speak Gaelic
bu toil leam Gàidhlig (a) ionnsachadh I would like to learn Gaelic
• Elements of Scottish Gaelic Verbs
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• Irregular Verbs • Defective Verbs • Verbal Nouns • Infinitives |
• Tenses • Impersonal Forms • Passive • Derivatives |
• Regular Verb Paradigm (Broad Consonant)
• Regular Verb Paradigm (Slender Consonant)
• Independent Particles
• Dependent Particles
• Prepositional Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns
• Prepositional Possessive Pronouns
• Written Accents