The particles cha (not), an (interrogative) and nach (negative interrogative) precede the dependent form of the verb.
The negative particle cha lenites the following consonant, except for words beginning with d-, t- or s-, or the verb bu (was). The particle cha becomes chan before a vowel or fh+vowel.
The particle cha combines with the verb bheil to become chan eil (isn't).
chan eil Màiri a' dol Màiri isn't going
chan esan Daibhidh he isn't David
cha b' urrainn dhomh I couldn't
cha do cheannaich sinn we didn't buy
chan fhaca mi I didn't see
cha till thu you won't return
chan fhalbhadh iad they wouldn't leave
The positive interrogative particle is an, which becomes am before b-, f-, m- or p-, and changes to a before the verb bheil.
The particles an do (interrogative + past tense marker) is sometimes pronounced and written as na.
a bheil Màiri a' dol? is Màiri going?
an esan Daibhidh? is he David?
am b' urrainn dhomh? could I?
an do cheannaich sinn? did we buy?
am faca mi? did I see?
an till thu? will you return?
am falbhadh iad? would they leave?
The negative interrogative particle is nach, which lenites a following f+vowel. The particle nach combines with the verb bheil to become nach eil? (isn't?).
a bheil Màiri a' dol? isn't Màiri going?
nach esan Daibhidh? isn't he David?
nach b' urrainn dhomh? couldn't I?
nach do cheannaich sinn? didn't we buy?
nach fhaca mi? didn't I see?
nach till thu? won't you return?
nach fhalbhadh iad? wouldn't they leave?
The negative imperative particle na (don't!) does not cause any change to the following verb. It does, however, harden the two verbs thig (come) and thoir (give, bring, take). These irregular forms are pronounced as though they begin with a d-.
na seinn! don't sing!
na òl! don't drink!
na tig a-steach! don't come in!
na toiribh airgead dha! don't give him money!
• Elements of Scottish Gaelic Verbs
|
• 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