Language/Scottish-gaelic/Grammar/Linking-with-Conjunctions

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Scottish Gaelic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Linking with Conjunctions

Scottish Gaelic is a beautiful and complex language spoken in Scotland. It has a rich cultural history and is an important part of Scottish identity. In this lesson, we will focus on linking words, also called conjunctions, which are used to connect words, phrases, and clauses together in a sentence. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to use conjunctions in Scottish Gaelic to create more complex sentences and to express your thoughts more accurately.

Conjunctions

In Scottish Gaelic, conjunctions are used to link together words, phrases, and clauses. They can join two or more parts of a sentence, indicating how they are related to each other. Some common conjunctions in Scottish Gaelic include:

"agus" (and)
"no" (or)
"ach" (but)
"oir" (because)
"mar" or "gun" (that)
"mur" (if not)
"gu" (that)

Here are some examples:

"Tha mi agus mo charaidean a' coiseachd a-nis." (I and my friends are walking now.)
"Feumaidh mi falbh a-nis no chaillidh mi an trèana." (I have to leave now or I will miss the train.)
"Bha e fhathast fuar ach chruthaich e-fhèin an teas tron adhair." (It was still cold but he created heat through the air.)
"Tha mi deònach barrachd obrachadh oir bhitheamaid cho soirbheachail ri latha eile." (I am willing to work more because we would be as successful as another day.)
"Bha mi cinnteach gun robh mi a' faighneachd ma bhios thu a' tighinn air falbh, mar sin dh'fhalbh mi fhad 's a bha mi fhèin sa chòmhdhail." (I was sure that I would ask if you are leaving, so I left as soon as I was in the meeting.)
"Mura dean thu e, cha bhi fios agad dè a thachras." (If you don't do it, you won't know what happens.)
"Tha mi a' smaoineachadh gu bheil e iomchaidh gu bheil sinn ag obair tron oidhche, gu bheil thu a' faighneachd dè tha sinn a' dèanamh, gu bheil sinn a' togail àrainnan ùr." (I think it is appropriate that we work at night, that you ask what we are doing, that we are building a new area.)

As you can see from these examples, conjunctions are used in a variety of ways to link words, phrases, and clauses together. In the next section, we will look at some specific uses of conjunctions in more detail.

Conjunctions for Adding Information

The conjunction "agus" is often used to add more information to a sentence. This is similar to the English conjunction "and". Here are some examples:

"Tha ise glic agus brèagha." (She is smart and pretty.)
"Bha mi a' coiseachd tron choille agus bha na seòid seo air tuiteam." (I was walking through the forest and these seeds were falling.)

Notice how the conjunction "agus" is used to link two adjectives together in the first example, and how it is used to link a prepositional phrase with a verb phrase in the second example.

Another conjunction that can be used to add information in Scottish Gaelic is "ann" which means "in addition" or "also". Here is an example:

"Tha i fileanta ann an Gàidhlig, agus tha i a' tuigsinn Beurla cuideachd." (She is fluent in Gaelic, and she also understands English.)

In this sentence, the conjunction "ann" is used to add more information about the woman's language abilities.

Conjunctions for Choices

The conjunction "no" can be used to indicate a choice between two or more options. This is similar to the English conjunction "or". Here are some examples:

"Dè tha thu ag iarraidh fhaighinn, ceart no seachd?" (What do you want to get, a cake or a pie?)
"Feumaidh tu taghadh a dhèanamh idir, air a' phròiseact no airson còmhraidh." (You must make a choice either to proceed or to discuss.)

Notice how the conjunction "no" is used to indicate a choice between two different options in both of these examples.

Conjunctions for Contrast

The conjunction "ach" is often used to create contrast in a sentence. This is similar to the English conjunction "but". Here are some examples:

"Tha an t-sìde brèagha ach tha e fuar fhathast." (The weather is lovely but it is still cold.)
"Tha mi oirre agus tha mi 'g iarraidh cothrom a thoirt dha mhac 's athair, ach chan eil mi cinnteach dè an dòigh a dh'fhaodadh mi seo a dhèanamh." (I am responsible for her and I want to give her son and father a chance, but I'm not sure how I can do this.)

Notice how the conjunction "ach" is used to introduce a contrasting idea in these examples and to link two phrases that contrast with each other.

Conjunctions for Cause and Effect

The conjunction "oir" is often used to indicate a cause-and-effect relationship between two parts of a sentence. This is similar to the English conjunction "because". Here are some examples:

"Tha eagal orm a bhith a-mach a-nochd oir tha an t-sìde fadaidh ann." (I'm afraid to be out tonight because the weather is bad.)
"Chaidh mi gu Berlin oir bha mi air doigh airson obrachadh." (I went to Berlin because I had a job.)

Notice how the conjunction "oir" is used to link a cause with an effect in both of these examples.

Another conjunction that can be used to indicate cause and effect is "gun" or "mar". Here are some examples:

"Tha mi an dòchas gun gabh thu an càil e." (I hope that you understand it.)
"Mar sin, chaidh an dealbh a sgaoileadh air Instagram." (Thus, the picture was distributed on Instagram.)

In these examples, "gun" and "mar" are used to indicate a reason for something that has happened.

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learned about conjunctions, which are used to link words, phrases, and clauses together in a sentence. We have seen how conjunctions can be used to add information, indicate choices, create contrast, and show cause and effect relationships. By using conjunctions correctly, you can create more complex sentences in Scottish Gaelic and express your thoughts more accurately. Keep practicing and building your knowledge of Scottish Gaelic grammar and vocabulary, and you will soon be able to use conjunctions with ease.

Table of Contents - Scottish Gaelic Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Greetings and Introductions

Nouns and Articles

Everyday Objects and Common Verbs

Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

Numbers, Time, and Dates

Questions and Negation

Food and Drink

Adjectives and Adverbs

Family and Relationships

Prepositions and Conjunctions

Travel and Transportation

Scottish Gaelic Culture and Traditions

Other Lessons

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