Presenter: Gilleasbuig MacFhearghais (Gilleasbuig Ferguson)
[GILLEASBUIG] Is dòcha gu bheil sibh air rudan mar seo a chluinntinn: "'S e latha math a th' ann an-diugh," no, "Tha e na latha math an-diugh." Bheir sinn sùil air an diofar eadar 'is' [an e, 's e, chan e] agus 'bi' [a bheil, tha, chan eil]. Bidh sinn a' coimhead air cuid de na suidheachaidhean far am bi sinn gan cleachdadh agus cuideachd far nach bu chòir dhuinn an cleachdadh.
Feumaidh sinn a ràdh gur e rud a tha a' buntainn ri Gàidhlig ghnàthasach a tha seo, agus mar sin, feumaidh sibh smaoineachadh air mar a tha an cànan a' faireachdainn, seach a bhith a' cumail ri riaghailtean a-mhàin, ged a tha na riaghailtean ceart agus feumail. Bheir sinn sùil air na h-obraichean a bhios aig daoine agus mar a bhios sinn a' bruidhinn mun deidhinn.
Can gun robh mi a' dràibheadh thractaran airson na h-obrach agam ach a-nis gu bheil mi a' teagasg mu dheidhinn thractaran ann an colaiste. Tha diofar dhòighean ann air seo a ràdh. Dh'fhaodainn a ràdh, "Bha mi nam dhràibhear agus a-nis 's e tidsear a tha annam."
Tha dà structar an sin: "Bha mi nam dhràibhear," agus "'S e tidsear a tha annam". Cha bhi an gnìomhair 'bi' ('tha', 'bha', 'bidh', agus msaa) a' cur cus cudrom air rudan. Chan eil thu ag ràdh rudan ann an dòigh làidir le bhith a' cleachdadh 'tha', 'bha' no 'bidh'. Mar sin, nuair a chanas mi, "Bha mi nam dhràibhear," chan eil mi a' cur cus cudrom air.
An uair a chanas mi, "'S e tidsear a tha annam" ged-tà, tha mi dha-rìribh a' cur cudrom air 'tidsear', agus 's e sin a nì mi mar obair, mar dhreuchd. Chì sibh gu bheil iad diofraichte a thaobh brìghe no gu bheil faireachdainn diofraichte annta. Bhiodh e pailt cho ceart a ràdh: "B' e dràibhear a bh' annam agus a-nis tha mi nam thidsear." No: "B' e dràibhear a bha annam agus a-nis 's e tidsear a tha annam." No: "Bha mi nam dhràibhear agus a-nis tha mi nam thidsear." Ged a tha iad uile ceart a thaobh gràmair agus iad uile a' dèanamh ciall; tha iad diofraichte a thaobh nuans.
Chan eil e idir ceart a bhith ag ràdh, "Tha mi plumair," mar eisimpleir. Feumaidh sibh aon de na structaran a bha againn na bu thràithe a chleachdadh. "'S e plumair a tha annam," no "Tha mi nam phlumair."
Tha iomadach dòigh ann air an dà chuid 'is' agus 'bi' a chleachdadh agus mar as trice bheir e greiseag gus an tuig neach-ionnsachaidh an diofar. Mar sin, na gabh dragh ma tha e doirbh an-dràsta; thig e.
Anns na bonn-nòtaichean airson a' chliop seo chì sibh eisimpleirean eile agus barrachd mìneachaidh air far am bu chòir dhuinn 'is' a chleachdadh.
Mar sin leibh an-dràsta.
Bonn-notaichean
Mar a bha sinn ag ràdh sa chliop, bidh an gnìomhair 'is' ga chleachdadh son cudrom a chur air rudan. Tha iomadach suidheachadh ann far a bheil 'is' feumail agus ged nach eil e comasach mìneachadh slàn a dhèanamh an seo, 's urrainn dhuinn toiseach tòiseachaidh a dhèanamh le bhith a' coimhead air dà chlas de shuidheachadh far an tèid 'is' a chleachdadh. Airson aire a thoirt do rudeigin no cuideigin (gu tric an coimeas ri, no an aghaidh rudeigin eile):
'S e càr a bhios aca, chan e motair-bàic.
An tusa a nì seo? Is mi fhèin a nì e!
An esan do mhac? Chan e. Is esan mo cho-ogha.
Airson rudan no daoine a shònrachadh:
'S e nurs a tha ann am Màiri.
'S e nurs a th' innte.
Is ise an nurs.
'S e baile mòr a tha ann an Glaschu.
'S e taigh snog a tha sin.
Tuigidh sibh gu bheil sinn an sàs ann an nuans an seo ach airson eacarsaich, feuch am faigh sibh an diofar eadar na h-abairtean seo:
1. Tha mi nam oileanach.
2. 'S e oileanach a tha annam.
3. Is oileanach mi.
Presenter: Gilleasbuig MacFhearghais (Gilleasbuig Ferguson)
[GILLEASBUIG] Perhaps you might have heard things like this: "Today is a nice day," or, "It is a nice day today." We'll take a look at the difference between 'is' [is it, it is, it isn't] and 'bi' [is it, it is, it isn't]. We will look at some of the situations in which we would use them and also when we shouldn't use them.
We should say that this is a topic that relates to idiomatic Gaelic, so we have to think about how the language feels, rather than following the rules alone, although the rules are correct and helpful. We'll take a look at people's occupations and how we talk about them.
Say that I drove tractors for a living, but that now, I teach about tractors in college. There are different ways to say this. I could say, "I was a driver, and now I am a teacher."
That contains two structures: "I was a driver," and "I am a teacher". The verb 'bi' ('tha', 'bha' and 'bidh' and so on) does not put much emphasis on things. You don't say things in a very emphatic way by using 'tha', 'bha' or 'bidh'. So, when I say, "I was a driver," I'm not putting much emphasis on that.
However, when I say, "I am a teacher," I am definitely emphasising the word 'teacher', and that's what I do as a job, my occupation. You will see that there is a difference in meaning or that they have a different feel. It would be equally correct to say: "B' e dràibhear a bha annam agus a-nis tha mi nam thidsear." Or: "B' e dràibhear a bha annam agus a-nis 's e tidsear a tha annam." Or: "Bha mi nam dhràibhear agus a-nis tha mi nam thidsear." They are all grammatically correct and all make sense; they are different in terms of nuance.
It is not correct to say, "I am plumber," for example. You have to use one of the structures we looked at earlier. "'S e plumair a tha annam," or "Tha mi nam phlumair."
There are many different ways of using both 'is' and 'bi' and it usually takes a while for learners to understand the difference. So, don't worry if you find this difficult for now; it will come to you.
In the footnotes to this clip you will see some other examples and a further explanation of when we should use 'is'.
Goodbye for now.
Footnotes
As we said in the clip, the verb 'is' is used to make things more emphatic. There are many situations where 'is' is useful and although it isn't possible to give a full explanation here, we can make a start by looking at two examples of situations where 'is' would be used. To draw attention to something or someone (often in comparison to or contrast with something else):
They will have a car, not a motorbike.
Will you be doing this? I will be doing it!
Is he your son? No, he is not. He is my cousin.
To specify things or people:
Mairi is a nurse.
She is a nurse.
She is the nurse.
Glasgow is a big city.
That is a nice house.
You will understand that we are looking at nuances here, but as an exercise, try to work out the difference between these sentences.
1. I am a student.
2. I am a student (lit. it's a student that is in me/that I am).
3. I am a student (lit. a student am I).
Presenter: Gilleasbuig MacFhearghais (Gilleasbuig Ferguson)
[GILLEASBUIG] Is dòcha gu bheil sibh air rudan mar seo a chluinntinn: "'S e latha math a th' ann an-diugh," no, "Tha e na latha math an-diugh." Bheir sinn sùil air an diofar eadar 'is' [an e, 's e, chan e] agus 'bi' [a bheil, tha, chan eil]. Bidh sinn a' coimhead air cuid de na suidheachaidhean far am bi sinn gan cleachdadh agus cuideachd far nach bu chòir dhuinn an cleachdadh.
Feumaidh sinn a ràdh gur e rud a tha a' buntainn ri Gàidhlig ghnàthasach a tha seo, agus mar sin, feumaidh sibh smaoineachadh air mar a tha an cànan a' faireachdainn, seach a bhith a' cumail ri riaghailtean a-mhàin, ged a tha na riaghailtean ceart agus feumail. Bheir sinn sùil air na h-obraichean a bhios aig daoine agus mar a bhios sinn a' bruidhinn mun deidhinn.
Can gun robh mi a' dràibheadh thractaran airson na h-obrach agam ach a-nis gu bheil mi a' teagasg mu dheidhinn thractaran ann an colaiste. Tha diofar dhòighean ann air seo a ràdh. Dh'fhaodainn a ràdh, "Bha mi nam dhràibhear agus a-nis 's e tidsear a tha annam."
Tha dà structar an sin: "Bha mi nam dhràibhear," agus "'S e tidsear a tha annam". Cha bhi an gnìomhair 'bi' ('tha', 'bha', 'bidh', agus msaa) a' cur cus cudrom air rudan. Chan eil thu ag ràdh rudan ann an dòigh làidir le bhith a' cleachdadh 'tha', 'bha' no 'bidh'. Mar sin, nuair a chanas mi, "Bha mi nam dhràibhear," chan eil mi a' cur cus cudrom air.
An uair a chanas mi, "'S e tidsear a tha annam" ged-tà, tha mi dha-rìribh a' cur cudrom air 'tidsear', agus 's e sin a nì mi mar obair, mar dhreuchd. Chì sibh gu bheil iad diofraichte a thaobh brìghe no gu bheil faireachdainn diofraichte annta. Bhiodh e pailt cho ceart a ràdh: "B' e dràibhear a bh' annam agus a-nis tha mi nam thidsear." No: "B' e dràibhear a bha annam agus a-nis 's e tidsear a tha annam." No: "Bha mi nam dhràibhear agus a-nis tha mi nam thidsear." Ged a tha iad uile ceart a thaobh gràmair agus iad uile a' dèanamh ciall; tha iad diofraichte a thaobh nuans.
Chan eil e idir ceart a bhith ag ràdh, "Tha mi plumair," mar eisimpleir. Feumaidh sibh aon de na structaran a bha againn na bu thràithe a chleachdadh. "'S e plumair a tha annam," no "Tha mi nam phlumair."
Tha iomadach dòigh ann air an dà chuid 'is' agus 'bi' a chleachdadh agus mar as trice bheir e greiseag gus an tuig neach-ionnsachaidh an diofar. Mar sin, na gabh dragh ma tha e doirbh an-dràsta; thig e.
Anns na bonn-nòtaichean airson a' chliop seo chì sibh eisimpleirean eile agus barrachd mìneachaidh air far am bu chòir dhuinn 'is' a chleachdadh.
Mar sin leibh an-dràsta.
Bonn-notaichean
Mar a bha sinn ag ràdh sa chliop, bidh an gnìomhair 'is' ga chleachdadh son cudrom a chur air rudan. Tha iomadach suidheachadh ann far a bheil 'is' feumail agus ged nach eil e comasach mìneachadh slàn a dhèanamh an seo, 's urrainn dhuinn toiseach tòiseachaidh a dhèanamh le bhith a' coimhead air dà chlas de shuidheachadh far an tèid 'is' a chleachdadh. Airson aire a thoirt do rudeigin no cuideigin (gu tric an coimeas ri, no an aghaidh rudeigin eile):
'S e càr a bhios aca, chan e motair-bàic.
An tusa a nì seo? Is mi fhèin a nì e!
An esan do mhac? Chan e. Is esan mo cho-ogha.
Airson rudan no daoine a shònrachadh:
'S e nurs a tha ann am Màiri.
'S e nurs a th' innte.
Is ise an nurs.
'S e baile mòr a tha ann an Glaschu.
'S e taigh snog a tha sin.
Tuigidh sibh gu bheil sinn an sàs ann an nuans an seo ach airson eacarsaich, feuch am faigh sibh an diofar eadar na h-abairtean seo:
1. Tha mi nam oileanach.
2. 'S e oileanach a tha annam.
3. Is oileanach mi.
Presenter: Gilleasbuig MacFhearghais (Gilleasbuig Ferguson)
[GILLEASBUIG] Perhaps you might have heard things like this: "Today is a nice day," or, "It is a nice day today." We'll take a look at the difference between 'is' [is it, it is, it isn't] and 'bi' [is it, it is, it isn't]. We will look at some of the situations in which we would use them and also when we shouldn't use them.
We should say that this is a topic that relates to idiomatic Gaelic, so we have to think about how the language feels, rather than following the rules alone, although the rules are correct and helpful. We'll take a look at people's occupations and how we talk about them.
Say that I drove tractors for a living, but that now, I teach about tractors in college. There are different ways to say this. I could say, "I was a driver, and now I am a teacher."
That contains two structures: "I was a driver," and "I am a teacher". The verb 'bi' ('tha', 'bha' and 'bidh' and so on) does not put much emphasis on things. You don't say things in a very emphatic way by using 'tha', 'bha' or 'bidh'. So, when I say, "I was a driver," I'm not putting much emphasis on that.
However, when I say, "I am a teacher," I am definitely emphasising the word 'teacher', and that's what I do as a job, my occupation. You will see that there is a difference in meaning or that they have a different feel. It would be equally correct to say: "B' e dràibhear a bha annam agus a-nis tha mi nam thidsear." Or: "B' e dràibhear a bha annam agus a-nis 's e tidsear a tha annam." Or: "Bha mi nam dhràibhear agus a-nis tha mi nam thidsear." They are all grammatically correct and all make sense; they are different in terms of nuance.
It is not correct to say, "I am plumber," for example. You have to use one of the structures we looked at earlier. "'S e plumair a tha annam," or "Tha mi nam phlumair."
There are many different ways of using both 'is' and 'bi' and it usually takes a while for learners to understand the difference. So, don't worry if you find this difficult for now; it will come to you.
In the footnotes to this clip you will see some other examples and a further explanation of when we should use 'is'.
Goodbye for now.
Footnotes
As we said in the clip, the verb 'is' is used to make things more emphatic. There are many situations where 'is' is useful and although it isn't possible to give a full explanation here, we can make a start by looking at two examples of situations where 'is' would be used. To draw attention to something or someone (often in comparison to or contrast with something else):
They will have a car, not a motorbike.
Will you be doing this? I will be doing it!
Is he your son? No, he is not. He is my cousin.
To specify things or people:
Mairi is a nurse.
She is a nurse.
She is the nurse.
Glasgow is a big city.
That is a nice house.
You will understand that we are looking at nuances here, but as an exercise, try to work out the difference between these sentences.
1. I am a student.
2. I am a student (lit. it's a student that is in me/that I am).
3. I am a student (lit. a student am I).