Conjunctions

Some Common Conjunctions

Group 1

agus - and / as, ach - but / however, oir - for / because

These are considered to be the simple conjunctions as they are followed by the simple statement forms of the verb (positive and negative) :
Tenses of the Verb TO BE
Present	Past	Future	Conditional
tha	bha	bidh	bhithinn / bhiodh
chan eil	cha robh	cha bhi	cha bhithinn / cha bhiodh

**Uses** :
Cha bhi mi a' dol a-muigh oir tha an t-uisge ann - I will not be going out because it is raining

**Group 2**

**fhads - while**, **ged - although**, **mar - as / how**, **ma - if** , **nuair - when, on / bhon - since**

These are all followed by the relative clause :
Tenses of the Verb TO BE
Present	Past	Future	Conditional
a tha	a bha	a bhios	a bhithinn / a bhiodh
nach eil	nach robh	nach bi	nach bithinn / nach biodh

**Uses** :
Fhads a tha dòchas ann - While there is hope
Ged a tha e beag tha e làidir - Although he is small he is strong
Seo mar a bha e - This is as (how) it was
Ma bhios e blàth a-màireach, bidh mi ann * - If it is (will be) dry tomorrow, I'll be there
Tha e mì-chàilear nuair a tha e fuar is fliuch - It is unpleasant when it is cold and wet
Bha i mar sin on a bha i na caileig òig - She has been like that since she was a young girl

* Where the conjunction ends in a vowel the relative pronoun a is elided in both speech and literature.

**Group 3**

**far - where**, **mus**, **mun / mum - before**, **gus - until / in order that**, **mur / mura - unless**, **if not**

These are all followed by the the interrogative forms of the verb :
Tenses of the Verb TO BE
Present	Past	Future	Conditional
a bheil	an robh	am bi	am bithinn / am biodh
nach eil	nach robh	nach bi	nach bithinn / nach biodh

**Uses** :
Suidh far a bheil thu! - Sit where you are!
Bha e na bhanaltram mus robh e na dhotair * - He was a nurse before he was a doctor Bha e na bhanaltram mun robh e na dhotair * - He was a nurse before he was a doctor
Fuirich gus am bi mì fhìn ann - Wait until I'm (will be) there
Cha bhi mi ann mura bi thu fhèin ann ‡ - I will not be there unless you are (will be)
Chan eil mi toilichte mur eil thusa ‡ - I am not happy if you aren't

* the interrogative particle an / am is not used after mus or mun / mum

‡ the interrogative particle an / am is not used after **mur** except in the past tense. The form **mura** is used before verbs beginning with a consonant. With the Present Tense of the verb **To Be** the form eil is used in place of **bheil**. The negative verb can never be used with **mur / mura**.
In the past tense we therefore find :
Ciamar a tha fios agad mur an do leugh thu an litir? - How do you know unless you read the letter
Bha m' ad air a' bhòrd mur an do ghluais duine i - My hat was on the table unless someone moved it.

NEW WORDS

**Adjectives**
anmoch - late	deiseil - ready
deònach - willing	dorch - dark
glic - wise	làidir - strong
mì-chàilear - unpleasant, distasteful

**Conjunctions**
far - where	ged - although
gus - until	mar / man - as
mur - unless, if not	mus, mun / mum - before
nuair - when	oir - for, because
on, bhon - since

**Nouns**
bus (m) - bus	rud (m) - thing
càil (f) - anything

**Verbal phrases**
Tha an t-uisge ann - It is raining	Bha an t-uisge ann - It was raining

**EXERCISE 1 Translate into English**
1.Chan eil fios agam far a bheil do mhàthair	2.Suidh sìos gus am bi do dhìnnear deiseil
3.Bha uisge trom ann nuair bha iad ag iasgach air an loch	4.Ged a tha iad trang bhiodh iad toilichte gad chuideachadh
5.Dèan mar a tha mi ag ràdh	6.Bidh e dorch mus bi i dhachaigh
7.Cha b' urrainn dhomh càr a cheannach on nach robh airgead agam	8.Bha i cho bòidheach nuair bha i òg
9.Ma tha sibh sgìth suidhibh sìos	10.Mar as (= a + 's) urrainn dhut faicinn chan eil càil agam nam phòcaid
11.Bha mi a' bruidhinn rithe fhads a bha sinn a' coiseachd	12.An toil leat far a bheil thu a' fuireach?

**EXERCISE 2 Translate into Gàidhlig**
1.Although he is not very (so) big he is quite strong	2.I was staying in that town when I was a boy
3.That's the place where I would prefer to be	4.Don't go out(side) until the rain is off (=dheth)
5.Since he is so lazy he will not be willing to go to the shop	6.He will be singing at the ceilidh although he is ill
7.Are you happy where you're sitting? Yes	8.Run home before it rains
9.Run when I say 'ready'	10.She will not be coming since she isn't sure that there will be a bus home

**ANSWERS - EXERCISE 1**
1.I don't know where your mother is	2.Sit down until your dinner is ready
3.It was raining heavy when they were fishing on the loch	4.Although they are busy they would be pleased to help you
5.Do as I say	6.It will be dark before she's (will be) home
7.I couldn't buy a car since I hadn't any money	8.She was so beautiful when she was young
9.If you are tired sit down	10.As you can see I don't have anything in my pocket
11.I was speaking to her while we were walking	12.Do you like where you are staying?

**ANSWERS - EXERCISE 2**
1.Ged nach eil e cho mòr tha e gu math làidir	2.Bha mi a' fuireach anns a' bhaile sin nuair a bha mi nam bhalach
3.Sin an t-àite far am b' fheàrr leam a bhith	4.Na rach a-muigh gus am bi an t-uisge dheth
5.On a tha e cho leisg cha bhi e deònach a dhol dhan bhùth	6.Bidh e a' seinn aig a' chèilidh ged tha e tinn
7.A bheil thu toilichte far a bheil thu nad shuidhe? Tha	8.Ruith dhachaigh mus bi an t-uisge ann
9.Dèanaibh ruith nuair a tha mi ag ràdh 'deiseil'	10.Cha bhi i a' tighinn on nach eil i cinnteach gum bi bus dhachaigh

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