Little by Little Beag air Bheag

Introduction

Nach toigh leat i?

Don’t you like it?

'B’ fheàrr leam sin' means 'I would prefer that'. This unit introduces you to ways in which you might express a preference. In the first conversation we look at simple phrases involving easy verbal forms. In the second conversation we examine how you can use the conditional form of a verb to express preference in a very natural way. Both conversations concern clothes. A little more vocabulary will be useful:

aodach

clothes

còta

coat

lèine

shirt, blouse

sgiorta

skirt

briogais

trousers

seacaid

jacket

geansaidh

jumper

brògan

shoes

stocainnean

socks

Conversation 1

Now listen to Iain and Seònaid, talking about what they like and dislike about each other's clothing.

Conversation 1

Listen to the conversation:

Iain:

An toigh leat mo chòta, a Sheònaid?

Do you like my coat, Janet?

Seònaid:

Is toil, gu dearbh. A bheil e ùr?

I sure do. Is it new ?

Iain:

Tha. Cheannaich mi an-diugh e. Agus seall air mo lèine.

Yes. I bought it today. And look at my shirt.

Seònaid:

Mmm. Lèine dhearg...

A red shirt....

Iain:

Nach toigh leat i?

Don’t you like it?

Seònaid:

Chan eil mi ag iarraidh tè mar sin.

I don’t want one like that.

Iain:

An toigh leat mo bhrògan?

Do you like my shoes?

Seònaid:

Cha toigh l'. Cha toigh leam idir iad.

No. I don’t like them at all.

Iain:

Carson? Dè tha ceàrr orra?

Why? What is wrong with them?

Seònaid:

Tha iad uaine!

They’re green!

Iain:

Is fheàrr leam brògan uaine na brògan purpaidh!

I prefer green shoes to purple shoes!

Seònaid:

Is fheàrr leamsa brògan dubha.

I prefer black shoes.

Iain:

O uill, cha bhi thu ag iarraidh mo stocainnean fhaicinn.

Oh well, you won’t want to see my socks.

Seònaid:

’S dòcha nach bi. A bheil iad buidhe?

Perhaps I won’t. Are they yellow?

Iain:

Chan eil. Tha iad pinc.

They’re pink.

Seònaid:

Uill, chan eil mi ag iarraidh do stocainnean fhaicinn.

Well, I don’t want to see your socks

Iain:

An fheàrr leat stocainnean uaine?

Do you prefer green stockings?

Seònaid:

Chan fheàrr. ’S fheàrr leam dathan ciallach!

No. I prefer sensible colours!

Iain:

Tha mi a’ tuigsinn. Chan eil thu ag iarraidh a bhith dathach.

I understand. You don’t want to be colourful.

Seònaid:

O, tha mi ag iarraidh sin, ceart gu leòr.

Oh, I want that alright

Iain:

Hut! ’S fheàrr leat brògan dubha is lèine gheal.

Huh! You prefer black shoes and a white shirt.

Seònaid:

Uill, is toigh leam brògan donna cuideachd.

Well, I like brown shoes as well.

Iain:

Tha thu coltach ri mo mhàthair!

You are like my mother!

Seònaid:

Tapadh leat gu mòr!

Thanks a lot!

Don’t you like it?

Nach toigh leat i?

Don’t you like it?

Conversation 2 follows a similar line to Conversation 1, except that it employs the conditional to express preference. You will know from previous units that we say is toigh l' leam for 'I like' and an toigh leat for 'do you like?'.

The first element here, the assertive verb is (or an in the interrogative or question form), takes the form bu in the conditional (or am bu in the interrogative form). Thus bu toigh leam means 'I would like' and am bu toigh l' leat means 'would you like?'

Similarly, an fheàrr leat (do you prefer), seen in the last conversation, becomes am b’ fheàrr leat (would you prefer) in the conditional. And is fheàrr leam (I prefer) becomes b’ fheàrr leam (I would prefer).

Conversation 2

Now listen to Cèitidh and Alasdair using conditionals to comment on each other’s clothes.

This is the end of unit 17. Why not test yourself to see how much you've learnt?

Do you want to make sure you don’t get lost in Gaelic Scotland? Go on to Unit 18.

Chì sinn ann sibh!

Conversation 2

Listen to the conversation:

Ceitidh:

Am bu toigh leat aodach mar seo, Alasdair?

Would you like clothes like this, Alasdair?

Alasdair:

Bu toil, gu dearbh.

Yes indeed.

Ceitidh:

Dè - sgiorta uaine?

What – a green skirt?

Alasdair:

Ist! Is toigh leam do sheacaid.

Be quiet! I like your jacket.

Ceitidh:

Am bu toigh leat i?

Would you like it?

Alasdair:

Cha bu toigh l'. Ach tapadh leat co-dhiù.

No. But thanks anyway.

Ceitidh:

Carson?

Why?

Alasdair:

Bu toigh leam i, ach tha i ro bheag.

I would like it, but it is too small.

Ceitidh:

Am b’ fheàrr leat rudeigin eile?

Would you prefer something else?

Alasdair:

B’ fheàrr leam do gheansaidh.

I would prefer your jumper.

Ceitidh:

Dè tha math mu dheidhinn mo gheansaidh?

What is good about my jumper?

Alasdair:

Tha e geal. Is toigh leam geansaidh geal.

It is white. I like a white jumper.

Ceitidh:

Mar as trice, is fheàrr leam geansaidh dorch. Ach is toigh leam an geansaidh seo.

Most commonly, I prefer a dark jumper. But I like this jumper.

Alasdair:

Bu toigh leam briogais gheal.

I would like white trousers.

Ceitidh:

Bhiodh sin na b’ fheàrr ort na sgiorta uaine co-dhiù!

That would be better on you than a green skirt, anyway!

Alasdair:

Agus b’ fheàrr leam aodach a chumas mo chasan am falach!

And I would prefer clothes that keeps my legs hidden!

Ceitidh:

B’ fheàrr is leamsa!

So would I!

Alasdair:

Dè tha ceàrr air do chasan?

What is wrong with your legs?

Ceitidh:

Na casan agadsa, tha mi a’ ciallachadh!

Your legs, I mean!