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Talking about things that have happened A’ bruidhinn mu rudan a tha air tachairt

I used to live thereB' àbhaist dhomh a bhith a' fuireach an sin

Look out for the following pieces of vocabulary in this clip.

To say someone ‘used to' do something, use a form of b’ àbhaist do …

b’ àbhaist dhuinn we used to

To ask if someone used to do something, use a form of am b’ àbhaist do …?

am b’ àbhaist dhuibh …? did you use to …? (plural/polite)

cha b’ àbhaist dhomh … I didn’t use to …

cur na mara seasick

b’ àbhaist dha mo bhràthair a bhith a’ seòladh my brother used to sail

am b’ àbhaist dhuibh fhèin a bhith a’ dèanamh sin? did you use to do that yourself? (plural/polite)

cha b’ àbhaist dhomhsa a bhith a’ seòladh I didn’t use to sail

Phrases with b’ àbhaist are created in the same manner as phrases with b’ urrainn.

an dèidh dha an doras a dhùnadh after he closed the door

Video is playing in pop-over.

PersonNeach
GaelicGàidhlig
EnglishBeurla
Grandson Bha sibhse a’ fuireach air an t-sràid seo, nach robh? You lived on this street, didn’t you?
Grandfather Bha.
B’ àbhaist dhuinn a bhith a’ fuireach an sin, mu choinneamh na pàirce. 		Yes.
We used to live there, opposite the park.
Grandson An robh e a’ còrdadh ribh a bhith a’ fuireach an seo? Did you enjoy living here?
Grandfather Ò, bha.
B’ àbhaist dhomh fhìn agus dha mo bhràthair a bhith a’ cluich anns a’ phàirc sin.
An tèid sinn innte?		 Oh, yes.
My brother and I used to play in that park.
Will we go in?
Grandson Thèid. Yes.
Grandfather A bheil thu a’ faicinn an loch sin anns a’ phàirc? Do you see that loch in the park?
Grandson Tha. Yes.
Grandfather B’ àbhaist dha mo bhràthair a bhith a’ seòladh air an loch sin.
Bha bàtaichean beaga ann agus cha robh e daor a dhol a-mach orra.		 My brother used to sail on that lake.
There were small boats and it wasn’t dear to go out on them.
Grandson Am b’ àbhaist dhuibh fhèin a bhith a’ dèanamh sin? Did you use to do that yourself?
Grandfather Cha b’ àbhaist.
Cha b’ àbhaist dhomhsa a bhith a’ dèanamh sin idir.
Cha b’ urrainn dhomh.
Bhiodh cur na mara orm.		 No, I didn’t.
I didn’t use to do that at all.
I couldn't.
I would be sea sick.
Grandson Cur na mara?
Air loch beag mar sin?		 Sea sick?
On a little loch like that?
Grandfather Tha sin ceart. That’s right.
Grandson Tha sin neònach. That’s strange.
Grandfather Ciamar? How?
Grandson Uill, tha sibh à Barraigh. Well, you are from Barra.
Grandfather Tha. Yes.
Grandson Nach biodh sibh a’ dol dhachaigh a h-uile samhradh? Didn’t you use to go home every summer?
Grandfather Bhitheadh. Yes.
Grandson Nach biodh cur-na-mara oirbh nuair a bhiodh sibh a’ dol dhachaigh gu Barraigh? Didn’t you get sea sick when you went home to Barra?
Grandfather Cha bhitheadh.
B’ àbhaist dhomhsa a bhith a’ falbh air a’ phlèana.		 No.
I used to go by plane.