OF VERBS.
A word that signifies to be, to do, or to suffer anything, is called a
_Verb_.
The Verb in Gaelic, as in other languages, is declined by Voices, Moods,
Tenses, Numbers, and Persons.
The _Voices_ are two: Active and Passive.
The _Moods_ are five: the Affirmative or Indicative, the Negative or
Interrogative, the Subjunctive, the Imperative, and the Infinitive. Many,
but not all, Transitive Verbs have a Passive Participle.
The _Tenses_ are three: the Present, the Preterite, and the Future.
The _Numbers_ are two: Singular and Plural.
The _Persons_ are three: First, Second, and Third. The {66} distinction of
number and person takes place only in a few tenses.
The inflections of Verbs, like those of nouns, are made by changes at the
beginning, and on the termination.
The changes on the termination are made according to one model, and by the
same rules. But for the sake of stating some diversity in the _initial_
changes, it may be convenient to arrange the verbs in two _conjugations_,
whereof the first comprehends those verbs which begin with a consonant, the
second, those verbs which begin with a vowel. Verbs beginning with _f_,
followed by a vowel, are ranged under the second conjugation, along with
verbs beginning with a vowel.
The verb Bi _be_, which is used as an auxiliary to other verbs, is declined
as follows:--
Bi, _be_.
_Affirmative_ or _Indicative Mood_.
Present. Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._ _Sing._
1. Ta mi, _I am_, Bha mi, _I was_, Bithidh mi, _I will be_,
2. Ta thu, Bha thu, Bithidh tu,
3. Ta e; Bha e; Bithidh se;
_Plur._ _Plur._ _Plur._
1. Ta sinn, Bha sinn, Bithidh sinn,
2. Ta sibh, Bha sibh, Bithidh sibh,
3. Ta iad. Bha iad. Bithidh siad.
_Negative_ or _Interrogative Mood_.
Present. Preterite.
_Sing._ _Sing._
{ 1 Bheil mi, _I am not,_ Robh mi, _I was not,_
ni { 2 Bheil thu, Robh thu,
cha { 3 Bheil e; Robh e;
nach {
mur, { _Plur._ _Plur._
&c. { 1 Bheil sinn, Robh sinn,
{ 2 Bheil sibh, Robh sibh,
{ 3 Bheil iad. Robh iad.
{67}
Future.
_Sing._
{ Bi mi, _I shall not be_,
ni { Bi thu,
cha { Bi se;
nach {
mur, { _Plur._
&c. { Bi sinn,
{ Bi sibh,
{ Bi siad.
_Subjunctive Mood._
Preterite or Imperfect. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Bhithinn, _I would be_, Ma bhitheas mi, _If I shall be_,
2 Bhitheadh tu, Bhitheas tu,
3 Bhitheadh e; Bhitheas e;
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 Bhitheadheamaid, Bhitheas sinn,
Bhitheadh sinn,
2 Bhitheadh sibh, Bhitheas sibh,
3 Bhitheadh iad. Bhitheas iad.
_Imperative Mood._ _Infinitive Mood._
_Sing._
1 Bitheam, _let me be_, Bith, _being_,
2 Bi, bi thusa, do bhith, } _to be_,
3 Bitheadh e; a bhith, }
gu bhith, } _to be_,
_Plur._ gu bith, }
1 Bitheamaid, iar bhith,} _after being_, _been_,
2 Bithibh, iar bith, }
3 Bitheadh iad. o bhith, _from being_, &c.
_Compound Tenses._
Present. Preterite. Future.
_Affirmative Mood._
_Sing._ _Sing._ _Sing._
Ta mi iar bith, Bha mi iar bith, Bithidh mi iar bith,
_I have been_, &c. _I had been_, &c. _I shall have been_, &c.
{68}
_Negative Mood._
_Sing._ _Sing._ _Sing._
ni, {Bheil mi iar bith, Robh mi iar bith, Bi mi air bith,
&c. {_I have not been._ _I had not been._ _I shall not have been._
_Subjunctive Mood._
Preterite or Pluperfect. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Bhithinn iar bith, Ma bhitheas mi iar bith,
_I should have been, &c._ _If I shall have been, &c._
The present affirmative ta is often written tha. This is one of many
instances where there appears reason to complain of the propensity remarked
in Part I. in those who speak the Gaelic, to attenuate its articulations by
aspiration. Another corrupt way of writing ta which has become common, is
ata. This has probably taken its rise from uniting the relative to the
verb; as, an uair _ata_ mi; instead of an uair _a ta_, &c., mar _a ta_, &c.
Or perhaps it may have proceeded from a too compliant regard to a
provincial pronunciation.
The pret. neg. robh appears to be made up of the verbal participle ro, the
same with do, and bha, throwing away the last vowel; ro bha, robh.
The verb and pronoun of the 1st per. sing. and 3d per. plur. are frequently
incorporated into one word, and written taim _I am_, taid _they are_.
The pres. neg. loses the initial _bh_ after the participle cha _not_, mur
_if not_, nach _that not_; _n_ is inserted, _euphoniae causa_, betwixt the
participle cha and the verb; as, cha n 'eil, mur 'eil, nach 'eil. This
Tense is often pronounced beil after the participle am; as, am beil e? _is
it?_
In the North Highlands, the pret. neg. often takes the common verbal
participle do before it; as, cha do robh mi, or cha d'robh mi, _I was not_.
Initial _b_ of the fut. neg. is aspirated after the participle cha _not_;
as, cha bhi.
Initial _bh_ of the pret. subj. loses the aspiration after the {69}
participles ni _not_, mur _if not_, nach _that not_, gu _that_, nam _if_;
as, mur bithinn, nam bitheadh tu.
The subjunct. and imper. often suffer a contraction, by changing _ithea_
into _io_; as, biodh, biom, bios, &c.
Some of the compound tenses of Bi are rarely if ever used. They are here
given complete, because they correspond to the analogy of other verbs; and
show how accurately the various modifications of time may be expressed by
the substantive verb itself.
Example of a verb of the First Conjugation. Buail _to strike_.
ACTIVE VOICE.
Simple Tenses.
_Affirmative_ or _Indicative Moods_.
Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Do bhuail mi, _I struck_, Buailidh mi, _I will strike_,
Bhuail mi,
2 Bhuail thu, Buailidh tu,
3 Bhuail e; Buailidh se;
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 Bhuail sinn, Buailidh sinn,
2 Bhuail sibh, Buailidh sibh,
3 Bhuail iad. Buailidh siad.
_Negative_ or _Interrogative Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
{ 1 Do bhuail mi, _I struck not_ Buail mi, _I will not strike_,
ni { 2 Do bhuail thu, Buail thu,
cha { 3 Do bhuail e; Buail e;
nach {
mur, { _Plur._ _Plur._
&c. { 1 Do bhuail sinn, Buail sinn,
{ 2 Do bhuail sibh, Buail sibh,
{ 3 Do bhuail iad. Buail iad.
{70}
_Subjunctive Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Bhuailinn, _I would strike_, Ma bhuaileas mi, _If I shall strike_,
2 Bhuaileadh tu, Bhuaileas tu,
3 Bhuaileadh e; Bhuaileas e;
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 Bhuaileamaid, Bhuaileas sinn,
Bhuaileadh sinn,
2 Bhuaileadh sibh, Bhuaileas sinn,
3 Bhuaileadh iad. Bhuaileas iad.
_Imperative Mood._ _Infinitive Mood._
_Sing._
1 Buaileam, _let me strike_, Bualadh, _striking_,
2 Buail, ag bualadh, _a-striking_, _striking_,
3 Buaileadh e; iar bualadh, _struck_,
do bhualadh, }
_Plur._ a bhualadh, } _to strike_,
1 Buaileamaid, ri bualadh, _at striking_,
2 Buailibh, le bualadh, _with striking_,
3 Buaileadh iad. o bhualadh, _from striking_, &c.
Compound Tenses.
_Affirmative Mood._
Present. Preterite. Future.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Ta mi ag bualadh, Bha mi ag bualadh, Bithidh mi ag bualadh,
_I am striking_, &c. _I was striking_, &c. _I will be striking_, &c.
{71}
Present. Preterite. Future.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Ta mi iar bualadh, Bha mi iar bualadh, Bithidh mi iar bualadh,
_I have struck_, &c. _I had struck_, &c. _I will have struck_, &c.
_Negative Mood_
Present. Preterite.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
{ Bheil mi ag bualadh, Robh mi ag bualadh,
{ _I am not striking_, &c. _I was not striking_, &c.
{
{ Future.
{ _1. Comp._
{ Bi mi ag bualadh,
ni { _I will not be striking_, &c.
cha {
nach { Present. Preterite,
mur, { _2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
&c. { Bheil mi iar bualadh, Robh mi iar bualadh,
{ _I have not struck_,&c. _I had not struck,_ &c.
{
{ Future.
{ _2. Comp._
{ Bi mi iar bualadh,
{ _I will not have struck,_ &c.
_Subjunctive Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Bhithinn ag bualadh, Ma bhitheas mi ag bualadh,
_I would be striking_, &c. _If I shall be striking_, &c.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Bhithinn iar bualadh, Ma bhitheas mi iar bualadh,
_I would have struck,_ &c. _If I shall have struck_, &c.
{72}
_Imperative Mood._ _Infinitive Mood._
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Bitheam ag bualadh, Do bhith ag bualadh,
_Let me be striking,_ &c. _To be striking,_ &c.
Iar bith ag bualadh,
_Been striking,_ &c.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Bitheam iar bualadh, Do bhith iar bualadh,
_Let me have struck,_ &c. _To have been striking,_ &c.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirmative Mood._
Simple Tenses.
Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Do bhuaileadh mi, _I was struck._ Buailear mi, _I shall be struck._
Bhuaileadh mi,
2 Bhuaileadh thu, Buailear thu,
3 Bhuaileadh e; Buailear e;
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 Bhuaileadh sinn, Buailear sinn,
2 Bhuaileadh sibh, Buailear sibh,
Bhuaileadh iad. Buailear iad.
_Negative Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
{ 1 Do bhuaileadh mi, Buailear mi,
{ _I was not struck_, _I shall not be struck_,
ni { 2 Do bhuaileadh thu, Buailear thu,
cha { 3 Do bhuaileadh e; Buailear e;
nach {
mur, { _Plur._ _Plur._
&c. { 1 Do bhuaileadh sinn, Buailear sinn,
{ 2 Do bhuaileadh sibh, Buailear sibh,
{ 3 Do bhuaileadh iad, Buailear iad.
{73}
_Subjunctive Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Bhuailteadh mi, _ Ma bhuailear mi,
_I would be struck,_ _If I shall be struck._
2 Bhuailteadh thu, Bhuailear thu,
3 Bhuailteadh e; Bhuailear e;
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 Bhuailteadh sinn, Bhuailear sinn,
2 Bhuailteadh sibh, Bhuailear sibh,
3 Bhuailteadh iad. Bhuailear iad.
_Imperative Mood._
_Sing._ _Plur._
1 Buailtear mi, _Let me be struck,_ 1 Buailtear sinn,
2 Buailtear thu, 2 Buailtear sibh,
3 Buailtear e. 3 Buailtear iad.
_Participle._
Buailte, _struck._
Compound Tenses
_Affirmative Mood._
Present. Preterite.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Ta mi buailte, _I am struck,_ &c. Bha mi buailte, _I was struck,_ &c.
Future.
_1. Comp._
Bithidh mi buailte, _I shall be struck,_ &c.
{74}
Present. Preterite.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Ta mi iar mo bhualadh, Bha mi iar mo bhualadh,
_I have been struck,_ _I had been struck,_
2 Ta thu iar do bhualadh, Bha thu iar do bhualadh,
3 Ta se iar a bhualadh; Bha se iar a bhualadh;
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 Ta sinn iar ar bualadh, Bha sinn iar ar bualadh,
2 Ta sibh iar 'ur bualadh, Bha sibh iar 'ur bualadh,
3 Ta siad iar am bualadh. Bha siad iar am bualadh.
Future.
_2. Comp._
_Sing._
1 Bithidh mi iar mo bhualadh, _I shall have been struck._
2 Bithidh tu iar do bhualadh,
3 Bithidh se iar a bhualadh;
_Plur._
1 Bithidh sinn iar ar bualadh,
2 Bithidh sibh iar 'ur bualadh,
3 Bithidh siad iar am bualadh.
_Negative Mood._
Present. Preterite.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Ni bheil mi buailte, Ni'n robh mi buailte,
_I am not struck,_ &c. _I was not struck,_ &c.
Future.
_1. Comp._
Ni'm bi mi buailte, _I shall not be struck,_ &c.
Present. Preterite.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Ni 'm bheil mi iar mo bhualadh, Ni'n robh mi iar mo bhualadh,
_I have not been struck,_ &c. _I had not been struck,_ &c.
{75}
Future.
_2. Comp._
Ni'm bi mi iar mo bhualadh, _I shall not have been struck,_ &c.
_Subjunctive Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Bhithinn buailte, Ma bhitheas mi buailte,
_I would be struck,_ &c. _If I shall be struck,_ &c.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Bhithinn iar mo bhualadh, Ma bhitheas mi iar mo bhualadh,
_I would have been struck,_ &c. _If I shall have been struck,_ &c.
_Imperative Mood._ _Infinitive Mood._
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Bitheam buailte, Do bhith buailte,
_Let me be struck,_ &c. _To be struck,_ &c.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Bitheam iar mo bhualadh, Do bhith iar mo bhualadh,
_Let me have been struck,_ &c. _To have been struck,_ &c.
_Examples of Verbs of the Second Conjugation._
Orduich, _to appoint._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Simple Tenses
Preterite. Future.
_Affirmat._ Dh'orduich, Orduichidh,
_Negat._ D'orduich, Orduich,
_Subjunct._ Dh'orduichinn. Dh'orduicheas.
_Imperat._ Orduicheam. _Infinit._ Orduchadh.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirmat._ Dh'orduicheadh, Orduichear,
_Negat._ D'orduicheadh, Orduichear,
_Subjunct._ Dh'orduichteadh. Dh'orduicheas.
_Imperat._ Orduichear. _Particip._ Orduichte.
{76}
Folaich, _to hide._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirmat._ Dh'fholaich, Folaichidh,
_Negat._ D'fholaich, Folaich,
_Subjunct._ Dh'fholaichinn. Dh'fholaicheas.
_Imperat._ Folaicheam. _Infinit._ Folachadh.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirmat._ Dh'fholaicheadh, Folaichear,
_Negat._ D'fholaicheadh, Folaichear,
_Subjunct._ Dh'fholaichteadh. Dh'fholaichear.
_Imperat._ Folaichtear. _Particip._ Folaichte.
The Compound tenses may be easily learned from those of the Verb Buail in
the first Conjugation, being formed exactly in the same manner.
FORMATION OF THE TENSES.
_Of the Initial Form._
An Initial Consonant is aspirated in the Preterite Tense, through all the
Moods and Voices, except in the Preterite Subjunctive after the Particles
ni, mur, nach, gu, an, am. An initial Consonant is occasionally aspirated
in the Future Tense, and in the Infinitive and Participle, indicating their
connection with the preceding word.
In the first Conjugation, do is prefixed to the Pret. Aff. and Neg. Active
and Passive. However, it often is, and always may be, omitted before the
Pret. Aff. It is sometimes omitted in the Pret. Neg. in verse, and in
common conversation. In the second Conjugation, the same Particle do is
prefixed to the Preterite through all the Moods and Voices, and to the Fut.
Subj. excepting only the Subjunctive Tenses after ni, mur, nach, gu, an,
am. In this {77} Conjugation, do always loses the _o_ to avoid a _hiatus_,
and the _d_ is aspirated in the Affirm. and Subjunct. Moods[49].
_Of the Termination._
In all regular Verbs, the Terminations adjected to the Root are, strictly
speaking, the same in Verbs characterised by a small vowel. But where the
first vowel of the Termination does not correspond in quality to the last
vowel of the Root, it has become the constant practice to insert in the
Termination a vowel of the requisite quality, in order to produce this
correspondence. Thus a variety has been introduced into the Terminations
even of regular Verbs, prejudicial to the uniformity of inflection, and of
no use to ascertain either the sense or the pronunciation[50]. In the
foregoing examples of regular Verbs, the common mode of Orthography has
been followed, but in the following rules the simple Terminations only are
specified.
ACTIVE VOICE.
Simple Tenses.
The Theme or Root of the Verb is always found in the second Per. sing. of
the imperative.
The _Preterite_ Affirm. and Negat. is like the Root, and has no distinction
of Number or Person. In most of the editions of the Gaelic Psalms, some
inflections of the {78} Preterite have been admitted, with good effect,
from the Irish Verb; such as, bhuaileas _I struck_, bhuailis _thou didst
strike_, bhuaileamar _we struck_, bhuaileadar _they struck_. The Pret.
Subj. is formed by adding to the Root _inn_ for the first pers. sing., and
_adh_ for the other persons. The first pers. plur. also terminates in
_amaid_.
The _Future_ Affirm. adds _idh_ to the Root; in the Negat. it is like the
Root; and in the Subjunct. it adds _as_. A poetic Future Tense terminating
in _ann_ or _onn_, is frequent in the Gaelic Psalms; as, gairionn _will
call_, seasfann _will stand_, do bheirionn, _will give_, &c. The Future has
no distinction of Number or Person. The Termination of the Future Affirm.
and Negat. in many Verbs was formerly _fidh_, like the Irish; of which many
examples occur in the earlier editions of the Gaelic Psalms. In later
Gaelic publications, the _f_ has been uniformly set aside[51]. The
Termination of the first pers. and third pers. plur. is often incorporated
with the corresponding Pronoun; as, seinnam cliu _I will sing praise_,
Psal. lxi. 8., Ni fuigham b[`a]s, ach mairfam beo, _I shall not die, but
shall remain alive_, Ps. cxviii. 17., Ithfid, geillfid, innsid, _they will
eat_, _they will submit_, _they will tell_, Ps. xxii, 26, 29, 31. [52].
{79}
In the _Imperative_ Mood, the second pers. sing. is the Root of the Verb.
The other persons are distinguished by these Terminations; 1st pers. sing.
_am_, 3d pers. sing. _adh_, 1st pers. plur. _amaid_, 2d pers. plur. _ibh_,
3d pers. plur. _adh_.
The Terminations peculiar to the 1st pers. sing. and plur. of the Pret.
Subj. and of the Imperat. supply the place of the Personal Pronouns; as
does also the Termination of the 2d pers. plur. of the Imperative.
The _Infinitive_ is variously formed.
_General Rule._ The Infinitive is formed by adding _adh_ to the Root; as,
aom _bow, incline_, Infin. aomadh; ith _eat_, Infin. itheadh.
1. Some Verbs suffer a syncope in the penult syllable, and are commonly
used in their contracted form; as,
_Imper._ _Infin._
Caomhain, _spare_, Caomhnadh.
Coisin, _win_, Coisneadh, Cosnadh.
Diobair, _deprive_, Diobradh.
F[`o]gair, _remove_, F[`o]gradh.
Foghain, _suffice_, Foghnadh.
Fosgail, _open_, Fosgladh.
Innis, _tell_, Innseadh.
Iobair, _sacrifice_, Iobradh.
Mosgail, _awake_, Mosgladh.
Seachain, _avoid_, Seachnadh.
Tionsgain, _begin_, Tionsgnadh.
Togair, _desire_, Togradh.
Observe that Verbs which thus suffer a syncope in forming {80} the
Infinitive, suffer a like syncope in the Preterite Subjunctive, and in the
Imperative Mood; as, innis _tell_, Infin. innseadh, Pret. Subj. innsinn,
innseadh, innseamaid, Imperat. innseam, innseamaid, innsibh.
2. A considerable number of Verbs have their Infinitive like the Root; as,
Caoidh, _lament_. Ol, _drink_.
Dearmad, _neglect_. Ruith, _run_.
F[`a]s, _grow_. Snamh, _swim_.
Gairm, _call_. Sniomh, _twine_.
Meas, _estimate_.
3. Polysyllables in _ch_, whose characteristic Vowel is small, either throw
it away, or convert it into a broad Vowel and add _adh_; as,
Ceannaich, _buy_, Ceannachadh.
Smuainich, _think_, Smuaineachadh.
Most Monosyllables in _sg_, and a few others, follow the same Rule; as,
_Imper._ _Infin._ _Imper._ _Infin._
Coisg, _check_, Cosgadh. Naisg, _bind_, Nasgadh.
F[`a]isg, _wring_, F[`a]sgadh. Paisg, _wrap_, Pasgadh.
Loisg, _burn_, Losgadh. Blais, _taste_, Blasadh.
Luaisg, _rock_, Luasgadh. Buail, _strike_, Bualadh.
4. Many Verbs, whose characteristic Vowel is small, either throw it away,
or convert it into a broad Vowel, without adding _adh_; as,
_Imper._ _Infin._ _Imper._ _Infin._
Amhairc, _look_, Amharc. Iomain, _drive_, Ioman.
Amais, _reach_, Amas. Leighis, _cure_, Leigheas.
Caill, _lose_, Call. Sguir, _cease_, Sgur.
Ceangail, _bind_, Ceangal. Siubhail, _travel_, Siubhal.
Cuir, _put_, Cur. Tachrais, _wind_, Tachras.
Coimhid, _keep_, Coimhead. Tiondaidh, _turn_, Tiondadh.
Fulaing, _suffer_, Fulang. Toirmisg, _forbid_, Toirmeasg.
Fuirich, _stay_, Fuireach. Toinail, _gather_, Toinal.
Guil, _weep_, Gul. Tionsgail, _contrive_, Tionsgal.
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5. The following Verbs in _air_ add _t_ to the Root:--
_Imper._ _Infin._
Agair, _claim_, Agairt.
Bagair, _threaten_, Bagairt.
Casgair, _slaughter_, Casgairt.
Freagair, _answer_, Freagairt.
Iomair, _use_, Iomairt.
Labhair, _speak_, Labhairt.
Lomair, _shear_, Lomairt.
Saltair, _trample_, Saltairt.
Tabhair, _give_, Tabhairt.
Tachair, _meet_, Tachairt.
6. These Monosyllables add _sinn_ to the Root:--
Beir, _bear_, Beirsinn.
Creid, _believe_, Creidsinn.
Faic, _see_, Faicsinn.
Goir, _crow_, Goirsinn.
Mair, _continue_, Mairsinn.
Saoil, _think_, Saoilsinn.
Tr['e]ig, _forsake_, Tr['e]igsinn.
Tuig, _understand_, Tuigsinn, or Tuigeil.
Ruig, _reach_, Ruigsinn, or Ruigheachd.
7. These Monosyllables add _tuinn_ or _tinn_ to the Root:--
Bean, _touch_, Beantuinn.
Buin, _take away_, Buntuinn.
Can, _say, sing_, Cantuinn.
Cinn, _grow_, Cinntinn.
Cluinn, _hear_, Cluinntinn.
Fan, _stay_, Fantuinn.
Gin, _produce_, Giontuinn, or Gionmhuin.
Lean, _follow_, Leantuinn, or Leanmhuin.
Meal, _enjoy_, Mealtuinn.
Pill, _return_, Pilltinn.
Seall, _look_, Sealltuinn.
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8. The following Monosyllables add _ail_ to the Root:--
_Imper._ _Infin._ _Imper._ _Infin._
Cum, _hold_, Cumail. Leag, _cast down_, Leagail.
Gabh, _take_, Gabhail. Tog, _raise_, Togail.
F[`a]g, _leave_, F[`a]gail. Tuig, _understand_, Tuigeil.
9. These Monosyllables add _amh_ to the Root:--
_Imper._ _Infin._
Caith, _spend_, Caitheamh.
Dean, _do, make_, Deanamh.
Feith, _wait_, Feitheamh.
Seas, _stand_, Seasamh.
10. The following Verbs form the Infinitive irregularly:--
Beuc, _roar_, Beucaich.
B[`u]ir, _bellow_, B[`u]irich.
Geum, _low_, Geumnaich.
Glaodh, _cry_, Glaodhaich.
Caisd, _listen_, Caisdeachd.
Eisd, _hearken_, Eisdeachd.
Marcaich, _ride_, Marcachd.
Thig, _come_, Teachd, tighinn.
Faigh, _find_, Faghail, faotainn.
Eirich, _rise_, Eirigh.
Iarr, _request_, Iarraidh.
Taisg, _lay up_, Tasgaidh.
Coidil, _sleep_, Codal.
Fuaigh, _sew_, Fuaghal.
Gluais, _move_, Gluasad, gluasachd.
Tuit, _fall_, Tuiteam.
Teirig, _wear out_, Teireachduinn.
Teasairg, _deliver_, Teasairgin.
_Compound Tenses._
The _compound Tenses of the first order_ are made up of the several simple
Tenses of the auxiliary verb Bi _be_, and the Infinitive preceded by the
Preposition ag _at_. Between two Consonants, ag commonly loses the _g_, and
is written _a'_; as, {83} ta iad a' deanamh _they are doing_. Between two
Vowels, the _a_ is dropped, and the _g_ is retained; as, ta mi 'g iarruidh
_I am asking_. When preceded by a Consonant, and followed by a Vowel, the
Preposition is written entire, as, ta iad ag iarruidh _they are asking_.
When preceded by a Vowel, and followed by a Consonant, it is often
suppressed altogether; as, ta mi deanamh _I am doing_[53].
The _compound Tenses of the second order_ are made up of the simple Tenses
of Bi and the Infinitive preceded by the Preposition iar _after_[54].
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Simple Tenses._
The _Preterite_ Affirm. and Negat. is formed from the same Tense in the
Active, by adding _adh_. The Preter. Subj. adds _teadh_.
The _Future_ is formed from the Fut. Act. by changing the Terminations in
the Affirm. and Subj. into _ar_, (more properly _far_, as of old) and
adding the same syllable in the Negative.
The _Imperative_ is formed from the Imperat. Act. by adding to the second
pers. sing. _tar_, _thar_, or _ar_.[55]
{84}
The _Participle_ is formed by adding _te_ to the Root[56].
There is no distinction of Number or Person in the Tenses of the Passive
Voice.
Verbs which suffer a syncope in the Infinitive, suffer a like syncope in
the Pret. Aff. and Neg. throughout the Future Tense, and in the Imperative.
_Compound Tense._
The _compound Tenses of the first order_ are made up of the simple Tenses
of the auxiliary Bi and the Passive Participle.
{85}
The _compound Tenses of the second order_ are made up of the simple Tenses
of _Bi_ and the Infinitive preceded by the Preposition _iar_ and the
Possessive Pronoun corresponding in Person to the Pronoun, or to the Noun,
which is the Nominative to the verb.
_Use and Import of the Moods and Tenses._
The _Affirmative_ or _Indicative_ Mood expresses affirmation, and is used
in affirmative propositions only, as, Do bhuail mi _I struck_, bha mi ag
bualadh _I was striking_.
The _Negative_ or _Interrogative_ Mood is used in negative propositions and
interrogative clauses, after the Particles ni _not_, cha _not_, nach _which
not_, _that not_, _not?_ mur _if not_; also, gu, gur, _that_, an, am,
whether used relatively or interrogatively; as, cha d'fholaich mi _I did
not hide_, mur buail sinn _if we shall not strike_, nach robh iad _that
they were not_, gu robh iad _that they were_; am buail mi? _shall I
strike?_ It is used in the Future Tense after ged _although_; as, ged
bhuail e mi, _though he strike me_[57].
The _Subjunctive_ Mood is used in the Preterite, either with or without
conjunctions; as, bhuailinn _I would strike_, na'm, mur, nach, &c.,
buailinn _if, unless, &c., I should strike_. In the Future it is used only
after the conjunctions ma _if_, o, o'n _since_, and the Relative _a_
expressed or understood; as, ma bhuaileas mi _if I shall strike_, am fear a
bhuaileas mi _the man {86} who will strike me_, or _the man whom I shall
strike_; an uair a bhuaileas mi, tra bhuaileas mi _the time [in] which I
shall strike, i. e., when I shall strike_; c'uin [cia [`u]ine] a bhuaileas
mi? _what [is] the time [in] which I shall strike? i. e., when shall I
strike?_
The _Imperative_ Mood expresses desire, whether purpose, command, or
request; as, buaileam _let me strike_, buailibh _strike ye_.
The _Infinitive_[58] is, in all respects, a noun, denoting the action or
energy of the verb, and commonly preceded by a Preposition which marks the
time of the action; as, ag bualadh _at striking_, am bualadh _the striking,
the threshing_. It assumes a regular genitive case, bualadh g. s. bualaidh;
as, urlar-bualaidh _a threshing floor_. The Infinitive sometimes loses the
termination, and is regularly declined in its abridged form; thus,
cruinnich _assemble_, inf. cruinneach-adh per. apocop. cruinneach g. s.
cruinnich; hence, [`a]ite-cruinnich _a place of meeting_, Acts xix. 29, 31,
so, fear-criochnaich, Heb. xii. 2, fear-cuidich, Psalm xxx. 10, liv. 4,
ionad-foluich, Psalm xxxii. 7, cxix. 114, litir-dhealaich, Matt. v. 31[59].
There is no part of the Active Voice that can, strictly speaking, be
denominated a Participle. The Infinitive preceded by the Preposition ag
_at_, corresponds in meaning to the present Participle; and preceded by iar
_after_, it corresponds to the participle of the past time; as, ag bualadh
_at striking_, or _striking_; iar bualadh _after striking_, or
_struck_[60].
{87}
Many words, expressing state or action, take the Preposition _ag_ before
them, and may be considered as Infinitives of Verbs, whereof the other
parts are not in use; as, ag atharrais _mimicking_, ag g[`a]ireachdaich
_laughing_, a' fanoid, a' magadh _mocking_, _jeering_.
{88}
The _Participle_ passive is an adjective, denoting the completion of the
action or energy expressed by the verb; as, arbhar buailte _threshed corn_.
The _Simple Tenses_ which belong to all verbs are the Preterite or Future,
besides which the verb Bi to _be_, and the defective verb Is I _am_, have a
Present Tense[61].
The _Present_ expresses present existence, state, or energy.
The _Preterite Affirmative_ and _Negative_ expresses past time
indefinitely. The _Preterite Subjunctive_ corresponds to the English Tenses
formed by the auxiliaries _would_, _could_, &c. In general it denotes that
the action or energy of the verb takes place eventually or conditionally.
The Pret. Aff. or {89} Neg. is used sometimes in this sense, like the
English, when the Pret. Subj. occurred in the preceding clause of a
sentence, as, na'm biodh tus' an so, cha d' fhuair mo bhrathair b[`a]s, _if
thou hadst been here, my brother had not [would not have] died_; mur
bitheamaid air deanamh moille bha sinn a nis air pilltinn air ar n-ais, _if
we had not lingered, we had [should have] now returned_, Gen. xliii. 10.
The _Future_ marks future time indefinitely. This Tense is used in a
peculiar sense in Gaelic, to signify that an action or event takes place
uniformly, habitually, according to ordinary practice, or the course of
nature. Thus; Blessed is he that _considereth_ the poor, expressed
according to the Gaelic idiom, would be, Blessed is he that _will
consider_, &c. A wise son _maketh_ a glad father, in Gaelic would run, A
wise son _will make_, &c. Your patient, I am told, is in a bad way; he
neither _enjoys_ rest, nor _takes_ medicine. Nay, his situation is worse
than you know of; yesterday, he became delirious, and is now almost
unmanageable; he _tosses_ his arms, and _endeavours_ to beat every one
within his reach. In Gaelic, _will enjoy--will take--will toss--will
endeavour_. In like manner, a great many Gaelic Proverbs express a general
truth by means of the Future tense; _e.g._, bithidh d[`u]il ri fear feachd,
ach cha bhi d[`u]il ri fear lic, _There _is_ hope that a man may return
from war, but there _is_ no hope that a man may return from the grave_;
literally, there _will be_ hope--there _will be_ no hope. Teirgidh gach ni
r' a chaitheamh, _every thing_ wears _out in the using_; literally,--_will
wear_ out[62].
The _Compound Tenses_ mark different modifications of time, {90} which will
be easily understood by analysing their component parts.
In the _Active Voice_, the compound tenses of the first order denote that
the action is going on, but not completed at the time specified by the
auxiliary verb, or its adjuncts; as, ta mi ag bualadh, _I am at striking_,
i.e., _I am striking_; bha mi ag bualadh an d['e], _I was striking
yesterday_.
Those of the second order denote that the action is newly completed and
past, at the time marked by the auxiliary verb; ta mi iar bualadh, _I am
after striking_, i.e., _I have struck_, _Je viens de frapper_; Bha mi iar
bualadh, _I was striking_, i.e., _I had struck_.
In the _Passive Voice_, the compound tenses of the first order denote that
the action is _finished_ at the time marked by the auxiliary verb; ta mi
buailte, _I am struck_.
Those of the second order denote that the action is _newly finished_ at the
time marked by the auxiliary[63]; ta mi iar mo bhualadh, _I am after my
striking_, or, _I am after the striking of me_, which has always a passive
signification; that is, it is always understood, from this form of
expression, that _striking_ is the action of some agent different from the
person struck. It is equivalent to _I have been struck_, _Je viens d'etre
frapp['e]_.
A set of Compound Tenses, of a structure similar to these last, having the
preposition ag, in place of iar, is sometimes used, and in a passive sense,
denoting that the action is _going on_ at the time marked by the auxiliary;
as, tha 'n tigh 'g a thogail, _the house is at its building_, i.e.,
_a-building_; sea bliadhna agus da fhichead bha 'n teampull 'g a thogail,
_forty and six years was this temple in building_. John ii. 20, 1 Kings vi.
7. Bha an crodh 'g an leigeadh, _the cows were a-milking_; bidh deudaichean
'g an rusgadh. "Gillies' Collect." p. 82. So {91} in English, the book is
a-printing; the deed's a-doing now, "Douglas," Act 1.
The following scheme shows the different modifications of time, as
expressed by the several Tenses of the Gaelic Verb, brought together into
one view, and compared with the corresponding Tenses of the Greek Verb in
Moor's Greek Grammar.
ACTIVE VOICE.
_Indicative or Affirmative Mood._
Present Tense.
Ta mi ag bualadh, [Greek: tupto], I strike,
or am striking.
Imperfect.
Bha mi ag bualadh, [Greek: etupton], I was striking.
Future.
Buailidh mi } [Greek: tupso], I will strike,
Bithidh mi ag bualadh } or be striking.
Aorist or Preterite.
Bhuail mi, [Greek: etupsa], I struck.
Perfect.
Ta mi iar bualadh, [Greek: tetupha], I have struck.
Pluperfect.
Bha mi iar bualadh, [Greek: etetuphein], I had struck.
_Interrogative or Negative Mood._
Present.
Am bheil mi ag bualadh? Am I striking?
Imperfect.
An robh mi ag bualadh? Was I striking?
Future.
Am buail mi? Shall I strike?
{92}
Aorist or Preterite.
An do bhuail mi? Did I strike?
Perfect.
Am bheil mi iar bualadh? Have I struck?
Pluperfect.
An robh mi iar bualadh? Had I struck?
_Subjunctive Mood._
Imperfect.
Bhuailinn, } [Greek: etupton an], I would strike.
Bhithinn ag bualadh, }
Future.
Ma bhuaileas mi, If I shall strike.
Pluperfect.
Bhithinn iar bualadh, [Greek: etupsa an], I would have struck.
_Imperative Mood._
Buaileam, Let me strike.
Buail, [Greek: tupte], Strike.
_Infinitive Mood._
Am bualadh, [Greek: to tuptein], The striking.
A' bhualaidh, [Greek: tou tuptein], Of the striking.
Ag bualadh, [Greek: en toi tuptein], A-striking.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Indicative or Affirmative Mood._
Present.
Ta mi 'g am bhualadh, [Greek: tuptomai], I am in striking[64].
Imperfect.
Bha mi 'g am bhualadh, [Greek: etuptomen], I was in striking.
{93}
Future.
Buailear mi, } [Greek: tuphthesomai], I shall be struck.
Bithidh mi buailte, }
Aorist or Preterite.
Bhuaileadh mi, [Greek: etuphthen], I was struck.
Perfect.
Ta mi buailte, } [Greek: tetummenos eimi], I have been struck.
Ta mi iar mo bhualadh }
Pluperfect.
Bha mi buailte, } [Greek: tetummenos en], I had been struck.
Bha mi iar mo bhualadh}
_Interrogative or Negative Mood._
Future.
Am buailear mi? Shall I be struck?
Aorist or Preterite.
An do bhuaileadh mi? Was I struck?
Perfect.
Am bheil mi buailte? } Have I been struck?
Am bheil mi iar mo bhualadh? }
Pluperfect.
An robh mi buailte? } Had I been struck?
An robh mi iar mo bhualadh? }
_Subjunctive Mood._
Imperfect.
Bhuailteadh mi, [Greek: etuptomen an], I should be struck.
Future.
Ma bhuailtear mi, If I shall be struck.
{94}
Pluperfect.
Bhithinn buailte, }
Bhithinn iar mo } [Greek: etuphthen an], I should have been
bhualadh, } struck.
_Imperative Mood._
Buailtear mi, Let me be struck.
Buailtear thu, [Greek: tuptou], Be thou struck.
&c.
Participle.
Buailte, [Greek: tetummenos] Struck.
It will afford satisfaction to the grammatical reader, to see how correctly
the various modifications of time, as distinguished and arranged by Mr
Harris, are expressed in the Gaelic verb, by the auxiliaries, bi _be_, and
dol _going_. See _Hermes B. I. c. 7._
Aorist of the Present.
[Greek: Tupto], I strike, ----
Aorist of the Past.
[Greek: Etupsa], I struck, Bhuail mi.
Aorist of the Future.
[Greek: Tupso], I shall strike, Buailidh mi.
Inceptive Present.
[Greek: Mello tuptein], I am going to strike, Ta mi dol a bhualadh.
Middle or extended Present.
[Greek: Tunchano tupton], I am striking, Ta mi ag bualadh.
Completive Present.
[Greek: Tetupha], I have struck, Ta mi iar bualadh.
------
Inceptive Past.
[Greek: Emellon tuptein], I was going to strike, Bha mi dol a bhualadh.
{95}
Middle or extended Past.
[Greek: Etupton], I was striking, Bha mi ag bualadh.
Completive Past.
[Greek: Etetuphein], I had struck, Bha mi iar bualadh.
------
Inceptive future.
[Greek: Melleso tuptein], I shall be going to Bithidh mi dol a
strike, bhualadh.
Middle or extended Future.
[Greek: Esomai tupton], I shall be striking, Bithidh mi ag bualadh.
Completive Future.
[Greek: Esomai tetuphos], I shall have struck, Bithidh mi iar bualadh.
IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE FIRST CONJUGATION.
Beir, _bear._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Do rug, Beiridh.
_Negat._ D' rug, Beir.
_Subjunct._ Bheirinn, Bheireas.
_Imperat._ Beiream. _Infin._ Beirsinn, breith.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirm._ Do rugadh, Beirear.
_Negat._ D' rugadh, Beirear.
_Subjunct._ Bheirteadh, Bheirear.
_Imperat._ Beirthear.
{96}
Cluinn, _hear._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Do chuala, Cluinnidh.
_Negat._ Cuala, Cluinn.
_Subjunct._ Chluinnin, Chluinneas.
_Imperat._ Cluinneam. _Infin._ Cluinntinn.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirm._ Do Chualadh, Cluinnear.
_Negat._ Cualadh, Cluinnear.
_Subjunct._ Chluinnteadh, Chluinnear.
_Imperat._ Cluinntear.
Dean, _do_ or _make._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Do rinn, Ni.
_Negat._ D' rinn, Dean.
_Subjunct._ Dheanainn, Ni.
_Imperat._ Deanam. _Infin._ Deanamh.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirm._ Do rinneadh, Nithear.
_Negat._ D' rinneadh, Deanar.
_Subjunct._ Dheantadh, Nithear.
_Imperat._ Deantar. _Particip._ Deanta.
Rach, _go._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Do chaidh, Th['e]id.
_Negat._ Deachaidh, T['e]id[65].
_Subjunct._ Rachainn, Th['e]id.
_Imperat._ Racham. _Infin._ Dol.
{97}
Ruig, _reach._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Do rainig, Ruigidh.
_Negat._ D' rainig, Ruig.
_Subjunct._ Ruiginn, Ruigeas.
_Imperat._ Ruigeam. _Infin._ Ruigsinn, ruigheachd.
Tabhair,[66] _give._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Do thug, Bheir.
_Negat._ D' thug, Tabhair.
_Subjunct._ Bheirinn, tabhairinn, Bheir.
_Imperat._ Tabhaiream, thugam. _Infin._ Tabhairt.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirm._ Do thugadh, Bheirear.
_Negat._ D' thugadh, Tabhairear.
_Subjunct._ Bheirteadh, tugtadh. Bheirear.
_Imperat._ Thugthar.
Thig, _come._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Do thainig, Thig.
_Negat._ D' thainig, Tig[67].
_Subjunct._ Thiginn, Thig.
_Imperat._ Thigeam. _Infin._ Tighinn, teachd.
{98}
IRREGULAR VERBS OF THE SECOND CONJUGATION.
Abair,[68] _say._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Thubhairt, dubhairt, Their.
_Negat._ Dubhairt, Abair.
_Subjunct._ Theirinn, abairinn, Their.
_Imperat._ Abaiream. _Infin._ Radh.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirm._ Dubhradh, Theirear.
_Negat._ Dubhradh, Abairear.
_Subjunct._ Theirteadh, abairteadh, Theirear.
_Imperat._ Abairear[69].
Faic, _see._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Do chunnaic, Chi.
_Negat._ Faca, Faic.
_Subjunct._ Chithinn, faicinn, Chi.
_Imperat._ Faiceam. _Infin._ Faicsinn.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirm._ Do chunnacadh, Chithear.
_Negat._ Facadh, Faicear.
_Subjunct._ Chiteadh, faicteadh, Chithear.
_Imperat._ Faicthear. _Infin._ Faicsinn.
{99}
Faigh, _get._
ACTIVE VOICE.
Preterite. Future.
_Affirm._ Fhuair, Gheibh.
_Negat._ D'fhuair, Faigh.
_Subjunct._ Gheibhinn, faighinn, Gheibh.
_Imperat._ Faigheam. _Infin._ Faghail, faotainn.
PASSIVE VOICE.
_Affirm._ Fhuaradh, Gheibhear.
_Negat._ D' fhuaradh, Faighear.
_Subjunct._ Gheibhteadh, faighteadh, Gheibhear.
_Imperat._ Faightear.
The verbs Tabhair, Abair, Faic, Faigh, have a double Preterite Subjunctive.
The latter form of it, which is derived regularly from the Root, is used
after the same particles which are prefixed to the Negative Mood, _viz._
ni, cha, nach, mur, gu, an, am.
* * * * *
OF DEFECTIVE VERBS.
The following defective verbs are in common use.
Arsa _said_, _quoth_, indeclinable; used only in the Pret. Aff. through all
the persons; arsa Donull, _quoth Donald_.
Tiucainn _come along_, tiucainnibh _come ye along_, used only in the 2d
pers. sing. and plur. of the Imperative.
Theab mi _I was near to, I had almost_; used through all the persons of the
Pret. Aff. and Neg.; as, theab iad bhith caillte _they had nearly
perished_.
Is mi _I am_, used in the Pres. and Pret. Tenses, which are declined as
follows:-- {100}
_Affirmative Mood._
Present. Preterite.
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Is mi, _I am, it is I._ Bu mhi, _I was, it was I._
2 Is tu. Bu tu.
3 Is e. B' e.
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 Is sinn. Bu sinn.
2 Is sibh. Bu sibh.
3 Is iad. B' iad.
_Negative Mood._
_Sing._ _Sing._
{ 1 mi, _I am not_, &c. Bu mhi, _I was not_, &c.
{ 2 tu. Bu tu.
ni, { 3 e. B' e.
cha, {
nach,{ _Plur._ _Plur._
&c. { 1 sinn. Bu sinn.
{ 2 sibh. Bu sibh.
{ 3 iad. B' iad.
_Subjunctive Mood._
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Ma 's mi, _If I be, it be I._ Nam bu mhi, _If I were, it were I._
2 's tu. Bu tu.
3 's e. B' e.
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 's sinn. Bu sinn.
2 's sibh. Bu sibh.
3 's iad. B' iad.
The only varieties of form which this Verb admits of, are the two syllables
_is_ and _bu_. Each of these syllables {101} commonly loses the vowel when
it comes in apposition with another vowel.
It is remarkable, that in the Pres. Neg. the Verb disappears altogether,
and the preceding Particle, ni, cha, nach, gur, &c., and the subsequent
Pronoun, or Noun, are always understood to convey a proposition, or a
question, as unequivocally as though a Verb had been expressed; as, cha tu
_thou art not_, nach e? _is he not? is it not he?_ am mise e? _is it I?_
cha luchd-brathaidh sinn _we are not spies_, Gen. xlii. 31. Am m[`o] thusa
na Abraham? _Art thou greater than Abraham?_ gur c[`o]ir urnuigh a dheanamh
_that it is proper to pray_, Luke xviii. 1[70].
{102}
OF THE RECIPROCATING STATE OF VERBS.
Any transitive Verb may be so combined with a Pronoun, either Personal or
Possessive, that it shall denote the agent to be also the object of the
action. This may be called the _reciprocating state_ of the Verb. It is
declined as follows:--
Buail thu fein, _strike thyself_.
ACTIVE VOICE.
Simple Tenses.
_Affirmative Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Do bhuail mi mi fein, Buailidh mi mi fein,
Bhuail mi mi fein, _I will strike myself._
_I struck myself._
2 Do bhuail thu thu fein, Buailidh tu thu fein.
3 Do bhuail se e fein; Buailidh se e fein.
_Plur._ _Plur._
1 Do bhuail sinn sinn fein, Buailidh sinn sinn fein.
2 Do bhuail sibh sibh fein, Buailidh sibh sibh fein.
3 Do bhuail siad iad fein. Buailidh siad iad fein.
_Negative Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_Sing._ _Sing._
cha,{ 1 Do bhuail mi mi fein, Bhuail mi mi fein,
&c. { _I struck not myself._ _I shall not strike myself._
_Subjunctive Mood._
_Sing._ _Sing._
1 Bhuailinn mi fein, 1 Bhuaileas mi mi fein,
_I would strike myself._ _I shall strike myself._
{103}
_Imperative Mood._
_Sing._ _Plur._
1 Buaileam mi fein, Buaileamaid sinn fein.
_Let me strike myself._
2 Buail thu fein. Buailibh sibh fein.
3 Buaileadh e e fein. Buaileadh iad iad fein.
_Infinitive Mood._
'g am bhualadh fein, _striking myself_.
'g ad bhualadh fein, _striking thyself_.
'g a bhualadh fein, _striking himself_.
'g ar bualadh fein, _striking ourselves_.
'g 'ur bualadh fein, _striking yourselves_.
'g am bualadh fein, _striking themselves_.
iar mo bhualadh fein, _after striking myself_, &c.
gu mo bhualadh fein, _to strike myself_, &c.
Compound Tenses.
_Affirmative Mood._
Present. Preterite.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Ta mi 'g am bhualadh fein, Bha mi 'g am bhualadh fein,
_I am striking myself._ _I was striking myself._
Future.
_1. Comp._
Bidh mi 'g am bhualadh fein,
_I will be striking myself._
Present. Preterite.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Ta mi iar mo, &c. Bha mi iar mo, &c.
_I have struck myself._ _I had struck myself._
{104}
Future.
_2. Comp._
Bidh mi iar mo, &c.
_I shall have struck_, &c.
_Negative Mood._
Present. Preterite.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Ni bheil mi 'g am, &c. Ni robh mi 'g am, &c.
_I am not striking myself._ _I was not striking myself._
Future.
_1. Comp._
Ni'm bi mi 'g am bhualadh fein.
_I shall not be striking myself._
Present. Preterite.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Ni bheil mi iar mo, &c. Ni robh mi iar mo, &c.
_I have not struck myself._ _I had not struck myself._
Future.
_2. Comp._
Ni'm bi mi iar mo, &c.
_I shall not have struck myself._
_Subjunctive Mood._
Preterite. Future.
_1. Comp._ _1. Comp._
Bhithinn 'g am, &c. Ma bhitheas mi 'g am,
_I would be striking_, &c. _If I shall be striking_, &c.
_2. Comp._ _2. Comp._
Bhithinn iar mo, &c. Ma bhitheas mi iar mo, &c.
_I would have struck_, &c. _If I shall have struck_, &c.
{105}
_Imperative Mood._ _Infinitive Mood._
_1. Comp._ Do bhith 'g am bhualadh fein,
_To be striking myself._
Bitheam 'g am bhualadh fein, Iar bith 'g am bhualadh fein.
_Let me be striking myself._ _To have been striking myself._
From the foregoing example it appears that the Verb, in its reciprocating
state, retains its original form throughout its several Moods, Tenses, and
Persons. In the _simple Tenses_, the Personal Pronoun immediately following
the Verb is the Nominative to the Verb. The same pronoun repeated is to be
understood as in the objective state. The word fein, corresponding to the
English _self_, accompanies the last Pronoun.
In the _compound Tenses_, the auxiliary Verb, as usual, is placed first;
then follows the Personal Pronoun as its Nominative, then the Prep. _ag_
abridged to _'g_ in the compound Tenses of the first order, iar in those of
the second order; after which follows the Possessive Pronoun, corresponding
in Person to that which is the Nominative to the Verb; and lastly the
Infinitive, which is the noun to the Possessive Pronoun. Mo and do are here
changed, by Metathesis and the substitution of one broad vowel for another,
into am and ad. Ta mi 'g am bhualadh fein, rendered literally, is, _I am at
my own striking, i.e., I am at the striking of myself_, equivalent to, _I
am striking myself_. The reciprocal fein is sometimes omitted in the
compound Tenses, but is generally retained in the 3d Persons, to prevent
their being mistaken for the same persons when used without reciprocation:
ta e 'g a bhualadh, _he is striking him_, ta e 'g a bhualadh fein, _he is
striking himself_.
OF THE IMPERSONAL USE OF VERBS.
Intransitive Verbs, though they do not regularly admit of a Passive Voice,
yet are used _impersonally_ in the 3d Pers. Sing. of the Passive Tenses.
This impersonal use of the Passive of intransitive Verbs is founded on the
same principle with the Latin Impersonals _concurritur_, _pugnatum est_,
{106} &c., which are equivalent to _concursus fit_, _pugna facta est_. So
in Gaelic, gluaisfear leam, _I will move_, Psal. cxvi. 9; gluaisfear leo,
_they will move_, Psal. cxix. 3; ghuileadh leinn, _we did weep_, flebatur a
nobis, Psal. cxxxvii. 1, Edit. Edinb. 1787; cha bhithear saor o pheacadh,
_there wanteth not sin_, Prov. x. 19.
To the class of Impersonals ought to be referred a certain part of the Verb
which has not yet been mentioned. It resembles in form the Fut. Negat.
Passive; buailear, faicear, faighear, &c. In signification, it is Active,
Present, and Affirmative. In the course of a narrative, when the speaker
wishes to enliven his style by representing the occurrences narrated as
present, and passing actually in view, instead of the Preterite Tenses, he
adopts the Part of the Verb now described, employing it in an impersonal
acceptation, without a Nominative to it expressed. One or two examples will
serve to exhibit the use and effect of this anomalous Tense:--Shuidh an
[`o]g bhean air sgeir, is a s[`u]il air an lear. Chunnaic i long a' teachd
air barraibh nan tonn. Dh' aithnich i aogas a leannain, is chlisg a cridhe
'n a com. Gun mhoille gun tamh, _buailear_ dh' fhios na traighe; agus
_faighear_ an laoch, 's a dhaoine m' a thimchioll. In English thus: The
young woman sat on a rock, and her eye on the sea. She spied a ship coming
on the tops of the waves. She perceived the likeness of her lover, and her
heart bounded in her breast. Without delay or stop, she _hastens_ to the
shore; and _finds_ the hero, with his men around him. Again: Mar sin chuir
sinn an oidhche tharuinn. 'S a' mhadainn dh' imich sinn air ar turus. O bha
sinn 'n ar coigrich anns an tir, _gabhar_ suas gu mullach an t-sleibh,
_direar_ an tulach gu grad, agus _seallar_ mu 'n cuairt air gach taobh.
_Faicear_ thall fa 'r comhair sruth cas ag ruith le gleann cumhann, &c.
Thus we passed the night. In the morning we pursued our journey. As we were
strangers in the land, we _strike_ up to the top of the moor, _ascend_ the
hill with speed, and _look_ around us on every side. We _see_ over against
us a rapid stream, rushing down a narrow valley, &c. {107}
The scrupulous chastenesss of style maintained in the Gaelic version of the
Sacred Scriptures, has totally excluded this form of expression. It is,
however, universally known and acknowledged, as an established idiom of the
Gaelic, very common in the mouths of those who speak it, and in animated
narration almost indispensable[71].
OF AUXILIARY VERBS.
It has been already shown how bi _be_, is used as an Auxiliary in the
declension of all verbs. There are two other verbs which are occasionally
employed in a similar capacity; the one with an Active the other with a
Passive effect. These are dean to _do_ or _make_, and rach to _go_.
The simple tenses of dean combined with the Infinitive of any verb,
correspond to the English auxiliary _do_, _did_. It sometimes adds to the
emphasis, but not to the sense. The following are examples of this
Auxiliary combined with the Infinitive of an _Intransitive_ verb:--Rinn e
seasamh _he made standing_, i.e., _he did stand;_ dean suidhe _make
sitting_, i.e., _sit down_; dheanainn gul agus caoidh _I would make weeping
{108} and lamentation_, i.e., _I would weep and lament._ The same
arrangement takes place when the Auxiliary is combined with the Infinitive
of a _Transitive_ verb, accompanied by a possessive pronoun; as, rinn e mo
bhualadh _he made my striking_, i.e., _he made [or caused] the striking of
me_, or, _he did strike me_; cha dean mi do mholadh, _I will not make your
praising_, i.e., _I will not praise you_; dean do gharadh, _make your
warming_, dean do gharadh fein, _make your own warming_, i.e., _warm
yourself._
The Simple Tenses of rach, combined with the Infinitive of a transitive
verb, correspond to the Passive Voice of the verb; as, chaidh mo bhualadh
_my striking went_, i.e., _came to pass_, or _happened_, equivalent to _I
was struck_; rachadh do mharbhadh _your killing would happen_, i.e., _you
would be killed._
In phrases where either of the auxiliaries dean or rach is combined with a
transitive verb, as above, the possessive pronoun may be exchanged for the
corresponding personal pronoun in the emphatic form, followed by the
preposition _do_ before the Infinitive. The preposition in this case is
attenuated into _a_, which, before a verb of the second conjugation is
dropped altogether. Thus, rinn e mo bhualadh _he struck me_, rinn e mis' a
bhualadh _he struck_ ME, chaidh mo bhualadh _I was struck_, chaidh mis' a
bhualadh _I myself was struck_. In like manner, a noun, or a demonstrative
pronoun, may occupy the place of this personal pronoun; as, chaidh an
ceannard a mharbhadh[72], agus na daoine chur san ruaig, _the leader was
killed, and the men put to flight_; theid am buachaill a bhualadh, agus an
treud a sgapadh, _the shepherd will be smitten, and the sheep scattered_;
is math a chaidh sin innseadh dhuit, _that was well told you_.
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