Date: Tue, 16 May 2000 19:44:59 +0100
From: Colin Mark <[email protected]>
Subject: Tip of the Week 20 - cuimhne (2)
Tip of the Week 20
I must point out that some of what I said in my last message is supposition based on lack of examples rather than supporting examples, particularly with regard to *an do chuimhnich* and *cha do chuimhnich*.
I would be pleased if someone could come up with evidence supporting one view or the other!
Tha cuimhne agam
I remember.
When should we use *air* and when should we not?
*Air* is used when the thing or person being remembered follows immediately:
Tha cuimhne aig Màiri air àite a breith agus
àraich.
Mary remembers the place of her birth and upbringing.
Tha cuimhne agam orra le chèile
I remember them both.
This holds true when the thing /person is followed by a relative clause or by a verbal noun construction:
Tha cuimhne againn uile air na rudan suarach a rinneadh an-sin.
We all remember the despicable things that were done there.
Tha cuimhne agam fhathast air m' athair no air mo mhàthair ag
obair anns na h-achaidhean.
I still remember my mother or my father working in the fields.
*Air* is not used when the *tha cuimhne aig* construction is directly followed by a clause:
Thuirt i gun robh cuimhne aice nuair thàinig na fir air ais bhon
chogadh.
She said that she remembered when the men came back from the war.
Chan eil cuimhne agam ciamar a fhuair e a-mach mu dheidhinn.
I don't remember how he found out about it.
(a very obvious borrowed English expression here, but very common)
A bheil cuimhne agad dè thuirt e?
Do you remember what he said?
This appears not to apply to *na*
Tha cuimhne agam fhathast air na thuirt e
I still remember what he said. (all that he said
More next time
Cailea
Am Marcair Dub
Is i a' Ghàidhlig Cànan mo Dhùthcha
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