Date: Sun, 4 Jun 2000 12:40:04 +0100
From: Colin Mark <[email protected]>
Subject: Tip of the Week 24 - expressing quantity (2)
Tip of the Week 24
*Beagan* is this week's word. It is used in much the same way as *mòran*.
It translates variously as *little*, *a little*, *few*, *a few*, *a small
amount*, *a modicum*.
Like *mòran*, it may be used independently:
Abair ach beagan agus abair gu math e.
Say but little and say it well. (Proverb)
Cha robh e ach sia uairean, no beagan às a
dhèidh.
It was only six o'clock, or a little after (it).
Lorgaidh sibh e air a' mhapa beagan an iar air Beinn Nibheis.
You will find it on the map a little west of Ben Nevis.
As with *mòran*, *beagan* may be followed by a noun in the genitive case:
Tha seo furasta a thuigsinn le beagan mìneachaidh.
This is easy to understand with a little explanation.
Tha sinn a' dèanamh beagan adhartais a-nise.
We are making a little progress now.
Nuair a bh mi ann an Ioràc o chionn beagan
bhliadhnaichean...
When I was in Iraq a few years ago ...
Like *mòran*,it may be used partitively (i.e. when indicating a little out
of a larger amount) and is followed by *de* = *of*
Chaidh beagan dhiubh a reic ri tuathanaich air tir-mòr,
A few of them were sold to farmers on the mainland.
Seo beagan de na bha 'sa litir.
Here is a little of what was in the letter.
It may also be used to qualify a comparative adjective:
Bha am baile air fàs beagan nas motha thairis air na
bliadhnaichean
The town had grown a little bigger over the years.
Chuir e a' cheist a-rithist, beagan nas maille an turas seo.
He asked the question again, a little more slowly this time.
I omitted to tell you this last week, but *mòran* may be used in the same
way:
Leugh e an litir a-rithist, mòran nas luaithe an turas
seo.
He read the letter again, much more quickly this time.
Cailean
Am Marcair Dubh
Is i a' Ghàidhlig Cànan mo Dhùthcha.
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