Grammar questions from TYG

[clarsach]

I'm on my second round through TYG, and hoping to really understand the grammar accurately and in-depth this time. It seems many others on this board are using the book, too, so I'm hoping we can help each other out.

Chapter 2, do and a (to) are introduced. Are these words totally interchangeable, or is there a rule as to when to use one or the other?

Moran taing.

[Neas Olc]

I'm pretty sure 'a' is less formal, and generally used for countries and places, whereas 'do' is more common with people and things. Tha feum aig duine sam bith seo a dhearbhadh co dhiu....

[GunChleoc]

That's about it http://www.akerbeltz.org/beagangaidhlig ... mar_a1.htm

[AlasdairBochd]

Seadh. Tha e ceart ri radh "Bidh mi a dol do Steòrnabhagh am-màireach" ach 's àbhaist do dhaoine ri radh "Bidh mi a dol a Steòrnabhagh am-màireach" no leis na fuaimreagan "Bidh mi a dol a dh'Astràilia am-màireach" (tha e dubailte).

Yes. It's correct to to say "Bidh mi a dol do Steòrnabhagh am-màireach" but people usually say "Bidh mi a dol a Steòrnabhagh am-màireach" or with vowels "Bidh mi a dol a dh'Astràilia am-màireach" (do is doubled), although the only native speaker I know is from Lewis and it is sometimes a little different there. Also, (and I'm on shaky ground here), the a is rather indistinct. If it is pronounced as a distinct open vowel (written á ...or à in GOC), it would mean from (out of) rather than to.

[clarsach]

Moran taing airson ur cuideachadh, gu h-àraidh an làrach-lìn.




Thank you for your help, especially the website.

[GunChleoc]

'S e do bheatha

That website was my favourite haunt when I first started and I still drop by when I need to.

F.S. mòran le sràc

[akerbeltz]

LOL I better update it then... or I could start writing my double grammar of Gaelic... decisions, decisions...