Fòram na Gàidhlig

Madainn mhath,

(Gabhaibh mo leisgeul airson a' Bheurla. Chan eil uine agam an-drasta 'sa Ghaidhlig...)

Is there a difference between "anns an eilean" and "air an eilean", or a they just different ways of saying "on the island"?

Also, in Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh 454 there is a sentence "Chaidh iarraidh air a bhith na easbaig". I think I understand the meaning - he was asked to be the bishop - but why is the article "na"?

Moran taing,
Iolair

Ok, sa chiad dol a-mach.

First things first.

anns an and air an often seem to be interchangeable these days, but for islands, I was told by a gaelic teacher that it should be

for example: Tha mi a' fuireach anns an Eilean Sgitheanach. It's usually "air a' Ghàidhealtachd" although I've heard people say "anns a' Ghàidhealtachd" too.

In the sentence Chaidh iarraidh air a bhith na easbaig. na is not the article "na". It means "in his" profession. It's a combination of "ann an" + the pronoun "a" - his.

Taing airson do chuideachaidh!

I have seen the construction "Tha e na + profession", I just didn't recognize it after "a bhith".

Also, in Litir do Luchd-ionnsachaidh 454 there is a sentence "Chaidh iarraidh air a bhith na easbaig". I think I understand the meaning - he was asked to be the bishop - but why is the article "na"?

There are two ways of saying that you are something, e.g. "I'm a minister."
'S e ministear a th'annam, or Tha mi nam mhinistear.

'S e easbaig a th'ann - He's a bishop.
Tha e na easbaig - He's a bishop.

If you have TYG this is explained on pp. 86-88 and 221-222.

One exception (although it's not an island):

Applecross in Ross-shire

In Gaelic its A' Chomraich (lit: the sanctuary)

In Applepross is ALWAYS air a' Chomraich