Unit 17 - Expressing preference
Nach toil leat i? "Don’t you like it?"
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Transcript 2 follows a similar line to Transcript 1, except that it employs the conditional to express preference. You will know from previous units that we say is toigh leam for “I like” and an toigh leat for “do you like?”. The first element here, the assertive verb is (or an in the interrogative or question form), takes the form bu in the conditional (or am bu in the interrogative form). Thus bu toigh leam means “I would like” and am bu toigh leat means “would you like?”.
Similarly, an fheàrr leatdo you prefer, seen in the last conversation, becomes am b’ fheàrr leat would you prefer in the conditional. And is fheàrr leam I prefer becomes b’ fheàrr leamI would prefer.
Now listen to Cèitidh and Alasdair using conditionals to comment on each other’s clothes.
This is the end of unit 17.
Do you want to make sure you don’t get lost in Gaelic Scotland? Go on to Unit 18...
