Passives

The Passive form can be formed using the verbs both 'be' and 'go'. Furthermore, 'be' can be formed using a transitive and a perfective particle.

The Passive

Bhrisd	Iain	a'	ghloinne
break.PAST	Iain	the.sf	glass.sf
'John broke the glass'

(Reed, 2008)

Bhrisd	a'	ghloinne
break.PAST	the.sf	glass.sf
'The glass broke'

(Reed, 2008)

Bha	a'	ghloinne	brisde
be.PAST	the.sf	glass.sf	break.va
'The glass was broken.'

(Reed, 2008)

Bha	a'	ghloinne	brisde	le	Iain.
be.PAST	the.sf	glass.sf	break.va	*with	Iain
'The glass was broken (*by John).'
Ungrammatical because verbal adjective disallows an agent

(Reed, 2008)

'Go' Passives

Chaidh	a'	ghloinne	a	brisdeadh.
go.PAST	the.sf	glass.sf	poss.3sf	break.va
'The glass was broken.'

(Reed, 2008)

Chaidh	a'	ghloinne	a	brisdeadh	le	Iain.
go.PAST	the.sf	glass.sf	poss.3sf	break.va	with	Iain
'The glass was broken by John.'

(Reed, 2008)

Perfective Transitive Particle Form

Bha	a'	ghloinne	air	a	brisdeadh.
be.PAST	the.sf	glass.sf	perf	tran(poss.3sf)	break.va
'The glass was broken.'

(Reed, 2008)

Bha	a'	ghloinne	air	a	brisdeadh	with	Iain.
be.PAST	the.sf	glass.sf	perf	tran(poss.3sf)	break.va	with	Iain
'The glass was broken by John.'

(Reed, 2008)

Verbal Adjective Constructions

Tha	a'	ghloinne	air	a	brisde
be.PRES	the.sf	glass.sf	break.va
'The glass was broken.'

(Reed, 2008)

Tha	a'	ghloinne	air	a	brisde	le	Iain
be.PRES	the.sf	glass.sf	break.va	with	Iain
'The glass was broken (*by John).'

(Reed, 2008)

The Prepositional Passive (Pseudopassive)

Chaidil	George Washington	anns	an	leabaidh	seo.
sleep.pst	George Washington	in	the	bed	seo.
'Geroge Washington slept in this bed.' (Levin)

Bha	an	leabaidh	seo	air	a	cosg	le	George Washington.
be.pst	the	bed	prox	pass	3sg.f.poss	use	by	George Washington
'This bed was used by George Washington.' (Levin)

*Bha	ann	an	leabaidh	seo	air	a	cadal	le	George Washington.
be.pst	in	the	bed	prox	pass	3sg.f.poss	sleep	by	George Washington (Levin)

Bha	an	leabaidh	seo	air	a	cadal	ann	mar tha.
be.pst	the	bed	prox	pass	3sg.f.poss	sleep	in.3sg	already
'This bed was slept in already.' (Levin)

Obligatory Passive

Chaidh	a	sgaoladh	gun	do	dh'fàhg	e	am	baile.
go.pst	3sg.m.poss	spreading	that	pst	leave.pst	3sg.m	the	town
'It is rumored that he left the town.' (Levin)

*Sagol	iad	gun	do	dh'fàhg	e	am	baile.
spread	3pl	that	pst	leave.pst	3sg.m	the	town (Levin)

• Passive (definition)
• Impersonal (definition)