Difference between revisions of "Faic (irregular verb)"

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The irregular verb ''faic'' means "to see". ''faic'' is one of 11 [[:Category:Irregular Verb|irregular verbs]] in Gaelic. It uses irregular [[Suppletion (definition)|suppletive]] forms in the [[Past tense (definition)|past]],  the [[Future tense (definition)|future]], the [[Relative future tense (definition)|relative future]]), and independent [[Conditional mood (definition)|conditional] (Mark 2004:271). These forms ending in <a> or <adh> also irregularly require that when using a [[Person (definition)|2nd person]] [[Singular (definition)|singular]] (you), that the pronoun surfaces as ''tu'' instead of ''thu''.  
+
The irregular verb ''faic'' means "to see". ''faic'' is one of 11 [[:Category:Irregular Verb|irregular verbs]] in Gaelic. It uses irregular [[Suppletion (definition)|suppletive]] forms in the [[Past tense (definition)|past]],  the [[Future Tense (definition)|future]], the [[Relative future tense (definition)|relative future]], and independent [[Conditional mood (definition)|conditional]] (Mark 2004:271). The forms ending in <a> or <adh> also irregularly require that when using a [[Person (definition)|2nd person]] [[Singular (definition)|singular]] (you), that the pronoun surfaces as ''tu'' instead of ''thu''.  
  
  
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*Dependent forms of the verb ''faic'' are used after particles but note
 
*Dependent forms of the verb ''faic'' are used after particles but note
 
**''Cha'' and ''Nach'' take dependent forms but [[Lenition|lenite]] the verb.
 
**''Cha'' and ''Nach'' take dependent forms but [[Lenition|lenite]] the verb.
−
**''Cha'' takes the special form ''chan'' because <fh> is silent, so the ''cha> precedes a vowel
+
**''Cha'' takes the special form ''chan'' because <fh> is silent, so the ''cha'' precedes a vowel, thus motivating the form ''chan''
 
**"An" takes the special form "Am" because it precedes an <f>
 
**"An" takes the special form "Am" because it precedes an <f>
 
*The future independent form is irregularly lenited
 
*The future independent form is irregularly lenited
−
*Unlike regular verbs, the [[Dependent verb form (definition)|dependent]] past tense particle ''[[Do (tense marker)|do]]'' is never used with ''cluinn''.
+
*Unlike regular verbs, the [[Dependent verb form (definition)|dependent]] past tense particle ''[[Do (tense marker)|do]]'' is never used with ''faic''.
  
  
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"  
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"  
−
!colspan="3"|context!!independent!!After Cha/Nach||Dependent
+
!colspan="3"|context!!independent!!After Chan/Nach||Dependent
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!rowspan="6"|basic forms!!rowspan="3"|active!!past<sup>1</sup>
 
!rowspan="6"|basic forms!!rowspan="3"|active!!past<sup>1</sup>
 
|chunnaic
 
|chunnaic
−
|fhaca  
+
|fhaca<sup>1</sup>
−
|faca
+
|faca<sup>1</sup>
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!Future
 
!Future
Line 26: Line 26:
 
|faic  
 
|faic  
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
−
!Relative Future<sup>1</sup>
+
!Relative Future
 
|colspan="2"|---
 
|colspan="2"|---
 
|chì
 
|chì
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!rowspan="3"|impersonal<sup>1</sup>!!past
 
!rowspan="3"|impersonal<sup>1</sup>!!past
−
|chunnacas  
+
|chunnacas <sup>1</sup>
−
|fhacas
+
|fhacas<sup>1</sup>
−
|facas
+
|facas<sup>1</sup>
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!future
 
!future
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|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!rowspan="2"|Conditional Mood!!colspan="2"|active
 
!rowspan="2"|Conditional Mood!!colspan="2"|active
−
|chitheadh  (chithinn<sup>2</sup> in 1st singular)
+
|chitheadh<sup>1</sup> (chithinn<sup>2</sup> in 1st singular)
−
|fhaiceadh (fhaicinn<sup>2</sup> in 1st sing)
+
|fhaiceadh<sup>1</sup> (fhaicinn<sup>2</sup> in 1st sing)
−
|faiceadh  (faicinn<sup>2</sup> in 1st sing)
+
|faiceadh<sup>1</sup> (faicinn<sup>2</sup> in 1st sing)
 
|-align=center
 
|-align=center
 
!colspan="2"|impersonal
 
!colspan="2"|impersonal
−
|chìte/chìteadh/???
+
|chìte/chìteadh
 
|fhaicte/fhaicteadh/fhaiciste
 
|fhaicte/fhaicteadh/fhaiciste
 
|fhaicte/faicteadh/faiciste
 
|fhaicte/faicteadh/faiciste
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|}
 
|}
 
Notes:
 
Notes:
−
*<sup>1</sup> with the past tense, relative future and impersonal forms of this verb, the pronoun ''tu'' is used instead of ''thu''
+
*<sup>1</sup> with these forms the pronoun ''tu'' is used instead of ''thu''
 
*<sup>2</sup> these forms are not used with any subject, they contain the subject in the inflection of the verb ([[Pro-Drop]])
 
*<sup>2</sup> these forms are not used with any subject, they contain the subject in the inflection of the verb ([[Pro-Drop]])
−
 
  
 
==Non Conditional Moods (indicative, interrogative, negative)==
 
==Non Conditional Moods (indicative, interrogative, negative)==
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|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
|chuala mi ||an cuala mi ||cha chuala mi||nach cuala mi
+
|Chunnaic mi ||am faca mi ||chan fhaca mi||nach fhaca mi
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|chuala tu<sup>1</sup> ||an cuala tu ||cha chuala tu||nach cuala tu
+
|Chunnaic thu ||am faca tu<sup>1</sup> ||chan fhaca tu||nach fhaca tu
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|chuala e||an cuala e||cha chuala e||nach cuala e
+
| Chunnaic e||am faca e||chan fhaca e||nach fhaca e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|chuala i||an cuala i||cha chuala i||nach cuala i  
+
| Chunnaic i||am faca i||chan fhaca i||nach fhaca i  
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|chuala sinn ||an cuala sinn ||cha chuala sinn||nach cuala sinn
+
| Chunnaic sinn ||am faca sinn ||chan fhaca sinn||nach fhaca sinn
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2 pl
 
!2 pl
−
|chuala sibh ||an cuala sibh ||cha chuala sibh||nach cuala sibh
+
| Chunnaic sibh ||am faca sibh ||chan fhaca sibh||nach fhaca sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|chuala iad||an cuala iad||cha chuala iad||nach cuala iad
+
| Chunnaic iad||am faca iad||chan fhaca iad||nach fhaca iad
 
|}
 
|}
−
#Irregularly, the 2nd person pronoun shows up as ''tu'' instead of ''thu'' in the past, impersonal, and relative future forms of this verb.
+
#Irregularly, the 2nd person pronoun shows up as ''tu'' instead of ''thu'' in forms ending in <a>.
 +
 
  
 
====Present tense====
 
====Present tense====
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:{|
 
:{|
−
|Tha||mi||a' ||cluinntinn
+
|Tha||mi||a' ||faicinn
 
|-
 
|-
−
|be.pres||1s||prog||hear.vn
+
|be.pres||1s||prog||see.vn
 
|-
 
|-
−
|I'm hearing/I hear
+
|I'm seeing/I see
 
|}
 
|}
  
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====Future tense====
 
====Future tense====
  
−
The [[Future tense (definition)|future tense]] in Gaelic is used to express the idea that an event will happen sometime after the speech time. Unlike English, the future tense can also be used with a present tense meaning, to express the idea that an action is [[habitual]].
+
The [[Future Tense (definition)|future tense]] in Gaelic is used to express the idea that an event will happen sometime after the speech time. Unlike English, the future tense can also be used with a present tense meaning, to express the idea that an action is [[Habitual Aspect (definition|habitual]].
  
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
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|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
|cluinnidh mi ||an cluinn mi ||cha chluinn mi||nach cluinn mi||a chluinneas mi  
+
|chì mi ||am faic mi ||chan fhaic mi||nach fhaic mi||a chì mi  
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|cluinnidh thu ||an cluinn thu ||cha chluinn thu||nach cluinn thu||a chluinneas tu<sup>2</sup>
+
|chì thu ||am faic thu ||chan fhaic thu||nach fhaic thu||a chì thu
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|cluinnidh e||an cluinn e||cha chluinn e||nach cluinn e||a chluinneas e
+
|chì e||am faic e||chan fhaic e||nach fhaic e||a chì e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|cluinnidh i||an cluinn i||cha chluinn i||nach cluinn i ||a chluinneas i
+
|chì i||am faicn i||chan fhaic i||nach fhaic i ||a chì i
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|cluinnidh sinn ||an cluinn sinn ||cha chluinn sinn||nach cluinn sinn||a chluinneas sinn
+
|chì sinn ||am faic sinn ||chan fhaic sinn||nach fhaic sinn||a chì sinn
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2 pl
 
!2 pl
−
|cluinnidh sibh ||an cluinn sibh ||cha chluinn sibh||nach cluinn sibh||a chluinneas sibh
+
|chì sibh ||am faic sibh ||chan fhaic sibh||nach fhaic sibh||a chì sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|cluinnidh iad||an cluinn iad||cha chluinn iad||nach cluinn iad||a chluinneas iad
+
|chì iad||am faic iad||chan fhaic iad||nach fhaic iad||a chì iad
 
|}
 
|}
  
 
Note:
 
Note:
 
# the relative future is  used after certain particles such as ''ma'' or the particle used with questions ''a''.
 
# the relative future is  used after certain particles such as ''ma'' or the particle used with questions ''a''.
−
# Note that in the relative future the pronoun ''tu'' is used in lieu of ''thu''.
 
  
  
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===Impersonal/Passive Voice===
 
===Impersonal/Passive Voice===
  
−
Gaelic verbs don't technically have a [[Passive (definition)|Passive]] verb form. Instead the passive is typically represented through a [[Periphrastic (definition)|periphrastic]] construction using the verbs ''Rach'' or ''Tha'' + the passive marker ''air''. It does, however, have an [[Impersonal (definition)|impersonal]] form. The '''Impersonal''' is used to indicate an indeterminate subject. ''Chualas''  can be best translated as "someone heard". Use of a pronoun is completely optional. So "Chualas" is a completely well-formed sentence. When used with a pronoun, the pronoun represents the logical object of the verb. So "chualas mi" means "Someone heard me".  This is often translated as "I was heard", hence the typical "passive" label.  
+
Gaelic verbs don't technically have a [[Passive (definition)|Passive]] verb form. Instead the passive is typically represented through a [[Periphrastic (definition)|periphrastic]] construction using the verbs ''Rach'' or ''Tha'' + the passive marker ''air''. It does, however, have an [[Impersonal (definition)|impersonal]] form. The '''Impersonal''' is used to indicate an indeterminate subject. ''chunnacas''  can be best translated as "someone saw". Use of a pronoun is completely optional. So "Chunnacas" is a completely well-formed sentence. When used with a pronoun, the pronoun represents the logical object of the verb. So "Chunnacas mi" means "Someone saw me".  This is often translated as "I was seen", hence the typical "passive" label.  
  
 
Since Gaelic doesn't distinguish between subject and object pronouns (unlike it's sibling [[Modern Irish]]), it is very difficult to determine if these pronouns are subjects or objects. We list them here as if they were subjects, with the understanding that the pronouns in the following tables represent the logical objects of the verb (the person who was heard, not the hearer).
 
Since Gaelic doesn't distinguish between subject and object pronouns (unlike it's sibling [[Modern Irish]]), it is very difficult to determine if these pronouns are subjects or objects. We list them here as if they were subjects, with the understanding that the pronouns in the following tables represent the logical objects of the verb (the person who was heard, not the hearer).
 +
  
 
====Past tense====
 
====Past tense====
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|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
|chualas mi ||an cualas mi ||cha chualas mi||nach cualas mi
+
|Chunnacas mi ||am facas mi ||chan fhacas mi||nach fhacas mi
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|chualas tu<sup>1</sup> ||an cualas tu ||cha chualas tu||nach cualas tu
+
|Chunnacas tu<sup>1</sup> ||an facas tu ||chan fhacas tu||nach fhacas tu
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|chualas e||an cualsa e||cha chualas e||nach cualas e
+
|Chunnacas e||am facas e||chan fhacas e||nach fhacas e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|chualas i||an cualas i||cha chualas i||nach cualas i  
+
|Chunnacas i||am facas i||chan fhacas i||nach fhacas i  
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|chualas sinn ||an cualas sinn ||cha chualas sinn||nach cualas sinn
+
|Chunnacas sinn ||am facas sinn ||chan fhacas sinn||nach fhacas sinn
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2 pl
 
!2 pl
−
|chualas sibh ||an cualas sibh ||cha chualas sibh||nach cualas sibh
+
|Chunnacas sibh ||am facas sibh ||chan fhacas sibh||nach fhacas sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|chualas iad||an cualas iad||cha chualas iad||nach cualas iad
+
|Chunnacas iad||am facas iad||chan fhacas iad||nach fhacas iad
 
|}
 
|}
 
Notes:
 
Notes:
−
#The pronoun ''tu'' is used here instead of ''thu''
+
#The pronoun ''tu'' is used after forms ending in <as> instead of ''thu''
−
 
 
  
 
====Present tense====
 
====Present tense====
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:{|
 
:{|
−
|Tha||mi||air||cluinntinn
+
|Tha||mi||air||faicinn
 
|-
 
|-
−
|be.pres||1s||passive||hear.vn
+
|be.pres||1s||passive||see.vn
 
|-
 
|-
−
|colspan="4"|"I am heard"
+
|colspan="4"|"I am seen"
 
|}
 
|}
  
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|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
|cluinnear mi ||an cluinnear mi ||cha chluinnear mi||nach cluinnear mi||a chluinnear mi  
+
|chithear mi ||am faicear mi ||chan fhaicear mi||nach fhaicear mi||a chithear mi  
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|cluinnear thu ||an cluinnear thu ||cha chluinnear thu||nach cluinnear thu||a chluinnear thu  
+
|chithear thu ||am faicear thu ||chan fhaicear thu||nach fhaicear thu||a chithear thu  
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|cluinnear e||an cluinnear e||cha chluinnear e||nach cluinnear e||a chluinnear e
+
|chithear e||am faicear e||chan fhaicear e||nach fhaicear e||a chithear e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|cluinnear i||an cluinnear i||cha chluinnear i||nach cluinnear i ||a chluinnear i
+
|chithear i||am faicear i||chan fhaicear i||nach fhaicear i ||a chithear i
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|cluinnear sinn ||an cluinnear sinn ||cha chluinnear sinn||nach cluinnear sinn||a chluinnear sinn
+
|chithear sinn ||am faicear sinn ||chan fhaicearr sinn||nach fhaicear sinn||a chithear sinn
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|cluinnear sibh ||an cluinnear sibh ||cha chluinnear sibh||nach cluinnear sibh||a chluinnear sibh
+
|chithear sibh ||am faicear sibh ||chan fhaicear sibh||nach fhaicear sibh||a chithear sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|cluinnear iad||an cluinnear iad||cha chluinnear iad||nach cluinnear iad||a chluinnear iad
+
|chithear iad||am faicear iad||chan fhaicear iad||nach fhaicear iad||a chithear iad
 
|}
 
|}
 
Notes
 
Notes
 
# the relative future is  used after certain particles such as ''a'' the particle used with questions, or ''ma'' "if".
 
# the relative future is  used after certain particles such as ''a'' the particle used with questions, or ''ma'' "if".
 +
<br>
  
 
==Conditional Mood==
 
==Conditional Mood==
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|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
| chluinninn<sup>1</sup> ||an cluinninn ||cha chluinninn||nach cluinninn
+
| Chithinn<sup>1</sup> ||am faicinn<sup>1</sup> ||chan fhaicinn<sup>1</sup>  ||nach fhaicinn<sup>1</sup>
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|chluinneadh tu<sup>2</sup>||an cluinneadh tu ||cha chluinneadh tu||nach cluinneadh tu
+
|Chitheadh tu<sup>2</sup>||am faiceadh tu ||chan fhaiceadh tu||nach fhaiceadh tu
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|chluinneadh e||an cluinneadh e||cha chluinneadh e||nach cluinneadh e
+
|Chitheadh e||am faiceadh e||chan fhaiceadh e||nach fhaiceadh e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|chluinneadh i||an cluinneadh i||cha chluinneadh i||nach cluinneadh i  
+
|Chitheadh i||am faiceadh i||chan fhaiceadh i||nach fhaiceadh i  
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|chluinneadh sinn (chluinneamaid<sup>3</sup>)||an cluinneadh sinn (an cluinneamaid<sup>3</sup>)||cha chluinneadh sinn (cha chluinneamaid<sup>3</sup>)||nach cluinneadh sinn (nach cluinneamaid<sup>3</sup>)
+
|Chitheadh sinn (Chitheamaid<sup>3</sup>)||am faiceadh sinn (am faiceamaid<sup>3</sup>)||chan fhaiceadh sinn (chan  fhaiceamaid<sup>3</sup>)||nach fhaiceadh sinn (nach fhaiceamaid<sup>3</sup>)
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2 pl
 
!2 pl
−
|chluinneadh sibh ||an cluinneadh sibh ||cha chluinneadh sibh||nach cluinneadh sibh
+
|Chitheadh sibh ||am faiceadh sibh ||chan fhaiceadh sibh||nach fhaiceadh sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|chluinneadh iad||an cluinneadh iad||cha chluinneadh iad||nach cluinneadh iad
+
| Chitheadh iad||an faiceadh iad||chan fhaiceadh iad||nach fhaiceadh iad
 
|}
 
|}
 
Notes:
 
Notes:
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−
====passive====
+
====Impersonal/Passive====
 +
 
 +
Remember that the pronouns in this chart are the object pronouns
  
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
 
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
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|-
 
|-
 
! 1
 
! 1
−
| chluinnte mi||an cluinnte mi ||cha chluinnte mi||nach cluinnte mi
+
| chite mi||am faicte mi ||chan fhaicte mi||nach fhaicte mi
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2
 
!2
−
|chluinnte thu||an cluinnte thu ||cha chluinnte thu||nach cluinnte thu
+
|chìte thu||am faicte thu ||chan fhaicte thu||nach fhaicte thu
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 masc
 
!3 masc
−
|chluinnte e||an cluinnte e||cha chluinnte e||nach cluinnte e
+
|chìte e||am faicte e||chan fhaicte e||nach fhaicte e
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 fem
 
!3 fem
−
|chluinnte i||an cluinnte i||cha chluinnte i||nach cluinnte i  
+
|chìte i||am faicte i||chan fhaicte i||nach fhaicte i  
 
|-
 
|-
 
! 1 pl
 
! 1 pl
−
|chluinnte sinn ||an cluinnte sinn ||cha chluinnte sinn||nach cluinnte sinn
+
|chìte sinn ||am faicte sinn ||chan fhaicte sinn||nach fhaicte sinn
 
|-
 
|-
 
!2 pl
 
!2 pl
−
|chluinnte sibh ||an cluinnte sibh ||cha chluinnte sibh||nach cluinnte sibh
+
|chìte sibh ||am faicte sibh ||chan fhaicte sibh||nach fhaicte sibh
 
|-
 
|-
 
!3 pl
 
!3 pl
−
|chluinnte iad||an cluinnte iad||cha chluinnte iad||nach cluinnte iad
+
|chìte iad||am faicte iad||chan fhaicte iad||nach fhaicte iad
 
|}
 
|}
−
 
−
 
  
 
==Imperative Mood==
 
==Imperative Mood==
  
−
The Imperative mood is used when giving a command. 2nd person imperatives are the most common. In English these are translated with by just the verb "Hear!". 1st and 3rd person imperatives translated loosely as "Let me hear", "let us hear", "let he/she/them hear". The 1st person plural and third person imperatives are the same as the conditional forms except without [[Lenition|lenition]]
+
The Imperative mood is used when giving a command. 2nd person imperatives are the most common. The other imperative forms given above are extremely rare.  
  
−
{|border="1" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0"
+
*The 2nd person singular: faic!
−
!colspan="2"|person
+
*The 2nd person plural/polite: faicibh
−
!form
 
−
|-
 
−
!rowspan="4"|singular
 
−
!1
 
−
|cluinneam<sup>1</sup>
 
−
|-
 
−
!2
 
−
|cluinn<sup>1</sup>
 
−
|-
 
−
!3 masc
 
−
|cluinneadh e
 
−
|-
 
−
!3 fem
 
−
|cluinneadh i
 
−
|-
 
−
!rowspan="3"|plural
 
−
!1
 
−
|cluinneamaid<sup>1</sup>
 
−
|-
 
−
!2
 
−
|cluinnibh<sup>1</sup>
 
−
|-
 
−
!3
 
−
|cluinneadh iad
 
−
|}
 
−
Notes
 
−
# The 1st and 2nd person forms are used without subject pronouns.
 
  
 +
<br>
  
 
==[[References]]==
 
==[[References]]==

Latest revision as of 11:07, 1 August 2012

The irregular verb faic means "to see". faic is one of 11 irregular verbs in Gaelic. It uses irregular suppletive forms in the past, the future, the relative future, and independent conditional (Mark 2004:271). The forms ending in <a> or <adh> also irregularly require that when using a 2nd person singular (you), that the pronoun surfaces as tu instead of thu.


Summary of forms

  • Independent forms of the verb faic are used without any particles.
  • Dependent forms of the verb faic are used after particles but note
    • Cha and Nach take dependent forms but lenite the verb.
    • Cha takes the special form chan because <fh> is silent, so the cha precedes a vowel, thus motivating the form chan
    • "An" takes the special form "Am" because it precedes an <f>
  • The future independent form is irregularly lenited
  • Unlike regular verbs, the dependent past tense particle do is never used with faic.


context independent After Chan/Nach Dependent
basic forms active past1 chunnaic fhaca1 faca1
Future chì fhaic faic
Relative Future --- chì
impersonal1 past chunnacas 1 fhacas1 facas1
future chithear fhaicear faicear
relative future --- chithear
Conditional Mood active chitheadh1 (chithinn2 in 1st singular) fhaiceadh1 (fhaicinn2 in 1st sing) faiceadh1 (faicinn2 in 1st sing)
impersonal chìte/chìteadh fhaicte/fhaicteadh/fhaiciste fhaicte/faicteadh/faiciste
Imperative Mood 1st person singular faiceam2 ---
plural faiceamaid2
2nd person singular faic2
plural faicibh2
3rd person faiceadh
verbal noun faicinn

Notes:

  • 1 with these forms the pronoun tu is used instead of thu
  • 2 these forms are not used with any subject, they contain the subject in the inflection of the verb (Pro-Drop)

Non Conditional Moods (indicative, interrogative, negative)

Active Voice

Past tense

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question
1 Chunnaic mi am faca mi chan fhaca mi nach fhaca mi
2 Chunnaic thu am faca tu1 chan fhaca tu nach fhaca tu
3 masc Chunnaic e am faca e chan fhaca e nach fhaca e
3 fem Chunnaic i am faca i chan fhaca i nach fhaca i
1 pl Chunnaic sinn am faca sinn chan fhaca sinn nach fhaca sinn
2 pl Chunnaic sibh am faca sibh chan fhaca sibh nach fhaca sibh
3 pl Chunnaic iad am faca iad chan fhaca iad nach fhaca iad
  1. Irregularly, the 2nd person pronoun shows up as tu instead of thu in forms ending in <a>.


Present tense

As is common in Gaelic, there is no present tense form of the verb. When a simple present meaning ("I hear something") or a progressive meaning (I am hearing something is intended, the periphrastic construction is used with the present tense of the verb bi (be), i.e., tha, along with the verbal noun.

Tha mi a' faicinn
be.pres 1s prog see.vn
I'm seeing/I see


Future tense

The future tense in Gaelic is used to express the idea that an event will happen sometime after the speech time. Unlike English, the future tense can also be used with a present tense meaning, to express the idea that an action is habitual.

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question Relative Future1
1 chì mi am faic mi chan fhaic mi nach fhaic mi a chì mi
2 chì thu am faic thu chan fhaic thu nach fhaic thu a chì thu
3 masc chì e am faic e chan fhaic e nach fhaic e a chì e
3 fem chì i am faicn i chan fhaic i nach fhaic i a chì i
1 pl chì sinn am faic sinn chan fhaic sinn nach fhaic sinn a chì sinn
2 pl chì sibh am faic sibh chan fhaic sibh nach fhaic sibh a chì sibh
3 pl chì iad am faic iad chan fhaic iad nach fhaic iad a chì iad

Note:

  1. the relative future is used after certain particles such as ma or the particle used with questions a.


Impersonal/Passive Voice

Gaelic verbs don't technically have a Passive verb form. Instead the passive is typically represented through a periphrastic construction using the verbs Rach or Tha + the passive marker air. It does, however, have an impersonal form. The Impersonal is used to indicate an indeterminate subject. chunnacas can be best translated as "someone saw". Use of a pronoun is completely optional. So "Chunnacas" is a completely well-formed sentence. When used with a pronoun, the pronoun represents the logical object of the verb. So "Chunnacas mi" means "Someone saw me". This is often translated as "I was seen", hence the typical "passive" label.

Since Gaelic doesn't distinguish between subject and object pronouns (unlike it's sibling Modern Irish), it is very difficult to determine if these pronouns are subjects or objects. We list them here as if they were subjects, with the understanding that the pronouns in the following tables represent the logical objects of the verb (the person who was heard, not the hearer).


Past tense

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question
1 Chunnacas mi am facas mi chan fhacas mi nach fhacas mi
2 Chunnacas tu1 an facas tu chan fhacas tu nach fhacas tu
3 masc Chunnacas e am facas e chan fhacas e nach fhacas e
3 fem Chunnacas i am facas i chan fhacas i nach fhacas i
1 pl Chunnacas sinn am facas sinn chan fhacas sinn nach fhacas sinn
2 pl Chunnacas sibh am facas sibh chan fhacas sibh nach fhacas sibh
3 pl Chunnacas iad am facas iad chan fhacas iad nach fhacas iad

Notes:

  1. The pronoun tu is used after forms ending in <as> instead of thu

Present tense

The use of a passive in the present tense is odd, even in English. But if forced, one would use a passive periphrastic construction using the present tense of the verb bi followed by the derived subject followed by air and finally the verb in verbal noun form:

Tha mi air faicinn
be.pres 1s passive see.vn
"I am seen"


Future tense

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question Relative Future1
1 chithear mi am faicear mi chan fhaicear mi nach fhaicear mi a chithear mi
2 chithear thu am faicear thu chan fhaicear thu nach fhaicear thu a chithear thu
3 masc chithear e am faicear e chan fhaicear e nach fhaicear e a chithear e
3 fem chithear i am faicear i chan fhaicear i nach fhaicear i a chithear i
1 pl chithear sinn am faicear sinn chan fhaicearr sinn nach fhaicear sinn a chithear sinn
2 chithear sibh am faicear sibh chan fhaicear sibh nach fhaicear sibh a chithear sibh
3 pl chithear iad am faicear iad chan fhaicear iad nach fhaicear iad a chithear iad

Notes

  1. the relative future is used after certain particles such as a the particle used with questions, or ma "if".


Conditional Mood

Active

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question
1 Chithinn1 am faicinn1 chan fhaicinn1 nach fhaicinn1
2 Chitheadh tu2 am faiceadh tu chan fhaiceadh tu nach fhaiceadh tu
3 masc Chitheadh e am faiceadh e chan fhaiceadh e nach fhaiceadh e
3 fem Chitheadh i am faiceadh i chan fhaiceadh i nach fhaiceadh i
1 pl Chitheadh sinn (Chitheamaid3) am faiceadh sinn (am faiceamaid3) chan fhaiceadh sinn (chan fhaiceamaid3) nach fhaiceadh sinn (nach fhaiceamaid3)
2 pl Chitheadh sibh am faiceadh sibh chan fhaiceadh sibh nach fhaiceadh sibh
3 pl Chitheadh iad an faiceadh iad chan fhaiceadh iad nach fhaiceadh iad

Notes:

  1. The 1st person singular form is never used with an overt pronoun, the verb contains the pronoun already.
  2. The pronoun tu is used here instead of thu
  3. The 1st person plural has a special inflected form, which like the first person singular is never used with a pronoun. This 1st person plural form is rarely used anymore.


Impersonal/Passive

Remember that the pronouns in this chart are the object pronouns

Declarative Question Negative Negative Question
1 chite mi am faicte mi chan fhaicte mi nach fhaicte mi
2 chìte thu am faicte thu chan fhaicte thu nach fhaicte thu
3 masc chìte e am faicte e chan fhaicte e nach fhaicte e
3 fem chìte i am faicte i chan fhaicte i nach fhaicte i
1 pl chìte sinn am faicte sinn chan fhaicte sinn nach fhaicte sinn
2 pl chìte sibh am faicte sibh chan fhaicte sibh nach fhaicte sibh
3 pl chìte iad am faicte iad chan fhaicte iad nach fhaicte iad

Imperative Mood

The Imperative mood is used when giving a command. 2nd person imperatives are the most common. The other imperative forms given above are extremely rare.

  • The 2nd person singular: faic!
  • The 2nd person plural/polite: faicibh


References

  • Black, Ronald (2006) Cothrom Ionnsachaidh Peebles: Self-published.
  • Byrne, Michel (2002) Gràmar na Gàidhlig. Eilean Leòdhais: Stòrlann-Acair.
  • Deiseal Earranta tta (2006) Reference Cards: Sealbhairean Roimhearach/Riochdairean Roimhearach.
  • Mark, Colin (2004) The Gaelic-English Dictionary/Am faclair Gàidhlig-Beurla. London: Routledge
  • Mark, Colin (2006), Gaelic Verbs: Systemised and Simplified" 2nd Edition. Edinburgh: Steve Savage Publishers. http://www.savagepublishers.com/138.html
  • Lamb, William (2003) Scottish Gaelic. 2nd edition. Munich: Lingcom Europa
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