Matheson Collection > Gaelic grammar, containing the parts of speech and the general principles of phonology and etymology, with a chapter on proper and place names

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3. As an alternative :
Cha bhitheadh fios agadsa co dhiiibh 's e do cheann no
do chasan a bhitheadh fodhad — You would not know
whether your head or your feet were iinder you : — Cos. 170
cf. Co dhiiibh tha thu 'n ad sheasamh air do cheann no air
do chasan : — Am F.C. 240
4. The answer to a question contains (or assumes) a repetition
of the verb :
Co as a thàinig thu — Where have you come from ?
Thàinig mi as an Uachdar — / have come from Uachdar : —
Uist Bards, p. xxv.
Am bheil Mr. Eachann a stigh ? Cha n'ell —
Is Mr. Hector at home ? No.
Am bi e stigh am màireach ? Cha bhi —
Will he be at home to-morrow ? No : — J. W. 85.
While the corresponding form of is always appears in the
reply (§72, §144, 1) is often brings forward and emphasises
(§180, 1) the real answer, which is a different word :
An tusa a rinn Beinn-dòrain — Did you make Ben Dorain ?
'Se Dia a rinn Beinn-dòrain, ach is mise a mhol e;^
God made Ben Dorain but I praised it : — D. Ban p. xxxvi.
When the question is complex, the verb may be omitted, and
the answer given to the gist of the question :
Am feud mi Mr. Seumas, no Mr. Iain fhaicinn, ma ta ? —
May I see Mr. James, or Mr. John, then ?
Tha Mr. Iain a stigh. Ach tha e 'n sàs, agus cha trie leis
mnathan fhaicinn — Mr. John is at home, but he is en-
gaged, and he seldom sees ladies : — J. W. 85.
Similarly when the answer requires brevity :
An ann o thuath thàinig sibh — ^
Have you come from the North ?
Utip-r 'cuCcLj Pairt o thuath 's pairt o Thighearnan —
Partly from tenantry and partly from Lairds : — Uist Bards,
p. XXV.
The verb repeated in answer to a question is in the 3rd sing,
as above, §155, 1 (2). But if emphasis is desired, or if the verb
have an object, the 1st person is used :
An cuireadh tu geall ? Chuirinn, Chuirinn sin. —
Would you bet ? Certainly I would. That I would.
An cuireadh sibh geall ? Chuireamaid. Dheanamaid sin —
Would ye bet ? Certainly we would. We would do that : —
Munro 109.