UNIVERSITY OF ABERDEEN

Session 2010-2011
Thursday 20 January 2011
0900-1100hrs
Elphinstone Gallery, King’s College

DEGREE EXAMINATION IN GH1007: Gaelic for Beginners 1A

Candidates may not leave the room in the first or last half-hour of the
examination.
___________________________________________________________________

Answer ALL questions.

1. Please read the following passage. Do not translate it. Answer the
questions below the passage IN GAELIC. There are some words glossed
below the passage.
Bha Ceitidh a’ fuireach còmhla ri trì càirdean ann an Glaschu: ’s e Dòmhnall, Seonag
agus Brian na h-ainmean a bha air na càirdean aice. ’S e oileanaich a bha annta ann
an Oilthigh Ghlaschu. Bha Ceitidh a’ dèanamh Lagh, bha Dòmhnall ag ionnsachadh
Fraingis agus Gearmailtis, bha Seonag a’ dèanamh Eachdraidh, agus bha Brian a’
dèanamh Beurla.
Aon latha, bha Ceitidh saor agus bha i ag iarraidh baga ùr. Chaidh i don
bhaile. ’S e latha brèagha a bha ann, agus smaoinich i air coiseachd, ach shiubhail i
air a’ bhus oir bha cabhag oirre. Aig na bùthan, cheannaich Ceitidh deoch fhuar oir
bha i glè bhlàth. Bha an deoch aice math, agus dh’òl i i gu slaodach.
Chunnaic i baga snog ann an aon bhùth ach cha do cheannaich i e.
Bhruidhinn i ris a’ bhoireannach a bha ag obair sa bhùth agus thuirt am boireannach
gun robh baga glè bhrèagha ann am bùth eile air an t-Sràid Àird. Nuair a bha Ceitidh
a’ coiseachd don t-Sràid Àird, smaoinich i gun cuala i Dòmhnall a’ bruidhinn rithe,
ach chan e Dòmhnall a bh’ ann: ’s e duine eile a bh’ ann. Cha robh iongnadh air
Ceitidh nach robh Dòmhnall aig na bùthan, oir bha e an-còmhnaidh trang. Cha robh
Brian trang, ge-tà, oir bha esan leisg.
Cheannaich Ceitidh baga sa bhùth eile. Bha e mòr agus brèagha, ach bha e
falamh. Nuair a bha am baga aice, bha i toilichte. Bha am bus a’ tighinn agus bha
Ceitidh ag iarraidh a dhol dhachaigh: bha i a’ dol a dhèanamh dinnear mhath.

chaidh ~ went
eile ~ other, another
iongnadh (& air) ~ surprise, to be surprised
ge-tà ~ though
leisg ~ lazy
nuair a ~ when

(continued overleaf)
Questions on the passage – Answer in Gaelic, IN SENTENCES

1. Cò bha a’ fuireach còmhla ri Ceitidh?

2. Cò bha a’ dèanamh Fraingis san oilthigh?
3. An robh Dòmhnall leisg?
4. Carson a chaidh Ceitidh don bhaile?
5. Carson nach do choisich Ceitidh don bhaile?
6. An robh Dòmhnall aig na bùthan?
7. An robh am baga ùr aig Ceitidh làn?
8. An toil le Brian obair?
9. An e baga beag a cheannaich Ceitidh?
10. Càit a bheil Seonag a’ fuireach?

2. Fill in the blanks

Fill in the blanks in the following paradigms (copy out the whole paradigm into your
answer booklet, including the parts that are supplied here):

1.
2. agad
3.
4. aice
5. againn
6.
7. aca

1. orm
2.
3. air
4. oirre
5.
6.
7. orra

1. leam
2. leat
3.
4. leatha
5.
6.
7. leotha

(continued overleaf)
 3. Translate
Translate the following short conversation to English:
SEONAG: Feasgar math, a Cheitidh. Dè do chor?
CEITIDH: Deagh chor, tapadh leat. Dè do chor fhèin?
SEONAG: Tha mi beò air èiginn.
CEITIDH: Ciamar?
SEONAG: Tha an cnatan orm, agus tha mi an-còmhnaidh trang. Tha mòran, mòran
obair agam san oilthigh, agus tha mi a’ falbh dhachaigh an-ath-sheachdain.
CEITIDH: Tha mi duilich: tha sin dona.
SEONAG: Dè rinn thusa an-diugh?
CEITIDH: Bha mi aig na bùthan: bha mi ag iarraidh baga ùr.
SEONAG: An do cheannaich thu baga?
CEITIDH: Cheannaich – tha e snog!

4. Write
Write a short conversation, of around eight to ten turns, in which some of the
following things can happen:

 characters exchange greetings (different from the conversation in 3)

 characters find out where the other person is from
 characters find out where the other person lives
 characters find out about the other person: e.g. hobbies, family members, etc.
 characters find out what the other person likes
 characters ask about something that will happen in the future (e.g. ‘what will
you have to drink?’ or ‘when will you read that book?’ or something similar)

5. Grammar
Using the preposition supplied, change the following noun phrases from the
nominative to the dative (e.g. am balach toilichte → aig a’ bhalach thoilichte):

1. am pàipear-naidheachd ... [anns]

2. am boireannach brèagha ... [aig]
3. an sgoil bheag ... [bhon]
4. an t-sùil ghorm ... [leis]
5. an t-eilean mòr ... [às]
6. an taigh grànna ... [tron]
7. an teaghlach mòr ... [don]
8. an duine goirid ... [ris]

(continued overleaf)
 6. Answer
Answer the following questions in the correct form of the verb:

1. An e? --- No
2. An robh? --- No
3. An tuirt? --- Yes
4. An cuala? --- No
5. An toil? --- Yes
6. A bheil? --- Yes
7. Am faca? --- Yes
8. An do dh’òl? --- Yes
9. An d’ rinn? --- No
10. An do sgrìobh? --- Yes
11. An òl? --- No
12. An cùm? --- Yes

7. Translate
Translate the following sentences to Gaelic:

1. When will you be reading the book?

2. What is that? It’s a happy little dog.
3. We were busy yesterday, but we aren’t busy today and we won’t be busy
tomorrow.
4. Ceitidh is happy that she bought the bag, but she wants a coat now.
5. Did you hear that Seonag is coming home tomorrow?
6. Did you eat the bread?
7. Don’t read this letter!
8. I like the music but I am not going out in this weather.
9. Why are you tired? I thought (that) you weren’t working today.
10. Is this your pen? I have another one at home.

END OF PAPER