Conditions and their consequence Cùmhnantan agus am buaidh
If you don't put it off, you won't get any milkMura cuir thu dheth e, chan fhaigh thu bainne
Look out for the following pieces of vocabulary in this clip.
mura h-eil ise ga iarraidh, ithidh mise e if she doesn’t want it, I will eat it
Statements beginning with mura are often used to tell people the consequences of doing or not doing something or establishing rules of behaviour.
mura suidh sibh sìos (plural/polite) if you don’t sit down
mura suidh sibh sìos, chan fhaigh sibh bracaist (plural/polite) if you don’t sit down, you won’t get breakfast
mura bi thu sàmhach, chan fhaigh thu rud sam bith if you don’t be quiet, you won’t get anything
mura biodh tusa gam milleadh if you wouldn’t spoil them
Notice that in these examples mura is followed by the form of the verb used when asking questions in the future tense. For the verb 'to be', mur h-eil or mur eil is used.
Mother | Suidhibh sìos. Mura suidh sibh sìos chan fhaigh sibh bracaist. | Sit down. If you don’t sit down you won’t get breakfast. |
Father | Leig leotha. | Let them be. |
Daughter | Cha toigh leam hama. | I don’t like bacon. |
Father | Nach toil? | Don’t you? |
Daughter | Cha toil a-nis. Chan eil e math dhut. | Not now. It isn’t good for you. |
Son | Mura h-eil ise ga iarraidh, ithidh mise e. | If she doesn’t want it, I’ll eat it. |
Mother | Mura bi thu sàmhach, chan fhaigh thu rud sam bith. Suidh sìos. Suidh thusa sìos cuideachd. | If you don’t be quiet, you won’t get anything. Sit down. You sit down too. |
Daughter | Cha bhi mise ag òl tì. | I don’t drink tea. |
Father | Dè? | What? |
Daughter | Cha bhi mi ag òl tì anns a’ mhadainn. | I don’t drink tea in the morning. |
Son | Agus ’s fheàrr leamsa bainne na tì. Am faigh mi bainne? | And I prefer milk to tea. Can I get milk? |
Mother | Cuir dheth an rèidio, Alasdair. | Put the radio off, Alasdair. |
Son | ’S toigh leam an t-òran sin. | I like that song. |
Mother | Mura cuir thu dheth e, chan fhaigh thu bainne. | If you don’t put it off, you won’t get milk. |
Son | Obh, tha mo stamag goirt. Cha tèid agam air a dhol dhan sgoil an-diugh. | Oh dear, my stomach is sore. I won’t be able to go to school today. |
Mother | Mura tèid agad air a dhol dhan sgoil, cha tèid agad air do bhracaist ithe. A bheil mi ceart? | If you won’t be able to go to school, you won’t be able to eat your breakfast. Am I right? |
Daughter | Tha mise a’ falbh. Tha mi ag iarraidh airgead. | I’m off. I want some money. |
Father | Seo dà not. | Here’s two pounds. |
Daughter | Feumaidh mi còig notaichean. | I need five pounds. |
Father | Carson? | Why? |
Daughter | Airson mo dhìnneir, agus airson a’ bhus. | For my dinner, and for the bus. |
Son | Feumaidh mise còig notaichean cuideachd. | I need five pounds too. |
Father | Feumaidh tu sgleog. Mura biodh tusa gam milleadh, cha bhiodh iad cho dona. | You need a slap. If you didn’t spoil them, they wouldn’t be so bad. |