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Fàilte air ais gu Blasad Beag. Welcome back to Blasad Beag.
How do you ask someone if they can do something?

An urrainn dhut...? Can you...? An urrainn dhut...?
An urrainn dha...? Can he...? An urrainn dha...?
An urrainn dhi...? Can she...? An urrainn dhi...?
An urrainn dhuibh...? Can you...? You would use this if you were being polite, or speaking to more than one person. An urrainn dhuibh...?

To answer this question, you say, “ ’S urrainn”, or “ ’S urrainn dhomh.” Yes, I can. “’S urrainn” no “’S urrainn dhomh.” Alternatively, you could say, “Chan urrainn” or “Chan urrainn dhomh.” No, I can’t. “Chan urrainn” no “Chan urrainn dhomh.”

Glè mhath ma-thà. Èistibh gu dlùth ris a’ chòmhradh a leanas eadar Calum agus Eilidh. Listen carefully to the following conversation between Calum and Eilidh:

Eilidh: An urrainn dhut rudeigin a dhèanamh dhomh?
Calum: ’S urrainn.
Eilidh: An urrainn dhut an cidsin a sgioblachadh madainn an-diugh?
Calum: Chan urrainn, tha mi duilich. Chan eil mi aig an taigh sa mhadainn.

Eilidh asked Calum, “An urrainn dhut rudeigin a dhèanamh dhomh?” Can you do something for me? “An urrainn dhut rudeigin a dhèanamh dhomh?”
Calum replied, “’S urrainn.” I can. “’S urrainn.”
Eilidh then continued, “An urrainn dhut an cidsin a sgioblachadh madainn an-diugh?” Can you tidy the kitchen this morning? “An urrainn dhut an cidsin a sgioblachadh madainn an-diugh?”
And what was Calum’s reply? “Chan urrainn, tha mi duilich.” I can’t, I’m sorry. “Chan urrainn, tha mi duilich. Chan eil mi aig an taigh sa mhadainn.” I’m not at home this morning. “Chan urrainn, tha mi duilich. Chan eil mi aig an taigh sa mhadainn.”

Nise, we’ve learnt to ask if you can do something. But how would you ask someone if they themselves could do something? Uill, chan eil a’ cheist seo cho eadar-dhealaichte! This question is quite similar!

Am b’ urrainn dhut...? Could you...? Am b’ urrainn dhut...?
And to answer, you would say, “B’ urrainn...” or “B’ urrainn dhomh...” I could. “B’ urrainn” no “B’ urrainn dhomh...” To answer that you couldn’t, you would say, “Cha b’ urrainn...” or “Cha b’ urrainn dhomh...” “Cha b’ urrainn” no “Cha b’ urrainn dhomh.”
Airson an turas mu dheireadh an t-seachdain sa, èistibh ris a’ chòmhradh seo eadar Calum agus Eilidh. Listen once more to Calum and Eilidh:

Eilidh: Am b’ urrainn dhut rudeigin innse dhomh?
Calum: B’ urrainn. Dè th’ ann?
Eilidh: Fhios agad Fiona? An urrainn dhi snàmh?
Calum: ’S urrainn. ’S urrainn dhi snàmh.

Eilidh asked Calum, “Am b’ urrainn dhut rudeigin innse dhomh?” Could you tell me something? “Am b’ urrainn dhut rudeigin innse dhomh?”
Calum replied, “B’ urrainn. Dè th’ ann?” I could. What is it? “B’ urrainn. Dè th’ ann?”
Eilidh continued. “Fhios agad Fiona?” Do you know Fiona? “Fhios agad Fiona?” “An urrainn dhi snàmh?” Can she swim? “An urrainn dhi snàmh?”
To which Calum replied, “’S urrainn. ’S urrainn dhi snàmh.” Yes, she can. She can swim. “’S urrainn. ‘S urrainn dhi snàmh.”

Uill, sin e bhuamsa an t-seachdain sa. That’s all from me for this week. Ach cuimhnichibh, ’s urrainn dhuibh èisteachd ris an leasan seo a-rithist air ar làraich-lìn. Remember, you can listen again to this lesson on our website, where the transcriptions of these lessons are also available. Chun na h-ath sheachdain, mar sin leibh.