Translation help from book ''Amstardam'' le Éamonn Ó Ruanaí

leimmxvii

''Gan an ceithre mhíle bheadh air a chártaí a chaitheamh uaidh agus slán a fhágáil leis an gcarn is mó airgid dá bhfaca sé riamh.''

Help anyone ?

Insect Overlord

"Without the four thousand, he would have to throw down his cards and say goodbye to the biggest pile of cash he had ever seen."

leimmxvii

Thanks for that. Would you mind explaining (the grammar) how you translated the ''he would have to'' part ?
Please and thanks:)

Insect Overlord

When you combined the verb/briathar "bí" (to be) with the preposition/réamhfhocal "ar", it has the meaning of an imperative (similar to "ní mór dó" and "caithfidh", something that must be done).

"air" is the forainm réamhfhoclach (personal preposition) that forms when you combine "ar" and "sé" (he/him)

"bheadh" is the verb "bí" in the Modh Coinníollach (conditional mood).

Therefore:
Tá air = he has to (right now)
Bhí air = he had to
Bíonn air = he has to (habitual)
Beidh air = he will have to
Bheadh air = he would have to

leimmxvii

Thanks so much!!

leimmxvii

The quote is '' B'in an t-aon ní luachmhar a bhí aige ''. I dont understand the 'B'in'

feargale

leimmxvii wrote: »

The quote is '' B'in an t-aon ní luachmhar a bhí aige ''. I dont understand the 'B'in'

B'in = Be ( seimhiu on the e ) sin = that was.

Gumbi

feargale wrote: »

B'in = Be ( seimhiu on the e ) sin = that was.

Bé is "ba é" though, right?

B'shin = "ba é sin".

leimmxvii

so does the sentence still mean; That was the only valuable thing he had

feargale

leimmxvii wrote: »

so does the sentence still mean; That was the only valuable thing he had

Yes