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

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  • 24-02-2016 12:54am
    #1
    leimmxvii
    Registered Users Posts: 43 ✭


    ''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 :)?


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    #2
    Insect Overlord
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,857 Mod ✭✭✭✭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."


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    #3
    leimmxvii
    Registered Users Posts: 43 ✭leimmxvii


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


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    #4
    Insect Overlord
    Moderators, Social & Fun Moderators, Society & Culture Moderators Posts: 30,857 Mod ✭✭✭✭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


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    #5
    leimmxvii
    Registered Users Posts: 43 ✭leimmxvii


    Thanks so much!!


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    #6
    leimmxvii
    Registered Users Posts: 43 ✭leimmxvii


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


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    #7
    feargale
    Registered Users Posts: 8,636 ✭✭✭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.


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    #8
    Gumbi
    Registered Users Posts: 4,698 ✭✭✭Gumbi


    feargale wrote: »
    B'in = Be ( seimhiu on the e ) sin = that was.

    Bé is "ba é" though, right?

    B'shin = "ba é sin".


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    #9
    leimmxvii
    Registered Users Posts: 43 ✭leimmxvii


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


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    #10
    feargale
    Registered Users Posts: 8,636 ✭✭✭feargale


    leimmxvii wrote: »
    so does the sentence still mean; That was the only valuable thing he had

    Yes


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