verbal aspect

The most common verbal aspects in Gaelic are –

• perfective –
  • simple –
    • Shuidh Raonaid sìos. ‘Rachel sat down’.
    • Dh’ith mi ubhal. ‘I ate an apple.’
  • inchoative
    • Thòisich Raonaid air suidhe sìos. ‘Rachel started to sit down.’
    • Theann mi ri ubhal a ithe. ‘I started to eat an apple.’
  • cessative
    • Sguir Raonaid dhe shuidhe sìos. ‘Rachel stopped sitting down.’
    • Stad mi dhe dh’ithe an ubhail. ‘I stopped eating the apple.’
• imperfective –
  • progressive –
    • Tha Raonaid a’ suidhe sìos. ‘Rachel is [in the process of] sitting down.’
    • Tha mi ag ithe ubhal. ‘I am eating an apple.’
  • habitual –
    • Shuidheadh Raonaid sìos (gu tric). ‘Rachel sat down (frequently)’.
    • Is àbhaist dhomh ubhal a ithe (gach madainn). ‘I eat an apple (every morning).’
  • retrospective –
    • Tha Raonaid na suidhe sìos. ‘Rachel has/is sat down.’
    • Tha mi air ubhal a ithe. ‘I have eaten an apple.’
  • prospective –
    • Tha Raonaid gu suidhe sìos. ‘Rachel is about to sit down.’
    • Tha mi a’ dol dha dh’ithe ubhail. ‘I am going to eat an apple.’