“May I?”

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  • #36431
    Séril Báicéir
    Participant

    An bhfuil a fhios ag aon duine faoin focail, “May I…?”

    How would you say, “May I ask you a question?”

    Or would a different phrase be used instead?

    Go raibh maith agaibh!

    #42965
    Brían
    Participant

    The simplest answer to this question is found in the copula, “is”. There is pages on it in O’Dónaill’s Foclóir.

    “Ba mhaith liom ceist a iarraidh ort”( I would like to ask you a question).

    I don’t know how far along in your studies you are. I will gladly elaborate, but I don’t wish to be redundant. Is this helpful?

    #42966
    Séril Báicéir
    Participant

    Yes, this helps. I have learned that phrase with the copula but I think I was so stuck on the word “may” that I forgot about the phrase “I would like” (Ba mhaith liom). That phrase doesn’t have the exact same meaning but is probably more used in every day Gaeilge speech, or there may not be a word or phrase that coresponds to “may.”

    Thanks for reminding me of “Ba mhaith liom” 🙂

    #42967
    Bríd Mhór
    Participant

    If you mean it in the sense – “Would you mind…?” then you could also say –

    Ar mhiste leat?

    Ar chuma leat?

    #42968
    aonghus
    Participant

    I second Bríd Mór.

    Note also that “fiafraí” is the more correct verb when asking a question/for information.

    #42969
    Brían
    Participant

    Go raibh maith agat, a Aonghus.

    Táim ag foghlaim fós.

    #42970
    aonghus
    Participant

    Níl a bhuíochas ort.

    Táimid uilig ag foghlaim!

    #42971
    Seáinín
    Participant

    Seo a leanas roinnt samplaí breise ó Turas Teanga:

    An féidir liom an leabhar seo a fháil ar iasacht? (Can I borrow this book?)
    An bhféadfainn labhairt le Piaras? (Could I speak to Piaras?)

    #42972
    Séril Báicéir
    Participant

    Feicim anois, a Bhríd. Go raibh maith agat.

    I will use those phrases to convey that meaning. That helps a ton! 🙂

    Mar sin:

    Mura miste leat, ba mhaith liom céist a chur ort.

    Ar mhiste leat má churfainn céist ort?

    Ar chuma leat má churfainn céist ort?

    An bhfuil siad seo i gceart?

    #42973
    Wee_Falorie_Man
    Participant

    It’s chuirfinn, by the way. Just letting ya know 🙂

    #42974
    Hugo
    Participant

    It should be ‘Ma chuirim’ or ‘Da gcuirfinn’ (Sorry, my ‘fadas’ aren’t working). No ‘fada’ on ‘ceist’.

    #42975
    Séril Báicéir
    Participant

    Mar sin:

    “Ar mhiste leat dá gcuirfinn ceist ort?”

    “Ar mhiste leat ma chuirim ceist ort?”

    #42976
    aonghus
    Participant

    Ní miste!

    Sin é (ach má)

    #42977
    Cúnla
    Participant

    Cf. also:

    Mara miste mé ag fiafraí…

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