silmeth wrote:
Bríd Mhór wrote:
"An bhfuil cead agam deoch a fháil?" = "May I get a drink?" Because you are asking permission.
"An féidir liom cabhrú leat?" An bhfuil mé in ann cabhrú leat?" = "Can I help you?"
You are asking if you are able to do something (possibly physically) to help.
That makes sense – and confirms my understanding of such questions – since
cead means ‘permission’ and
féidir ‘possible’. I still wonder how the verb
féad fits into all this though.
How would you translate
an bhféadfainn cabhrú leat?, is this asking for permission/consent or about ability? Is it used commonly at all?
And if so, how would it differ from
an bhféadaim…?, is it politeness like English
can I? vs
could I?, or does it also differ in the meaning in permission / ability?
edit: is it like
féidir (the words are cognates), expressing ability, but
is féidir le is preferred over
féad, and thus the latter is rarely used?
An bhféadfainn cabhrú leat? -
Would I be able to help you? Yes very common. But you can use it in the same context as
"Can I help you?" in English. You don't always have to use the same tense to convey the meaning desired.
an bhféadaim…? - We don't say that in Conamara. Maybe it's a Munsterism.
The Irish language is more straightforward, less polite speech, than English. Some of that is coming into Irish by copying English mannerisms and usage.
We just come out and say what we mean. Compare how more common swearing is in Irish speaking areas, whereas the British English would be shocked, and to some extent so would English speaking Irish people who have to a large extent adapted English culture.