More Prepositions

Above Concerning (about) For (the sake of)

Normal erskyn mychione son
me er-my-skyn my-my-chione er-my-hon
you(s) er-dty-skyn my-dty-chione er-dty-hon
him,it er-e-skyn my-e-chione er-e-hon
her,it er-e-skyn my-e-kione er-e-son
us er-nyn-skyn my-nyn-ghione er-nyn-son
you(p) er-nyn-skyn my-nyn-ghione er-nyn-son
them er-nyn-skyn my-nyn-ghione er-nyn-son

Nee'm troggal thie er-dty-hon. - I will build a house for you
Ta'n lioar shoh son my vraar - This book is for my brother
Cha nel fys oc my-e-chione foast - They don't know about it yet.
Cha row fys aym mychione shen - I didn't know about that.
T'ee beaghey er-my-skyn - She lives above me.
Va shen mie erskyn towse - That was good above measure.

Can and Could

Foddym - I can Noddym - Can I? Nagh Noddym - Can't I?
Foddee oo - You (s) can Nod oo? - Can you? Nagh nod oo - Can't you?
Fodmayd - We can Nodmayd ? - Can we ? Nagh nodmayd - Can't we ?
Foddee ad - They can Nod ad? - Can they? Nagh nod ad? - Can't they?

Note that 'He can', 'she can', etc. follow the same rules as 'you (s) can'. Some scholars maintain that (Foddym) means (I am able to) and (Foddeeym) means (I will be able to)., some say Foddym is O.K. for the present or future, you will hear them both in use. Also you may hear 'Vod' in place of 'Nod'. Both are correct so don't worry.

Foddym cloie er y phianney - I can play on the piano.
Nagh nodmayd goll dy valley nish ? - Can't we go home now ?

Oddin - I could Noddin ? - Could I ? Nagh noddin ? - Couldnt I ?
Oddagh oo - You could Noddagh oo? -Could you ? Nagh noddagh oo - Couldnt you?

Note the 'He could', 'She could', etc, even 'we could' follow the same rules as 'you(s) could'. Also you may hear people use 'voddin' and 'voddagh' in place of 'noddin' and 'noddagh'. Both are correct so don't worry.

Oddagh shin goll dys Doolish noght - We could go to Douglas tonight
Noddagh oo foshil y dorrys, my saillt ? - Could you open the door please ?

Finally a commonly used but less Manx way of saying 'can' is the word 'abyl' that is used in exactly the same way as the English word 'able'.

Ta mee abyl shen y yannoo - I am able to do that. (I can do that)


1) Can she go to Port St. Mary tomorrow?
2) He cannot get water from that river.
3) Can't you see that aeroplane?
4) Could you buy that book for me?
5) I could not see the boat from Port Erin.
6) Could you give me the book please?
7) The weather was good above measure yesterday.
8) Did you know about this lesson last week?
9) He bought two rings for his mother.
10) They found out about the dog from the newspaper.
11) I climbed Snaefell for them.
12) He lived above the town.
13) This book is all about my car.
14) When did you see your father?
15) The aeroplane flew above them.
16) Who was that ? Could it have been John?
17) What were you talking about?
18) Pam will be making the tea for us now.
19) Have you been buying cars again, John?
20) Can they come to the shop with me?
21) We left the house before ten o'clock.
22) They have climbed every mountain on the Isle of Man.
23) They have been living in the same house for years.
24) I like to go to Ramsey for the Cruinnaght.
25) I have seen them here before.
26) Have you made enough cake for us?
27) Haven't you walked far enough for one day?
28) I hadn't seen her before that day.
29) Wasn't there a picture on that wall?
30) The train left Douglas at about twenty five to four.
31) I am sorry that you are not going with them.
32) Could I take another cake please?
33) This is the horse that was under us.
34) Were there any books at the church?
35) The bird flew over the tree which was above me.
36) They ran from us before nine o'clock.
37) I left Port Erin before them, but they were here before me.
38) There were about five hundred and fifty boats in Peel.
39) Phil came towards us with the tea.
40) She was under the water before they could run to her.
41) I could see that there was still good in her.
42) I can buy a tree for you.
43) They could see the very big horse running towards them.
44) They had been with me before I left the house.
45) Could you go to the house by the river?
46) I could not see further than you.
47) Hasn't this been a good week.
48) The old man was at the gate when I saw him.