Le

=0. Contents=


 * 1) Syntax
 * 2) Semantics

This page is about the non-leniting, dative-governing preposition //le//. Many of its properties are already described on the page about prepositions.

=1. Syntax=

a. The definite variant of //le// is //leis//. The former cannot be immediately followed by a form of the definite article; the latter must be followed by a form of the definite article.

For example:
 * //le bòrd// (with a table), //le bùird// (with tables).
 * * //le a' bhòrd// (with the table), * //le na bùird// (with the tables).
 * //leis a' bhòrd// (with the table), //leis na bùird// (with the tables).
 * * //leis bòrd// (with a table), * //leis bùird// (with tables).

[What about //gach// and //cho//? e.g. ROM: one often sees //leis gach deagh dhùrachd//. Leis meaning "because"?]

b. The set of conjugated prepositions for //le// is as follows:
 * ~  ||||~ singular ||~   ||
 * ~  ||~ masc ||~ fem ||~ plural ||
 * ~ first ||||= //leam// ||= //leinn// ||
 * ~ second ||||= //leat// ||= //leibh// ||
 * ~ third ||= //leis// ||= //leatha// ||= //leotha// ||

For example:
 * //leat// is used instead of * //le thu// (with you).
 * //leinn// is used instead of * //le sinn// (with us).

Note that the form //leotha// may sometimes be found written as //leo//.

c. There is also a set of emphatic conjugated prepositions:
 * ~  ||||~ singular ||~   ||
 * ~  ||~ masc ||~ fem ||~ plural ||
 * ~ first ||||= //leamsa// ||= //leinne// ||
 * ~ second ||||= //leatsa// ||= //leibhse// ||
 * ~ third ||= //leis-san// ||= //leatha-se// ||= //leothasan// ||

d. Here is the set of possessive prepositions for //le// :
 * ~  ||~ singular ||~ plural ||
 * ~ first ||= //lem// ||= //ler// ||
 * ~ second ||= //led// ||= //lur// ||
 * ~ third ||= //le// ||= //leN// ||

For example:
 * //lem chaileig// is a variant on //le mo chaileig // (with my girl).
 * //len eaglais// is a variant on //le an eaglais// (with their church).

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=2. Semantics=

2.3. Others
a. Likes:
 * //Is toil le Iain cofaidh//. (John likes coffee)
 * //Bu toil le Iain cofaidh//. (John would like coffee)
 * //Cha chaomh leam uisge-beatha//. (I don't like whisky)

b. Ownership:
 * //Is ann le Seumas a tha an leabhar//. (The book belongs to James)
 * //Có leis a tha seo?// (Who owns this?)
 * //Is ann leamsa a tha an cat sin//. (That cat belongs to me) - Note emphatic suffix.

c. Thanking:
 * //Tapadh leat/leibh!// (Thank you!)

d. Preference:
 * //Is fheàrr le Iain aran donn//. (John prefers brown bread)
 * //B' fheàrr leam sgadan//. (I'd prefer herring)

e. Indifference:
 * //Is coingeis le Calum//. (Malcolm doesn't mind)

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