De

=0. Contents=


 * 1) Syntax
 * 2) Semantics

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

=1. Syntax=

a. The definite variant of //de// is //d(h)en//. The former cannot be immediately followed by a singular/dual form of the definite article (i.e. leniting //an// ); the latter must be immediately followed by a singular/dual form of the definite article (unless it is elided).

For example:
 * //de chaileig// (of a girl), //de chaileagan// (of girls), //de na caileagan// (of the girls).
 * * //de a' chaileig// (of the girl).
 * //dhen a' chaileig// (of the girl).
 * * //dhen na caileagan// (of the girls).
 * //dhen chaileig// (of the girl) is a variant on //dhen a' chaileig//, not to be confused with //de chaileig// (of a girl).

b. The conjugated prepositions for //de// are as follows:
 * ~  ||||~ singular ||~   ||
 * ~  ||~ masc ||~ fem ||~ plural ||
 * ~ first ||||= //dhìom// ||= //dhinn// ||
 * ~ second ||||= //dhìot// ||= //dhibh// ||
 * ~ third ||= //dheth// ||= //dhith// ||= //dhuibh// ||

For example:
 * //dhìom// (of me) should be used instead of * //de mi//.
 * //dhiubh// (of them) should be used instead of * //de iad//.

c. There is also a set of emphatic conjugated personal pronouns:
 * ~  ||||~ singular ||~   ||
 * ~  ||~ masc ||~ fem ||~ plural ||
 * ~ first ||||=  ||=   ||
 * ~ second ||||=  ||=   ||
 * ~ third ||=  ||=   ||=   ||

d. The possessive prepositions for //de// are as follows:
 * ~  ||~ singular ||~ plural ||
 * ~ first ||= //d(h)em// ||= //d(h)er// ||
 * ~ second ||= //d(h)ed// ||= //d(h)ur// ||
 * ~ third ||= //dhe// ||= //d(h)eN// ||

For example:
 * //dhem thaigh// (of my house) may be used instead of //de mo thaigh//.
 * //dhur n-eaglaisean// (of your churches) may be used instead of //de ur n-eaglaisean//.

e. Prefixes //dh'// to an immediately following word beginning with a vowel or //fh-//. [i.e. reduplication]

For example:
 * //de dh'fhalt// (of hair)

f. Often weakened to "a".

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=2. Semantics=

latha dheth (a day off) Bha latha dheth agam. (I had a day off)

Tha na 129 buill de Phàrlamaid na h-Alba a’ sireadh gaisgich ionadail air feadh na h-Alba. (The 129 members of the Scottish Parliament are searching for local heroes throughout Scotland)

Mar phàirt den chaismeachd, coisichidh na gaisgich còmhla ri 1,500 de dh’Albannaich a’ gabhail a-steach clann-sgoile, luchd-pàrlamaid, luchd-stiùiridh creideimh agus aoighean eile bhon t-saoghal phoblach. (As part of the march, the heroes will walk along with 1,500 Scots, including schoolchildren, parlamentarians, faith leaders and other visitors from the public world.)

Tha na h-oifisean aca air an dàrna ùrlar de thogalach nam ball, còmhla rin càirdean Tòraidheach a rinn cùisean cho doirbh dhaibh. (Their offices are on the second floor of the members building, along with the Tory friends who made things so difficult for them)

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