Difference between revisions of "Sentential possession"

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Gaelic has no verb 'have' . Instead sentential possession is indicated by using the verb [[Bi]] (Tha, Bha, Beidh etc) followed by the possessed element followed by the preposition [[Aig (preposition)|aig]] and then the possessor:
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==Possession using 'Aig'==
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Gaelic has no verb 'have' . Instead sentential possession is indicated by using the verb [[Bi (irregular verb)]] (Tha, Bha, Bithidh etc) followed by the possessed element followed by the preposition [[Aig (preposition)|aig]] and then the possessor:
  
{|
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1)
|+(1)
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:{|
 
|Tha||leabhar||aig||Calum
 
|Tha||leabhar||aig||Calum
 
|-
 
|-
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|}
 
|}
  
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When the possessor is pronominal one of the inflected forms of [[Aig (preposition)|aig]] (e.g. agam, agad, aige, etc.) is used:
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2)
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:{|
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|Tha||leabhar||aige
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|-
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|Be.pres||book||at.3sm
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|-
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|colspan="4"|He has a book
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|}
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===Idioms using ''Tha ... agam''===
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*''Need'': Tha feum agam dòl  "I need to go"
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*''Love'': Tha gaol agam ort  "I love you''
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*''Love'': Tha gràdh agam ort "I love you"
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*''Hate'': Tha gràin aca oirnn. "They hate us"
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*''Know'': Tha fios agam "I know"
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*''Remember'': Tha cuimhn' agam air "I remember him"
  
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==Possession using ''Le''==
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To indicate a more intimate kind of possession, such as ownership, Gaelic uses a structure parallel to the one above, using the preposition [[Le (preposition)]] meaning ''with'', instead of aig. Just as Gaelic doesn't have a verb ''have'' it also doesn't have a verb "own'':
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3)
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:{|
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|Tha||leabhar||le||Calum
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|-
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|Be.pres||book||with||Calum
 +
|-
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|colspan="4"|Calum owns a book
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|}
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When the possessor is pronominal one of the inflected forms of [[le (preposition)|le]] (e.g. leum, leat, leis, etc.) is used:
 +
 +
4)
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:{|
 +
|Tha||leabhar||leis
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|-
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|Be.pres||book||with.3sm
 +
|-
 +
|colspan="4"|He owns a book
 +
|}
  
 
==see also==
 
==see also==
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*[[Genitive Case (definition)]]
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*[[Possessive Pronouns]]
 
*how to indicate the perfect (I have eaten): [[Viewpoint Aspect]]
 
*how to indicate the perfect (I have eaten): [[Viewpoint Aspect]]
*how to indicate obligation (I have to go): [[Modality]]
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*how to indicate obligation (I have to go/I need to go): [[Modality]]
*Idioms using Tha X aig Y structures:  
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==References==
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*Fisher, Muriel (2004) ''Scottish Gaelic: level 1.'' Seattle: Each-Mara Publications
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[[Category: Syntax]]
 
[[Category: Syntax]]

Latest revision as of 10:27, 19 May 2012

Possession using 'Aig'

Gaelic has no verb 'have' . Instead sentential possession is indicated by using the verb Bi (irregular verb) (Tha, Bha, Bithidh etc) followed by the possessed element followed by the preposition aig and then the possessor:

1)

Tha leabhar aig Calum
Be.pres book at Calum
Calum has a book

When the possessor is pronominal one of the inflected forms of aig (e.g. agam, agad, aige, etc.) is used:

2)

Tha leabhar aige
Be.pres book at.3sm
He has a book

Idioms using Tha ... agam

  • Need: Tha feum agam dòl "I need to go"
  • Love: Tha gaol agam ort "I love you
  • Love: Tha gràdh agam ort "I love you"
  • Hate: Tha gràin aca oirnn. "They hate us"
  • Know: Tha fios agam "I know"
  • Remember: Tha cuimhn' agam air "I remember him"

Possession using Le

To indicate a more intimate kind of possession, such as ownership, Gaelic uses a structure parallel to the one above, using the preposition Le (preposition) meaning with, instead of aig. Just as Gaelic doesn't have a verb have it also doesn't have a verb "own:

3)

Tha leabhar le Calum
Be.pres book with Calum
Calum owns a book

When the possessor is pronominal one of the inflected forms of le (e.g. leum, leat, leis, etc.) is used:

4)

Tha leabhar leis
Be.pres book with.3sm
He owns a book

see also

References

  • Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic: level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications