(a). The Verb bi in conjunction with the preposition aig, or with the prepositional pronouns formed therefrom, denotes possession, and is equivalent to the verb 'have' in English. E.G.:
Such sentences, then, as:- He has a pen, and, She has a hat, one might expect to translate thus:-
Instead, however, of writing the pronoun and the preposition separately in this way we use what is called a "Prepositional Pronoun" - compounded of the preposition and the pronoun. Hence we write:-
The following examples (with emphatic forms shown in brackets) show the Prepositional Pronouns formed from the personal pronouns and the preposition "aig."
These prepositional pronouns are used sometimes with the force of possessive pronouns. E.G.:-
(b). The Assertive Form is with the preposition le (or the prepositional pronouns formed therefrom) is used to denote ownership.
But in such a sentence as:- The book is mine, or, The hat is hers, we do not translate thus:- Is le mi an leabhar; or, Is le i an ad. For 'le mi' we use "leam" and for 'le i'we use "leatha". The following examples show the Prepositional Pronouns formed from the personal pronouns and the preposition 'le' (with).
| Is leam an sgian, | The knife is mine. |
| Is leat an sgian, | The knife is thine. |
| Is leis an sgian, | The knife is his. |
| Is leatha an sgian, | The knife is hers. |
| Is leinn an sgian, | The knife is ours. |
| Is leibh an sgian, | The knife is yours. |
| Is leotha an sgian, | The knife is theirs. |
The emphatic forms of these prepositional pronouns can also be
used.
E.G. is leam-sa an sgian; is leat-sa an sgian; is leis-san an sgian, etc.
LEUGHADH
Tha taigh aig Seumas anns a' bhaile ach tha bothan agam-sa aig an abhainn. C'àit' am beil do chù-sa? Tha an cù agam-sa anns an dorus. *Có leis an taigh sin? Is le Seumas an taigh. An robh leabhar agaibh-se an dé? Bha, ach cha 'n 'eil e againn a nis. C'àit' am beil e? Chaill sinn e, ach tha e aca-san a nis. Fhuair mise mo leabhar air a' bhòrd, ach thilg Calum a leabhar-san air an làr. Chuir Màiri a h-ad anns a' chiste agus thilg i a bròg air an stòl. *Có aige tha an sgian? Tha an sgian aig Iain a nis, ach bha i aig Seumas an dé. Am beil eich agaibh-se? Cha 'n 'eil eich againn, ach tha uan againn. *Có leis na laoigh sin? Is leotha-san na laoigh. An robh laogh agad-sa? Cha robh, ach bha cù agam.