l- + person form

An Attached Recipient

Level 3

The basic series is -li, -lek, -lu, -lha, -lna, -lkom and -lhom.

How It Works

An l-based suffix identifies a pronominal indirect object. The series distinguishes me, singular you, him, her, us, plural you and them. English often uses ‘to’ or ‘for’, depending on the verb. Third-person singular gender identifies the indirect participant independently of any direct object's gender.

The direct object can remain a noun: xtrali ktieb, ‘he bought me a book’, identifies me as beneficiary and the book as the thing bought. Compare xtraha, ‘he bought it’, where -ha instead identifies the direct object. Linking vowels and stem changes depend on the host, so learn complete forms. The construction also occurs with greeting and keeping verbs; it extends beyond physical transfer. Attaching a direct-object pronoun as well requires the appropriate ordered cluster.

Examples (3)

  1. Pawlu xtrali ktieb.

    Paul bought me a book.

    -li identifies the beneficiary.

  2. Marija xtratlek tazza.

    Maria bought you a cup.

    -lek identifies a singular beneficiary.

  3. Pawlu xtralhom biljetti.

    Paul bought them tickets.

    -lhom identifies plural beneficiaries.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

l- + person formLevel 3An Attached Recipient

Learn This First

Introduce the l-based person series through buying for someone while leaving the purchased thing as a noun. Recipient gender and number belong to that participant, and complete host forms matter beyond literal transfer verbs.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.