bi / b' / bil-

By or with an Instrument

Level 2

B'pinna: with a pen. Bil-pinna: with the pen. Bl-ilma: with the water.

How It Works

Bi introduces means, instruments and manner. Before a vowel or single initial consonant, its vowel is replaced by an apostrophe joined directly to the complement: b'ilma, “with water,” and b'pinna, “with a pen.” The full form remains before clusters, illustrated by the orthographic fragment bi skola, “with a school.”

A definite complement gives bil-pinna; before a vowel, use bl-ilma. Article assimilation gives bis-sikkina. Compare indefinite b'pinna with definite bil-pinna. The article distinguishes the instrument's definiteness; it does not change the instrument relation.

An instrument uses a different relation from the companion in ma' Rita, although English translates both with “with.” The preposition also occurs in manner phrases such as bl-addoċċ, “haphazardly.” Personal complements use established forms such as bih. The meaning of the whole phrase depends on its predicate and context.

Examples (3)

  1. Ktibt l-indirizz b'pinna.

    I wrote the address with a pen.

    The indefinite instrument follows elided b'.

  2. Qtajt il-ħobż bis-sikkina.

    I cut the bread with the knife.

    The incorporated article assimilates to initial s.

  3. Aħsel il-ħaxix bl-ilma.

    Wash the vegetables with the water.

    Bl- incorporates the article before a vowel-initial noun.

How It Connects

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

bi / b' / bil-Level 2By or with an Instrument

Learn This First

Introduce bi's means, instrument and manner relations through writing, cutting and washing. Contrast an indefinite instrument with a definite one, and distinguish instrumental English 'with' from company without assuming that the two Maltese prepositions are interchangeable.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.