i

The Pronoun I for Places and Things

Level 4

I replaces a place or a thing that follows a: Tolosa? I vau deman.

How It Works

Without iWith i
Vau a Tolosa.I vau.
Anam al pargue cada dimenge.I anam cada dimenge.
Pensi al trabalh.I pensi.
Demòri a Albi.I demòri.

I stands for places (there) and for things (to it, about it). For a person, this course uses li: Li parli (I speak to him). Some writers also use i for to him or to her, and Laus lists it as a variant of li. This course writes li for a person.

I stands before the verb: I vau, I anam. In a negative sentence, pas follows the verb: I vau pas.

The same small word appears in i a (there is). The French y does not exist in Occitan.

Examples (5)

  1. Tolosa? I vau deman.

    Toulouse? I am going there tomorrow.

    I stands for a Tolosa.

  2. Lo pargue? I anam cada dimenge.

    The park? We go there every Sunday.

    I stands for the park, and it goes before anam.

  3. I pensi sovent.

    I often think about it.

    I stands for a thing that pensar takes with a.

  4. Albi? I demòri dempuèi dètz ans.

    Albi? I have lived there for ten years.

    I stands for a Albi.

  5. I vau pas, soi cansat.

    I am not going there, I am tired.

    Pas follows the verb, and i stays before it.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the French pronoun y.

    Y vau deman.
    I vau deman.

    Occitan writes i.

  • Using li for a place.

    Tolosa? Li vau deman.
    Tolosa? I vau deman.

    Li stands for a person (to him, to her), not for a place.

How It Connects

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

iLevel 4The Pronoun I for Places and Things

Learn This First

I stands for a place or a thing introduced by a, so the object pronouns and verbs with fixed prepositions come first.

Words in This Pattern

i