la
With and Impersonal La
La can mean “with” or supply an unnamed actor. Both uses occur in the verb phrase.
How It Works
Company la follows other prepositions in the predicate cluster. Indefinite-subject la comes first in the verb phrase, before object pronouns and prepositions. Neither is an agreement suffix.
In Cali wuxuu ila joogaa, Ali is the subject. Ila combines object i, “me,” and company la. In Warqadda waa la akhriyay, la supplies an unspecified reader. English can translate this as “The letter was read,” although the Somali lexical verb has no passive ending.
Subject la plus u becomes loo; plus ku becomes lagu; plus ka becomes laga. Subject la and company la combine as lala, with the subject component first. Company la also appears in fixed predicates, including a thinking construction with tahay. Interpret the actor and companion from the whole clause.
Examples (3)
- Maryan waxay la ciyaaraysaa walaasheed.
Maryan is playing with her sister.
La marks company.
- Cali wuxuu ila joogaa.
Ali is staying with me.
Ila combines i and company la.
- Warqadda waa la akhriyay.
The letter was read.
Subject la leaves the reader unspecified.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Identify the actor and predicate before distinguishing preverbal company la from indefinite-subject la supplying an unnamed actor.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice la in Bubblegum
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