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Agam, Agat...etc VS Liom, Leat...etc

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  • 13-02-2011 1:12pm
    #1
    ImpossibleDuck
    Registered Users Posts: 1,154 ✭✭✭


    http://www.daltai.com/grammar/pp.htm

    ^That is a link which explains the prepositional pronoun but it says:

    Agam, Agat etc = at, possession

    and

    Liom, Leat etc = with, ownership

    What is the difference between possession and ownership? I understand some things like if you were saying "I own the car" it would be liom BUT in cases like "I have money problems", could it not be either? Or am i missing something, because it's either "I have money problems(in my possession)" or "I own money problems".

    Help?


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    #2
    theteal
    Registered Users Posts: 7,593 ✭✭✭theteal


    I think your car example is actually wrong OP. It would be an 'agam' situation afaik. The question wouldn't be 'an car leat? ', it would be 'an car agat? '

    In my own head, liom, leat, leis etc. are more about a person than ownership of physical things eg. 'Is fear liom' - I prefer (I have a preference)

    Obviously I'm no expert here, your thread just evoked an interest


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    #3
    WesternNight
    Registered Users Posts: 9,286 ✭✭✭WesternNight


    Tá carr agam = I have a car
    Is liom an carr = The car is mine

    Tá fadhbanna airgeadais agam = I have financial problems
    Is liom na fadhbanna airgeadais = The financial problems are mine

    "I have money problems in my possession" doesn't make sense in English never mind Irish :P

    Not sure if that clears anything up.


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    #4
    Gael
    Registered Users Posts: 1,286 ✭✭✭Gael


    ImpossibleDuck wrote: »

    What is the difference between possession and ownership?

    Example:

    Ghoid mé carr; tá sé agam, ach ní liom é.

    I stole a car; I have it, but I do not own it.


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    #5
    deirdremf
    Registered Users Posts: 1,880 ✭✭✭deirdremf


    ImpossibleDuck wrote: »
    http://www.daltai.com/grammar/pp.htm

    ^That is a link which explains the prepositional pronoun but it says:

    Agam, Agat etc = at, possession

    and

    Liom, Leat etc = with, ownership

    What is the difference between possession and ownership? I understand some things like if you were saying "I own the car" it would be liom BUT in cases like "I have money problems", could it not be either? Or am i missing something, because it's either "I have money problems(in my possession)" or "I own money problems".

    Help?

    Tá airgead agam - I have (some) money.
    Tá airgead liom - I have (some) money with me.
    Is liom an t-airgead - the money is mine.


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