A Chairde
Ceacht 15

This lesson contains idioms.  I would advise trying to learn liom, leat, leis, léi, linn, libh, leo off by heart.

Liom literally means with me
However, it is probably best not to translate the phrases literally
They do not translate very well into English and I think that you can appreciate  the beauty of the Irish language in these type of phrases.

John Millingon Synge (Riders to the Sea) and Flann O’Brien/Myles na gCopalleen became famous by writing English using literal Irish idioms. The structure is unlike  anything in English but is basic to Irish.

Examples:
D’imigh sé leis = he took himself off
D’imigh sé le gaoth =It was carried off by the wind
Bhí an t-ádh leis = he was lucky.
Isteach leat! = in with you!
Cara liom     a friend of mine
Is cara liom é = he is a friend of mine
Is cara liom í = she is a friend of mine

One well-known phrase that comes to mind is 

Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi…… 
A woman told me that a woman told her….

This would be an example of gossip or a hearsay.
If you hear something but not from the original source you could say
Dúirt bean liom go ndúirt bean léi……

There is no possessive pronoun in Irish.  To translate mine, yours, theirs etc, you say
Is liomsa é           It is mine
An leatsa é seo?    Is this yours?
Is liom                  would be the affirmative answer.

The sa at the end of liom/leat is used for emphasis to stress that it is mine/yours
You do not stress the liom

Is maith liom ceol    I like music
An maith leatsa ceol    Do you like music?
Do not stress the leat

Regarding the structure of the verb “is”
there is a very good video on
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7nyXgtuis0&feature=related 

Resources to help  with learning lesson

1.	Audio file for lesson15 available at
http://www.philo-celtic.com/PII/Progress.htm It can also be accessed from the Links section.

2.	There is also a sound file attached to Progress in Irish Ceacht 15 Sound Files

http://www.quia.com/jg/1372573.html which can be found on the class  Games page  http://www.quia.com/pages/progressinirish.html

3.	
Grammar notes: http://www.oireasmedia.com/learningsolutions/languages/irish/piiforabhargramadai.pdf

4.	More detailed grammar available from http://www.daltai.com/grammar.htm 

5.	Dictionary, book or online e.g.
www.focal.ie
www.potafocal.com or
www.englishirishdictionary.com

6.	http://www.spicyirish.com/PI15.html

7.	http://irish.rownw.com/xwds/l15.html

8.	Class page with games which includes 3 new games for lesson 15
http://www.quia.com/pages/progressinirish.html

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