Language/Plateau-malagasy/Grammar/Common-Prepositions
Prepositions are essential parts of speech that are used to show the relationship between objects or people within a sentence. In Plateau Malagasy, prepositions are words that link nouns, pronouns, and phrases to other words in a sentence. In this lesson, you will learn about common prepositions in Plateau Malagasy, including their usage and meaning.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Pronouns and Their Usage & Questions.
Basic Understanding of Prepositions
Prepositions refer to a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in a sentence. The word preposition literally means 'placed before' (pre- + position). It is usually used to specify the position or direction of a noun or pronoun. Prepositions help to clarify the relationship between nouns or pronouns, and they are essential in constructing complete sentences in Plateau Malagasy.
Common Prepositions in Plateau Malagasy
Below is a list of common prepositions in Plateau Malagasy, their meanings, and examples of their usage:
Plateau Malagasy | Pronunciation | English Translation |
---|---|---|
amin' | um-in | to, on, in, at |
amin'ny | um-in-ny | to the, on the, in the, at the |
amin'ireo | um-in-ir-ew | to the, on the, in the, at the (plural) |
amin'ny alalan'ny | um-in-ny ala-lan-ny | through the |
amin'ny hazo | um-in-ny ha-zoo | under the tree |
amin'ny shehafa | um-in-ny sheh-aa-fa | near the seaside |
akaiky ny | a-kai-ky nu-uh | near, next to, beside |
ampitan-dranomasina | um-pit-an-dra-no-ma-see-na | around the sea |
any an-tanana | an-ny an-ta-naan | to or in Antananarivo |
eo an-tanana | eo an-ta-naan | in Antananarivo |
eo am-posiny | yo am-po-see-ny | in his/her village |
mbola | mm-bo-la | yet, still, already |
miampy anao | m-eam-py an-ao | help you |
miaraka aminy | m-ea-rak-a um-in-ee | with him/her/it |
miteny teny anglisy | m-ea-ten-ee ten-ee an-gli-see | to speak English |
Please note that the above list is not exhaustive. There may be other prepositions that are prevalent in certain contexts or regions.
Usage and Examples
The following are some examples of prepositions in use:
- Amin'ny alalan'ny volana: Through the month. (Volana = month)
- Akaiky ny kaomina: Next to the village. (Kaomina = village)
- Eo an-tanana: In Antananarivo. (Capital city of Madagascar)
- Ampitan-dranomasina: Around the sea.
- Miampy anao: Help you. (Miampy = to help)
- Miteny teny anglisy: Speak English. (Miteny = to speak)
- Amin'ny hazo: Under the tree. (Hazo = tree)
Prepositions can also be used in combination with other words to form prepositional phrases that modify a noun or pronoun. Here are some examples:
- Lanao ambony: Upstairs. (Ambony means up)
- Vola amin'ny banky: Money in the bank. (Banky = bank)
- Mpanao asa amin'ny trano: Worker in the house. (Trano = house)
Conclusion
Prepositions are vital components of a sentence, and a good understanding of them is necessary to speak and write correct Plateau Malagasy. In this lesson, you learned about the most common prepositions in Plateau Malagasy, and how to use them in sentences. Keep practicing these prepositions, and you will be able to write and speak grammatically correct Plateau Malagasy sentences confidently!
Congratulations on finishing this lesson! Explore these related pages to keep learning: Plurals & Alphabet and Pronunciation.