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567. When the English intransitive infinitive expresses purpose (i.e., the gerundial infinitive), use the preposition le.
He came to stay, | Ṫáinig sé le fanaṁaint. |
I have a word to say, | Tá focal agam le laḃairt. |
You are to wait, | Tá tú le feiṫeaṁ. |
I am to go, | Táim le dul. |
568. When the English verb is transitive and in the simple infinitive (no purpose implied) use the preposition do or the softened form a.
My father told me to buy a horse.
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Duḃairt m’aṫair liom capall do ċeannaċ.
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You ought to have cut the grass.
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Ba ċóir ḋuit an feur do ḃaint.
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He told me not to shut the door.
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Duḃairt sé liom gan an doras do ḋúnaḋ.
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Would you like to read this book?
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An mian leat an leaḃar so do léiġeaḋ?
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569. When the English infinitive is transitive, and also expresses purpose, use either ĊUN or LE before the noun which is the object of the English infinitive, and DO before the verbal noun in Irish; ċun takes