Jo li dic que, si tenim temps, després podem mirar l'exposició i anar a la llibreria.

to have

Breakdown of Jo li dic que, si tenim temps, després podem mirar l'exposició i anar a la llibreria.

• i: and
• a: to
• li: her

Questions & Answers about Jo li dic que, si tenim temps, després podem mirar l'exposició i anar a la llibreria.

Why does the sentence start with Jo? Is it necessary?

Usually, no. In Catalan, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

So:

• Jo li dic... = I tell him/her...
• Li dic... means the same thing in most contexts.

Jo is included for emphasis, contrast, or clarity. For example, it can suggest I’m the one saying this or contrast with someone else.

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What does li mean here?

Li is an indirect object pronoun. In this sentence, it means to him, to her, or sometimes to you (formal singular), depending on context.

So:

• Jo li dic... = I tell him/her...
• literally: I to-him/to-her say...

Catalan uses these object pronouns very frequently, often where English just uses a normal object after the verb.

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Why is it dic and not something like diro?

Because dir (to say / to tell) is irregular in the present tense.

Present tense of dir:

• jo dic
• tu dius
• ell/ella diu
• nosaltres diem
• vosaltres dieu
• ells/elles diuen

So dic is simply the correct 1st person singular present form: I say / I tell.

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