(i) The English word 'the' is called a definite article. It is used with a following noun to
indicate that a specific person or thing is being referred to. Pali does not have any such
word. Mostly you have to understand from the context whether a Pali noun refers to a
specific person or thing or not. Sometimes Pai sentences are ambiguous from the English
point of view.

(ii) The English word 'to' is called a preposition. It indicates the the goal or destination of
motion. Pali also has prepositions, but this particular meaning does not require one.

You should not expect to be able to translate any language word for word into another.

George Bedell

--- In Pali@yahoogroups.com, Dipa <sisterdipa@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks again for being willing to help me with learning to use the "New Course in
Reading Pali" to learn how to read Pali. I will start at the beginning with very simple
questions. My knowledge of English grammar terms like accusative, nominative, etc is
very limited in fact almost nonexistent. So, examples work better for me but if these
terms are necessary to learn then I will try to learn them.
>
> Lesson one:
> I know this by heart in Pali and I know what it means in English but
> in order to understand I am going ask where are the words "to and the" in the Pali? I
understand that mi = I and gacchaa = go , saranam=refuge, Buddhham = Buddha. I only
see " I go refuge Budddha". Is that it in Pali or am I missing something?
>
> I will stick with just that question to start.
>
> thanks,
> Dipa