Are chun and leis completely interchangeable in sentences like:

Rachfaidh mé abhaile chun an teach a ghlanadh

Rachfaidh mé abhaile leis an teach a ghlanadh?

I wouldn't say so. "chun" is the way to go in this instance.

Also, "rachaidh" doesn't have an "f". I know it's confusing but that's irregular verbs for you.

An_chilleasrach is correct about the "f".

About the other bit, though, I would say yes, they _are_ interchangeable but "chun" is more formal/written/standard, "le" is more colloquial/spoken.

I found examples of both forms in the Graiméar Gaeilge na mBráithre Críostaí and an Caighdeán Oifigiúil (2001) although "chun" was more prevalent in the actual text of both.

'Le' is used more than 'chun' in Ulster.

Sorry!...Duplication

(Message edited by Hugo on June 23, 2009)

Very sorry! ...Triplication! Don't think I've quite mastered this peculiar posting system yet.

(Message edited by Hugo on June 23, 2009)

Fá choinne is another possibility in Ulster
Le prevails in Connacht, too.

But in Munster chun prevails. Le is used there with intransitive verbs.

Lars

I think they're pretty much analogous with "in order to" and "to" in English.

For instance, if you're speaking casually in English, you might say:

"I'm going home to eat my dinner"

Whereas if you were being more explicit you'll use "in order to",:

"We're lowering the dam in order to flood the lower reservoirs"

Similarly in Irish, "le" is much more casual, e.g.:

Chuaigh sé go dtí an siopa le bainne a cheannacht

whereas "chun" is more clinical and explicit.

There's nothing "clinical" about chun; it's every bit as colloquial as le, but simply used in different circumstances. Both correspond equally well to English "to".

From Foclóir Gaeilge Béarla, it looks like both chun (Definition 2) and le (Definition 14) can be somewhat clinical, if the person doing the cutting is a doctor.

chun

1. To, towards. Dul chun an aonaigh, to go to the fair
2. For. Réidh chun gearrtha, ready for cutting
3. Fit for, suitable for. Lá chun taistil, a suitable day for travelling.
4. At. cliste chun na hoibre, clever at the work.
5. In order to. Chun rud a dhéanamh, in order to do sth.
6. Until. Chun gur ghlaoigh an coileach, until the cock crew.
7. Rachadh cuid mhór acu chun tonna, it would take a lot of them to make a ton.

le

1. In proximity to, in contact with, beside. Bhí a dhroim le balla aige, he had his back to a wall.
2. Towards, facing open to. Bhí a aghaidh linn, he was facing towards us.
3. Along the face of. Ag dreapadh leis na carraigeacha, climbing up the rocks.
4. In company with. Siúl le duine, to walk with s.o.
5. At, against. Chuir sé an gadhar linn.
6. Coincidental with. éiri leis an lá, to rise with the dawn.
7. (Equation, comparison) Cothrom le, level with.
8. Relationship. Cara liom, a friend of mine.
9. Having taking carrying. Tá mo chóta leat, you are taking my coat.
10. (Of freedom of movement) Tá a cheann leis, he has got his head, is free to go.
11 (Of continued action) Abair leat, say on.
12. (Used elliptically) Isteach leat, in you go.
13. (Introducting request) Le do chead, with your permission.
14 By use of, by means of. Gearr le scian é, cut it with a knife.
15. (Of author, agent) By. Dán le Céitinn, a poem by Keating.
16. (Of occupation) Dul le léann, le ceird, to take to learning, to a trade.
17. ((Entailment) Tá costas leis, it entails cost.
18. (Bound, limit) Tús a chur le rud, to being sth.
19. By presence, admixture, inclusion, of. Tá tú bán le blúr. You are white with flour.
20. By reason of, as a result of. Ar crith le heagla, quaking with fear.
21(State of mind, opinion) Is dóigh liom, I am of the opinion (that)
22. (Of dealings with) Margadh a dhéanamh le duine, to make a bargain,.
23 (With verbs of communication) Labhairt le duine, to speak to s.o.
24 (With vn) Tá scéal le hinsint agam duit. I have a story to tell you.


(Message edited by student on June 24, 2009)

I don't know why "leis an teach a ghlanadh" seemed wrong. Other examples don't jar with me in the same way. Anyway, another lesson learned!

I'd say that in this construction they are completely interchangeable, and preference for one over the other is mostly* a matter of dialect.


* I say "mostly" because I have noticed some students preferring chun over le initially, regardless of dialect. I suspect this is because it resonates better with English: it's easier to keep thinking that le means "with" and chuig/chun means "to", and there you are. Of course this doesn't make the use of chun wrong or Béarlachas - it exists anyway, in all dialects - but may help account for its growing popularity.

Go raibh maith agaibh as an bhfaisnéis a chairde.

quote:

le

1. In proximity to, in contact with, beside. Bhí a dhroim le balla aige, he had his back to a wall.
2. Towards, facing open to. Bhí a aghaidh linn, he was facing towards us.
3. Along the face of. Ag dreapadh leis na carraigeacha, climbing up the rocks.
4. In company with. Siúl le duine, to walk with s.o.
5. At, against. Chuir sé an gadhar linn.
6. Coincidental with. éiri leis an lá, to rise with the dawn.
7. (Equation, comparison) Cothrom le, level with.
8. Relationship. Cara liom, a friend of mine.
9. Having taking carrying. Tá mo chóta leat, you are taking my coat.
10. (Of freedom of movement) Tá a cheann leis, he has got his head, is free to go.
11 (Of continued action) Abair leat, say on.
12. (Used elliptically) Isteach leat, in you go.
13. (Introducting request) Le do chead, with your permission.
14 By use of, by means of. Gearr le scian é, cut it with a knife.
15. (Of author, agent) By. Dán le Céitinn, a poem by Keating.
16. (Of occupation) Dul le léann, le ceird, to take to learning, to a trade.
17. ((Entailment) Tá costas leis, it entails cost.
18. (Bound, limit) Tús a chur le rud, to being sth.
19. By presence, admixture, inclusion, of. Tá tú bán le blúr. You are white with flour.
20. By reason of, as a result of. Ar crith le heagla, quaking with fear.
21(State of mind, opinion) Is dóigh liom, I am of the opinion (that)
22. (Of dealings with) Margadh a dhéanamh le duine, to make a bargain,.
23 (With verbs of communication) Labhairt le duine, to speak to s.o.
24 (With vn) Tá scéal le hinsint agam duit. I have a story to tell you.

By the way: Which of these were originally "ri"?
1,2,3,5,7,18,23,24 b'fhéidir?

Lars