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la is a particle in Toki Pona. It separates the main part of a sentence from its context.

Functions of la

la indicates that what comes after it follows from or depends on what came before. It is extremely general and can indicate all sorts of antecedent–consequent relationships, including prepositional descriptions, cause and effect, or conditions. Generally, what comes before la is the context for what comes after.

Fronting prepositional phrases

la can be used to put a prepositional phrase at the front of a sentence.

jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni.: Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community with these words.
kepeken toki ni la jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu.: With these words Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community.

When fronted, lon is dropped.

mi moku e kili lon tenpo ni.: I'm eating a fruit at this time (now).
tenpo ni la mi moku e kili.: As for this time (now) I'm eating fruit.

Sometimes, lon is also used as a content word. In this case, it is retained:

jan mute li lon ma ni.: Lots of people are here.
ma ni la jan mute li lon.: Around here there are lots of people.

Cause and effect

la can show cause and effect. The part before the la is taken to bring about, or be the condition for, what comes after the particle.

ilo li mu la mi lukin e ona.: My phone rang so I checked it.; When my phone rings I check it.; If my phone rings I'll check it.

tenpo seli la mi pilin pona.: "Summertime and the livin' is easy".^[1]

Punctuation

Commas are optional, and can be placed before or after the la. ku calls this a "stylistic choice". In this article, commas are omitted.

External resources

↑ w:Summertime (Gershwin Song)

[1] w:Summertime (Gershwin Song)

[1]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{DISPLAYTITLE:''la''}}
-[[la]] is a [[:Category:Particles|particle]] of toki pona used to separate a sentence from its context.
+'''''la''''' is a [[particle]] in [[Toki Pona]]. It separates the main part of a sentence from its context.
-== Functions of la ==
+== Functions of ''la'' ==
-[[la]] indicates that what comes after it follows from or depends on what came before. It is extremely general and can indicate all sorts of antecedent/consequent relationships, including prepositional descriptions, cause and effect, or conditions. Generally, what comes before [[la]] is the context for what comes after.
+''la'' indicates that what comes after it follows from or depends on what came before. It is extremely general and can indicate all sorts of antecedent&ndash;consequent relationships, including prepositional descriptions, cause and effect, or conditions. Generally, what comes before ''la'' is the context for what comes after.
 === Fronting prepositional phrases ===
-[[la]] can be used to put a prepositional phrase at the front of a sentence.
+''la'' can be used to put a prepositional phrase at the front of a sentence.
-;kepeken toki ni la jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu.
+:;''jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni.''
-:With these words Sonja gave toki pona to the community.
+::Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community with these words.
-;jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu kepeken toki ni.
+:;''<u>kepeken toki ni la</u> jan Sonja li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu.''
-:Sonja gave toki pona to the community with these words.
+::<u>With these words</u> Sonja gave Toki Pona to the community.
-When fronted, [[lon]] is dropped,
+When fronted, ''[[lon]]'' is dropped.
-;mi moku e kili lon tenpo ni.
-:I'm eating a fruit now.
-;tenpo ni la mi moku e kili.
-:This time I'm eating fruit.
+:;''mi moku e kili lon tenpo ni.''
-Sometimes, [[lon]] is also used as a content word. In this case, it is retained:
+::I'm eating a fruit at this time (now).
-;jan mute li lon ma ni.
+:;''<u>tenpo ni la</u> mi moku e kili.''
-:Lots of people are here.
+::<u>As for this time (now)</u> I'm eating fruit.
-;ma ni la jan mute li lon.
-:Around here there are lots of people.
+Sometimes, ''[[lon]]'' is also used as a content word. In this case, it is retained:
+:;''jan mute li lon ma ni.''
+::Lots of people are here.
+:;''ma ni la jan mute li lon.''
+::Around here there are lots of people.
 === Cause and effect ===
-[[la]] can show cause and effect. The part before the [[la]] is taken to bring about or be the condition for what comes after the particle.
+''la'' can show cause and effect. The part before the ''la'' is taken to bring about, or be the condition for, what comes after the particle.
-;ilo li mu la mi lukin e ona.
+:;''<u>ilo li mu la</u> mi lukin e ona.''
-:My phone rang so I checked it.
+::<u>My phone rang so</u> I checked it.
-:When my phone rings I check it.
+::<u>When my phone rings</u> I check it.
-:If my phone rings I'll check it.
+::<u>If my phone rings</u> I'll check it.
-;tenpo seli la mi pilin pona.
+;''tenpo seli la mi pilin pona.''
 :"Summertime and the livin' is easy".<ref>[[w:Summertime (Gershwin Song)]]</ref>
 == Punctuation ==
-Commas are optional, and can be placed before or after the [[la]]. [[ku]] calls this a "stylistic choice". In this article, commas are omitted.
+Commas are optional, and can be placed before or after the ''la''. ''[[ku]]'' calls this a "stylistic choice". In this article, commas are omitted.
 == External resources ==
 * [[pu]] Lesson 14
-* [https://lipu-sona.pona.la/9.html jan Lentan Lesson 9]
+* [//lipu-sona.pona.la/9.html jan Lentan Lesson 9]
-* [https://sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/lipu-sona/15 soweli Tesa]
+* [//sowelitesa.kittycat.homes/lipu-sona/15 soweli Tesa]
-* [https://github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#the-particle-la nasin toki pona]
+* [//github.com/kilipan/nasin-toki#the-particle-la nasin toki pona]
-* [https://mun.la/sona/la.html jan Kekan San Context and la]
+* [//mun.la/sona/la.html jan Kekan San Context and la]
-* [https://mun.la/sona/la-extras.html jan Kekan San Tricks with la]
+* [//mun.la/sona/la-extras.html jan Kekan San Tricks with la]
 [[Category:Particles]]