In English I would say: "Let G be a locally compact group."
In French I think it would go something like: "Soit G être d'un groupe localement compact."
But I don't think I have conjugated the verb être properly.
Can someone correct me?
Update: I found an example of this in literature, appearing as: “Soit G un groupe localement compact.”
So does the phrase “Soit G …” mean something along the lines of “Let G be that which is …”?
Actually, “soit” is the subjonctif présent 3rd person singular of “être”.
The correct form is indeed:
Soit G un groupe localement compact […]
When the subject is plural, e.g. “Let G and H be locally compact groups”, you can use either “Soient” (subjonctif présent, 3rd person plural) or “Soit”, as the construction became idiomatic.
Soient G et H des groupes localement compacts […]
Soit G et H des groupes localement compacts […]
