Step by Step in Esperanto

287. Write similar questions and answers, using ke jes, ke ne, after some of the verbs asert-(bedaŭr- dir- esper- ĝoj- insist- konfes- konsent- kred- opini- ripet- sci- skrib- supoz- suspekt- telefon- tim- vid‑)as (Compare 104-5).

Note on Prepositions

288. Al, apud, de, dum, en, inter, kun, por, pri, sen, sub, super, sur, tra, trans, are prepositions (96).

289. In English conversation we often end a sentence with a preposition, thus: “What are you sitting on?” “Whom are you thinking of?”[31] — in spite of the famous rule “A preposition is a word you must not end a sentence with”! But in Esperanto you may NOT do this. Write, therefore: “Sur kio vi sidas?” “Pri kiu vi pensas?”.

290. Translate these questions and answer them. What are you complaining of? Which tovon do you come from? What are we reading through? What are we fighting for? What is your money in? Whom are you sitting near? What are you doubtful about? Whom are you waiting for? What does an apple grow on? Whom are you writing to? What are you talking about? Whom are you dreaming of?

“Subject” and “Object”

291. Most sentences contain (1) a SUBJECT (the thing or person we are talking about) and (2) a VERB (which says what the subject is or does). Thus, in la suno brilas, and li staras tie, la suno is the subject of the verb brilas, and li is the subject of the verb staras. The answer to What? Who? asked before a verb, is the subject of the sentence. What shines? (la suno). Who stands? (li).

292. Usually the subject comes before the verb. But it need not do so (20, 23). One may say, for example, Brilas la suno. Tie staras li.

293. Name the subject and the verb in sentences from previous lessons.

294. If you say I see, I love, we naturally ask: You see (love) what (or, whom)? The answer to What? Whom? asked after a verb, is the OBJECT of that verb. Thus, in the sentences Tom loves me, Tom loves music, the words me and music are objects of the verb loves—they answer the questions “Loves whom?” “Loves what?”—they name the objects loved by the subject Tom. The SUBJECT does the action: the OBJECT is that to which the action is directed.

The Ending «-n» (Pronouns)

295. When the words I, thou, he, she, we, they, who, are objects of a verb, English changes them to me, thee, him, her, us, them, whom. Thus: I see him; he sees me. We see them; they see us. (It and you, however, remain unchanged).[32]

296. Esperanto shows the object of a verb by the letter -N (called the “accusative” ending). Thus: min, vin, lin, ŝin, ĝin, nin, ilin, kiun.[33]

• Li vidas ilin, He sees them.

• Ili vidas lin, They see him.

• Kiun ili vidas? Whom do they see (They see whom)?

Here the “m” in them, him, whom, corresponds to the “n” in ilin, lin, kiun.

297. Kiu helpas vin? Who helps you? Kiun vi helpas? Whom are you helping? Knabo, kiu konas[34] lin, a boy who knows him. Knabo, kiun li konas, a boy whom he knows. Libro, kiun (which, that) mi legas (159).

298. The answer to Kiu? is the subject, and cannot take the letter n. The answer to Kiun? is the object, and takes the letter n. Kiu amas? (mi). Amas kiun? (vin) (294).

299. Tuŝu min, touch me. Kiun vi tuŝas? (Mi tuŝas vin). Kiun mi instruas? (Vi instruas nin). Sekvu min, Follow me. Ne punu ŝin, Don’t punish her. Helpu ilin, Help them.

Patrino: “Ĉu vi supozas, ke mi punas vin por mia plezuro?” Infano: “Por kies plezuro, do, vi punas min?”

300. An Englishman says I love you. A Frenchman says I you love. In Esperanto one may say Mi amas vin, Mi vin amas, Amas mi vin, Amas vin mi, Vin mi amas, or even Vin amas mi. The difference in word-order varies the emphasis. But in each case the meaning is I love you, not You love me, for the letter n shows that vin is the object loved by the subject mi.