Ch 1 · Lesson 44Esperanto · Chapter 1 · Lesson 44 · Grammar primer
The article la, and no word for a
when you both know which one; nothing at all for a. , then .
The short version
There is no word for a, and none is missing
. .
Why?Hide
Esperanto has one article, , and nothing at all for a or an. The bare noun IS the indefinite: already means a dog, so is the whole of I saw a dog. Learners reach for (one dog, now counted) or (some dog or other, now shifty), and both say more than they meant. Use only when both you and your listener know which one: it was just mentioned, there is only one of it, or the situation is pointing straight at it.
Esperanto has one article, (the), and no word at all for a. never changes form, and a bare noun already means a: is a dog. So every choice on this page is the same choice: , or nothing?
| Situation | Article | Example | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| first mention | none | . | I saw a dog. |
| already mentioned | | . | The dog barked. |
| only one exists | | | the sun |
| pointed at | | . | Close the door. |
| a whole concept | | . | Life is beautiful. |
| a profession | none | . | He is a teacher. |
| a plain name | none | Parizo . | is beautiful. |
does not change for number or case. Only the noun does:
| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| the dog |
| the dogs |
. | I saw the dog. |
. | I saw the dogs. |
There is no word for a, and nothing stands in for one. and are not articles: each says more than a does.
| Esperanto | English | What it adds |
|---|---|---|
. | I saw a dog. | nothing: this is a |
. | I saw one dog. | a count |
. | I saw some dog or other. | vagueness |
The core rule: known to both of us
Use when both you and your listener already know which one is meant. Everything else on this page is that rule meeting a particular situation.
A thing becomes known to both of you in three everyday ways:
| Trigger | Esperanto | English |
|---|---|---|
| just mentioned | . . | I saw a dog. The dog barked. |
| only one | . | The sun is shining. |
| only one | | the president of the club |
| situation-obvious | , . | Close the door, please. |
First mention, bare noun: your listener does not yet know which dog. Second mention, : now you both do.
.- I bought a book. (Which one? A fair question: no.).- Give me the book. (The one on the table:.)
Going further: Where English instincts mislead you and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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Lesson 44 of 51 in this chapter