Ch 10 · Lesson 8Esperanto · Chapter 10 · Lesson 8 · Grammar primer
Compound tenses: esti + participle
, , : says when, the participle says done, under way or still to come. And the participle takes -j, never -n.
The short version
, .
Why?Hide
In a compound tense the tense sits on , and the participle says where the action stood at that moment: -int- already done, -ant- under way, -ont- still to come. , : when she came, I had read. Swap for and the same three move into the future.
The participle takes -j, never -n
.
Why?Hide
After , the participle describes the subject, like in . So it takes the subject's plural -j, and never the -n of the object, even when an object sits right next to it: , not .
A form of plus a participle makes a compound tense. says when; the participle says whether the action is under way, done or still to come. Read them all, and write few.
-- | -- | -- | |
|---|---|---|---|
| now | | | |
| past | | | |
| future | | | |
| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
. | I had read. |
. | I was about to read. |
. | I will have read. |
Swap in the passive participles (-ata, -ita, -ota) and you get nine more: , the book was read. The passive covers those.
Esti carries the time
puts you at a moment in the past. The participle then says where the reading stood at that moment:
mi estis leginta (done before she came)
kiam ŝi venis (the moment)
mi estis leganta (under way as she came)
mi estis legonta (still to come)
Timeline from past to now, with now marked.
| At that moment | Esperanto | English |
|---|---|---|
| already done | , . | When she came, I had read. |
| under way | , . | When she came, I was reading. |
| still to come | , . | When she came, I was about to read. |
Change to and the same three cells move into the future: , . is when she comes, I will have read.
Agreement: -j yes, -n no
The participle after describes the subject, like in . So it takes the subject's -j, and never -n:
.- They are reading the book..- We were about to come.
has -n because the reading lands on it. describes , so is wrong.
Going further: Usually, the simple tense says it and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
Practise this lesson
10-question session
One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
Esperanto · Free printables
Worksheets for this lesson
Worksheets with answer keys built in. Open any one to view, print or save.
Free for members
The printable worksheets, infographics and PDFs are free with an account. Start a free week and download as many as you like.
Start your free weekLesson 8 of 29 in this chapter