Ch 2 · Lesson 18Esperanto · Chapter 2 · Lesson 18 · Grammar primer
Which correlatives change: kiujn, kien, kiom da, kies
The ending decides: -u and -a take -j and -n, -o takes -n only, -e takes -n for direction, and the rest never change. wants ; stays .
The short version
? ?
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picks an individual out of a set, so it takes the plural and the accusative like any other -u word: , , . asks about a thing in the abstract and only takes the accusative, . If you could point at the candidates, use ; if you could not, use . English who and what split along nearly the same line, so this one transfers.
Which ones change, and how
The ending decides whether a correlative can take -j and -n:
| Ending | Takes | Example |
|---|---|---|
-u, -a | -j and -n | ? Which ones did you see? |
-o | -n only | ? What did you say? |
-e | -n for direction | ? Where are you going? |
| the rest | nothing, ever | ? When will you come? |
The -u and -a words behave like adjectives, because they are adjectives:
.- I read books like that.
The -o words never take -j, because an unnamed thing is not counted:
.- I saw nothing.
The -om column: kiom, tiom, iom and da
On its own, asks how much:
?- How much does it cost?
Put a noun after any -om word and Esperanto inserts , the preposition for quantities. One covers both how much and how many:
| Esperanto | English |
|---|---|
| how much water |
| how many people |
| that much time |
has drifted into everyday use as a softener meaning a bit:
.- I am a bit tired.
The quantity article has the full rule.
The -es column: kies and possession
Esperanto has no apostrophe-s. Ownership goes through or the -es column, and -es words never take -j or -n:
?- Whose book is that?, .- I do not know whose it is.?- Whose book did you take? (the-ngoes on the noun, not on)
Going further: The grid and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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Lesson 18 of 43 in this chapter