Ch 3 · Lesson 27Esperanto · Chapter 3 · Lesson 27 · Grammar primer
Conversation words: nu, do and ja
is well, do is so or then, is I really do. Then , and , from maybe to of course, and the one for every sentence: ?
The short version
Hesitant well is
, .
Why?Hide
English well does two jobs. When it means good, Esperanto says bone. When it opens a reply and buys you a second, it is , and bone there sounds like you are agreeing to something. together is oh well, all right.
Conversation runs on small words that carry no news. Esperanto has a short set of them, and none ever changes its ending. Learn the fifteen below and your replies stop sounding like a textbook.
| Word | English | Use it to |
|---|---|---|
| well | start a reply, buy time |
| so, then | conclude, push |
| really, after all | stress that it is true |
| here is, there | hand over, point |
| , fine | agree to a plan |
? | isn't it?, t you? | ask for agreement |
? | really? | doubt, show interest |
| of course | agree strongly |
| certainly, surely | agree |
| maybe | hedge |
| actually, in fact | correct or add the truth |
| by the way, besides | change the subject |
| namely, that is | say exactly which |
| still, all the same | go ahead despite it |
| consequently | conclude, formally |
Nu, do and ja
These three turn up in almost every conversation. opens a reply:
, .- Well, It know.? ?- Well? What do you say?.- Oh well, all right.
draws a conclusion, or puts a push into a command or a question:
, .- It's raining, som staying at home.!- Come on, then!?- So what do you want?
stresses that something really is so, usually against a doubt. It goes right before the word it stresses ( , yes indeed, is the fixed exception):
!- I did tell you!.- Yes, indeed.
Agreeing and doubting
From doubt to certainty, the everyday steps are these:
- eble: maybe
- certe: certainly
- kompreneble: of course
| Word | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| . | Maybe ll come. |
| , . | Certainly, ll help you. |
| ! | Of course! |
| , . | , let's go. |
? | , ? | You' tired, aren't you? |
? | ? ? | She came? Really? |
Several of these are ordinary words with the adverb ending -e, which is why they never change:
| Root word | Conversation word | English |
|---|---|---|
| | , fine |
| | certainly |
| | really |
| | actually |
| | maybe |
is built the same way: (to understand) plus -- (able to be) plus -e. Understandably, which is to say of course.
Going further: Adding and correcting and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
Practice
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One question at a time, mixed across the exercises in this lesson. Miss one and it comes back round before the end.
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