Kilo Lingo
Esperanto grammar Part of Chapter 26

CEFR B1-B2

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Test yourself (17 questions)

Esperanto pri- Verbs: pripensi, priskribi, pridemandi

By Michael McGettrickUpdated 12 October 2026

Put pri in front of a verb and the topic becomes a direct object: becomes . The preposition moves into the verb, the topic takes -n, and the meaning shifts: is to think something over. Learn each pri- verb as a word of its own.

prithe object (accusative)What do the colours mean?
Two-word formPri- verbEnglish
think over the proposal
describe the house
say nothing about the matter
prizorgi look after the children

Quick check

Now use it: three quick questions on the chart above. The full practice is further down.

Pick the right one

0/3

Two-word form or pri- verb? Pick the one that fits the sentence and the English.

  1. Mi vian proponon. (I will think your proposal over)

  2. Mi ofte vi. (I often think about you)

  3. Ŝi la domon. (she described the house)

How pri- works

prithe object (accusative)What do the colours mean?

PMEG states the rule in three sentences:

prefikseca . senobjektan , . - -komplementon .

Prefixed creates verbs that take an object. Normally the object is what used to follow . PMEG's two examples:

He kept quiet about the matter.
He thought about her; he thought her over.

takes no object at all, so - gives it one. already takes an object, the thoughts themselves: ? - What do you think? takes a different one, the topic of the thinking.

The shape is the point: once is inside the verb, it cannot also stand in front of the noun.

  • . - I am thinking the problem over.

Not synonyms

prithe object (accusative)What do the colours mean?

The two-word form and the - verb are not the same word twice. The - verb is more deliberate, more thorough, or has drifted to a meaning of its own:

Pri- verbMeaningExample
pripensito think over .
priskribito describe .
pridemandito question closely .
prilaborito work over, process .

Compare the pairs:

  • . - I will think your proposal over: a real decision is coming.
  • . - I will think about your proposal: it will cross my mind.
  • . - He is working on the text.
  • . - He worked the text over: edited it thoroughly.

has drifted furthest. Nobody hears "write about" in it: you can describe a house aloud.

Pri- that only moves the roles

prithe object (accusative)What do the colours mean?

In some traditional verbs, PMEG notes, keeps none of its own meaning. It only changes which participant is the object:

VerbPlainWith pri-
. .
. .
. .
  • They stole money from the people; they robbed the people.
  • The moon shone into the room; the moon lit up the room.
  • They looked for weapons on him; they searched him.

A few more gain a new meaning altogether: is to give an opinion of something. Prirespondi, to be answerable for, is now usually . Neither is a or with an object.

Mistakes English speakers make

WrongRightWhy
the is already in the
the object needs -n
, briefly means thinking it over; for a passing thought,

What to do next

  1. Learn , and as words of their own.
  2. When you meet a new - verb, ask what it adds to the two-word form.
  3. Go back to verbs and prepositions for the verbs that keep their .

See also

Practise: test yourself

Build the word

0/3

Build the pri- verb.

  1. to think over (pensi pri)

    Accents optional - cx, gx, ux work for ĉ, ĝ, ŭ

    Your word is empty.

  2. to describe (skribi pri)

    Accents optional - cx, gx, ux work for ĉ, ĝ, ŭ

    Your word is empty.

  3. to question closely (demandi pri)

    Accents optional - cx, gx, ux work for ĉ, ĝ, ŭ

    Your word is empty.

Pick the right one

0/5

Two-word form or pri- verb? Pick the one that fits the sentence and the English.

  1. Mi vian proponon. (I will think your proposal over)

  2. Mi ofte vi. (I often think about you)

  3. Ŝi la domon. (she described the house)

  4. Li sia patro. (he wrote about his father)

  5. La polico lin. (the police questioned him)

Spot the mistake

0/3

Each sentence has one mistake. Tap it.

Matching

0/6

Match each pri- verb to its meaning.

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Frequently asked questions

What does pri- do to an Esperanto verb?
It makes a verb that takes an object, and the object is normally what used to follow . PMEG's examples: becomes , and becomes . So the preposition disappears into the verb and the topic gets the accusative -n.
Is the same as ?
No. is to think about something, and the thought may be passing. is to think it over, to consider it properly. promises a real decision; only promises the idea will cross my mind.
What does mean?
To describe. It is , to write, with pri- in front, but nobody hears write-about in it any more: you can something aloud. is she described the house. It takes a direct object, so never .
Can I say ?
No. The is already inside the verb, so the topic is a plain object with -n: . Either keep the preposition and the plain verb ( ) or move it into the verb ( ), not both.
Does pri- always add the meaning about?
No. In a few traditional verbs it only changes which participant is the object. (they stole money from the people) becomes (they robbed the people). becomes is (the moon lit up the room). And a handful gain a new meaning: is to give an opinion of something.