alex sheremet

so, i've been learning esperanto since mid-december; so far, so good. extraordinarily easy and fun.

i have some grammar questions:

1) when to use the objective case, precisely ? i oftentimes add "-n" where it is unnecessary, and, conversely, i sometimes do not add "-n" when it is required.

for example: "vi, venu kun mi" -- "you, come with me." should i add an "-n" to the "mi" -- "vi, venu kun min" ? similarly, why is "bonvenon" always in the objective ? literally, the translation seems to be something like "good coming," where "coming" is in the noun form.

on that note, the sentence "la pli rapida vojeto kusxas apud la maro" -- if the quicker path lies next to the sea, does "the sea" (la maro) become objective -- "maron," and if not, why not ?

2) also, the use of "al" versus "je" -- would it be correct to say "bonvenon al vi," or would the indefinite, ambiguous "je" be more appropriate ? should "je" be used for non-motion, such as "good day *to* you" (where "to" is not in the "motion" sense, but in the dative/ablative sense), or does "al" take care of that in all cases ?

chiara410

hi there,
good to "meet" another esperantist.
i'll try to explain when you have to use the "n" (and i apologize in advance for my bad English!):
case 1) when the word replies to the question "what" i.e. what have you got in your bag ? i've got a book - mi havas libron.
have you seen (what) the dog ? c'u vi vidis la hundon ? No, i haven't seen (what) the dog. ne, mi ne vidis la hundon.
my brother is eating (what) the pie. mia frato mang'as la kukon. but you say:
the pie is on the table. la kuko estas sur la tablo (you don't use the "n" here, cause "pie" is subject).

case 2) you use the "n" when you want to express a concept of time:
i've been reading all day. mi legis la tutan tagon.
May 2nd. la duan de Mayo.

case 3) when you want to express a measure: the tree is 10 meters tall.
la arbro estas alta dek metron.

case ) you use the "n" for greetings , because "i wish you ..." is kind of understood . as you said welcome is "bonvenon" . good day is bonan tagon (i wish you (what) a good day. thank you is dankon and hello is saluton.

to answer your questions:
vi, venu kun mi. no, you don't use the "n" . the verb is "to come"
which is intransitive. so "kun mi" doens't reply to the question "what".
la pli rapida vojeto kusxas apud la maro. you don't use the "n" .
as above, "la maro" doesn't reply to the question "what". i think
the verb "to lie" - "kus'i" is intransitive, isn't it ?
if you used the verb "to lay" instead , which in esperanto is the same verb kusxi, you should use the "n" as there's a reply to the question "what" i.e. i'll lay down my daughter (meaning i'll put my daughter to bed), in esperanto you'd say, mi kus'as mian filinon.
et voilà, the "n" is there.


hope this will help you out !
g'is revido.

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