The Esperanto Teacher: A Simple Course for Non-Grammarians Part 14

malgraux : notwithstanding, in spite of.

The prepositions "anstataux", "antaux" ("ol"), and "por" are also used before Infinitive verbs, as "anstataux diri", instead of saying (to say); "antaux ol paroli", before speaking; "por lerni", in order to learn.

In Esperanto all the prepositions except "je" have a definite meaning, and care must be taken to use the one which conveys the exact sense.

The same word cannot be used for "with" in the two sentences "He went with his father" and "He cut it with a knife," or for "about" in "He spoke about his child" and "They stood about the stove." In the first example "with" his father is "kun", in company with, Li iris "kun"

sia patro, and "with" a knife is "per", by means of, Li trancxis gxin "per" trancxilo. "About," in "about his child," is "pri," concerning, Li parolis "pri" sia infano, but "about," in "about the stove," is "cxirkaux," around, Ili staris "cxirkaux" la forno.

When we cannot decide which is the correct preposition to use in any case, we may use "je," the only preposition which has no special meaning of its own, or the preposition may be left out altogether, and "n"

added to the noun or p.r.o.noun, provided that no want of clearness ensue (see Lesson 27), as Mi ridas "pro" lia naiveco, or, Mi ridas "je" lia naiveco, or, Mi ridas lian "naivecon", I laugh at his simplicity.

When we wish to express "motion towards" something, and the preposition does not of itself express it, "n" is added to the noun or p.r.o.noun, as in the case of adverbs (see Lesson 12), "Li estas en la domo", He is in the house; but, "Li iras en la domon", He is going into the house.

NOTE.--There are three cases in which the noun or p.r.o.noun takes "n".

(i.). When it is the "direct object" of the verb, as "Mi vidis lin", I saw him. (ii.). To show "direction", as "Li iris en la gxardenon", He went into the garden. (iii.). When the "preposition" is "left out".

This is usually done in the case of "dates" and expressions signifying "duration" of time, as "Georgo Vasxington estis naskita la dudek-duan de Februaro de la jaro mil sepcent tridek du", George Washington was born the 22nd of February, 1732. "Vi restos tie cxi la tutan vivon (dum la tuta vivo)", You will remain here your (the) whole life.

All the prepositions whose meaning allows of it can be used as adjectives, adverbs, etc., by adding the proper endings, as from "antaux", before, we get "antauxa", former, "antauxe", formerly or previously, "antauxen", forward.

Prepositions are also joined to other words, and to prefixes or suffixes, as "antauxdiri", to foretell; "apudmara urbo", a seaside town; "senigi", to deprive of.

Sometimes the preposition is both prefixed to the verb and used after it before the noun, as "Li eliris el la domo, kaj eniris en la gxardenon", He went out of the house, and entered into the garden.

LESSON 27.

Al.

"Al" signifies "to" or "towards" a person or place. It is also used before the noun or p.r.o.noun which signifies "person" after such verbs as "give, tell", etc., which take two objects in different relations to the verb, as-- Give (to) him the book, "Donu al li la libron." Tell (to) him the truth, "Diru al li la veron." Write (to) him a letter, "Skribu al li leteron." In such cases we can say "Pardonu lin", Pardon him, if the "thing" object is not mentioned, but we cannot say "Pardonu lin la kulpon", Forgive him his fault; it must be "Pardonu al li la kulpon."

The p.r.o.noun with "al" is sometimes used instead of the possessive (p.r.o.noun) adjective "mia", etc., as "Mi trancxis al mi la fingron", for "Mi trancxis mian fingron", I cut my finger. "Sxi kombis al si la harojn," instead of "Sxi kombis siajn harojn," She combed her hair.

"Al" is frequently used as a prefix as well as after the verb, as "aldoni", to add; "alpreni", to adopt; "aligxi", to adhere; "aljugxi", to award.

VOCABULARY.

sorcxisto : sorcerer. promes- : promise.

detrancx- : cut off. ambaux : both.

Sxi revenis al la palaco de sia patro. Ili ambaux iris al la urbestro.

Cxu mi ne faris al vi bonon? Sxi nenion al ili rakontis. Sxi skribis al li leteron. Cxiutage li instruas al la h.o.m.oj ion, kion ili ne scias. Ili flugis al la suno. Unu fratino promesis al la alia rakonti al sxi, kion sxi vidis kaj kio la plej multe placxis al sxi en la unua tago. Eble li al vi pardonos. Sxi ne kredis al siaj propraj oreloj. Li ne sciis, ke al sxi li devas danki la vivon. Si savis al li la vivon. La sorcxistino detrancxis al la virineto de maro la langon.

LESSON 28.

Cxe. Apud.

"Cxe" indicates a certain "place, time", or "point of thought, discourse", etc., as, "Li estis cxe mia patro", He was with my father, or at my father's house. "Cxe la momento", At the moment. "Li estis cxe la pordo", He was at the door, "Cxeesti", To be present.

"Apud" means "close by, beside." It applies to place only, as "La knabo staris apud la patro", The boy stood by, or beside, the father.

VOCABULARY.

fundo : bottom. halt- : stop, halt.

brako : arm. ramp- : creep, crawl.

torcxo : torch. plant- : (to) plant.

serpento : serpent. multekosta : precious, statuo : statue. valuable.

saliko : willow. aux ... aux : either ... or.

Mi logxis cxe sxia patro. Gxi falis sur la fundon de la maro cxe la rompigxo de la sxipo. Cxe lumo de torcxoj. Brako cxe brako. Kaptis lin kelka timo cxe la penso. Nenio helpas; oni devas nur kuragxe resti cxe sia opinio. Sxi ridis cxe lia rakontado. Cxe cxiu vorto, kiun vi diros, el via busxo eliros aux floro aux multekosta sxtono.

Li haltis apud la pordo. La serpento rampis apud sxiaj piedoj. Kiam li estis cxe mi, li staris tutan horon apud la fenestro. Mi logxis en arbo apud via domo. Sxi plantis apud la statuo roza-rugxan salikon. La apudvojaj arboj.

LESSON 29.

En.

"En" means "in, inside;" when "n" is added to the noun which it precedes, it means "into", as "Kie vi estas? Mi estas en la domo. Kien vi iras? Mi iras en la gxardenon." Where are you? I am in the house.

Where are you going? I am going into the garden. "Malamiko venis en nian landon", An enemy came into our country.

VOCABULARY.

Hispanujo : Spain. muel- : grind.

humoro : humour, temper. turn- : turn.

paco : peace. divid- : divide.

pinglo : pin. do : then.

nasko-tago : birthday. gxuste : exactly, just.

faruno : flour. kvazaux : as if.

parto : part.

La birdo flugas en la cxambro ( = gxi estas en la cxambro, kaj flugas en gxi). La birdo flugas en la cxambron ( = gxi estas ekster la cxambro, kaj flugas nun en gxin). Mi vojagxas en Hispanujo. Mi vojagxas en Hispanujon. Kion do fari en tia okazo? Mi estas en bona humoro. Li murmuretis al la regxino en la orelon. En sekvo de tiu cxi okazo. Mi preferus resti en paco tie cxi. Sxia naskotago estis gxuste en la mezo de vintro. Li ekrigardis en la okulojn de la infano. Li estis bela granda viro en la agxo de kvardek jaroj. En la dauxro de mia tuta vivo.

En la fino de la jaro. Mano en mano. Enirinte en la vagonon, sxi sidis kvazaux sur pingloj. La greno mueligxas en farunon. Aleksandro turnigxis en polvon. Li dividis la pomon en du partojn.

LESSON 30.

Inter. Ekster. El.

"Inter" means "between, among", or "amongst." It is largely used as a prefix, as "interparoli", to converse; "internacia", international; "interkonsento", agreement; "sin intermeti", to interfere.

"Ekster" means "out of, outside", as "ekster dangxero", out of danger.

It is used as a prefix, as "eksterordinara", extraordinary.

"El" means "out of". It applies (i.) to "place", signifying motion from, as, "Mi eliris el la domo", I went out of the house. (ii.). "Chosen from among", as, "Unu el miaj infanoj", One of (from among) my children.

(iii.). "Made out of", as, "Tiu cxi sxtofo estas farita el lano", This cloth is made (out) of wool. "El" is used as a prefix, and means "out, outright", or "thoroughly", as, "Elfosi", to dig out; "Ellerni", to learn thoroughly.

VOCABULARY.

kolono : column, pillar. krono : crown.