The International Auxiliary Language Esperanto Part 36

Examples.--_Mi havas_ (or, _posedas_) _du cevalojn_ = I have got two horses. _Kion vi havas?_ = What have you got?

(4). To "get," in the sense of to "procure," "fetch," is rendered by havigi, or, venigi.

Examples.--_Mi havigos al mi tiom, kiom mi povos_ = I shall get as much as I can. _Venigu al mi veturilon_ = Get me a carriage. _Venigu la kuraciston_ = Send for (get) the doctor.

(5). "Get" is translated in various other ways according to its meaning. Note the following examples:--

_Alveni en_ = To get to, to arrive at.

_Alkonduku mian cevalon_ = Get my horse.

_Alportu al mi la mustardon_ = Get me the mustard.

_Mi ricevis vian leteron_ = I got your letter.

(6). To "get," followed by prepositions, etc., must be translated in accordance with the sense of the phrase.

Examples:--

To get across = _transiri_.

To get along, forward, on = _antaueniri_.

To get at (attain, reach) = _atingi_.

To get back (something lent) = _rericevi_, (to a place) = _reveni_.

To get down = _deiri_, _malsupreniri_.

To get off (be acquitted) = _senkulpigi_, (escape) = _forkuri_, (a horse or coach) = _deiri_.

To get dirty = _malpurigi_.

To get on (a horse or coach) = _supreniri_, (in learning) = _progresadi_, (in business) = _prosperi_.

To get on with (continue) = _daurigi_.

To get out (of doors) = _eliri_, (publish) = _eldoni_, or, _elirigi_.

To get over (across) = _transiri_, (surmount) = _venki_.

To get ready = _pretigi_ (trans.), _pretigi_ (intrans.).

To get round (coax, allure) = _logi_, _allogi_, (persuade) = _konvinki_.

To get up (rise) = _levigi_, (ascend) = _supreniri_.

Can and Could.

237 (_l_). "Can" and "could" are translated by povi = _to be able_, except when "can" has the permissive sense of "may" (see par. 237 (_m_) (3)).

Examples.--_Mi ne povas lin vidi nuntempe_ = I cannot see him at present. _Li ne povis iri hierau_ = He could not go yesterday. _Li povus iri hodiau, se li volus_ = He could (would be able to) go to day, if he would.

For other examples of "can" and "could," see povi, par. 237 (_f_).

May and Might.

237 (_m_). These verbs are used (1) as auxiliaries in the English Subjunctive mood; also to express (2) wish, (3) permission, (4) possibility, (5) power or ability.

(1). When used as auxiliary verbs, they can be expressed by the Esperanto Imperative mood.

Examples.--_Li rapidas, por ke li alvenu gustatempe_ = He hastens that he may arrive in time. _Li kuris rapide, por ke li ne maltrafu la vagonaron_ = He ran quickly that he might not miss the train.

(2). When they express "wish," the Esperanto Imperative is also used.

Examples.--_Vi estu felica!_ = May you be happy! _Via deziro efektivigu!_ = May your wish be realized! _Cielo vin benu!_ = May Heaven bless you! _Nenio difektu vian felicon!_ = May nothing mar your happiness! _Cia beno estu via!_ = May every blessing be yours!

In the above examples ellipsis takes place both in Esperanto and English, some such words as _mi deziras, ke ..._ = I wish that..., being omitted (par. 66 (_c_)). _Ke vi prosperu, estas mia fervora deziro!_ = That you may succeed, is my fervent desire! _Ke li vivu, estis mia ciutaga prego!_ = That he might live, was my daily prayer! _Mi mortu, se mi iom mensogas!_ = May I die, if I am lying at all!

(3). When they express "permission," some word denoting this must be used, or the imperative may be used, the verb expressing permission being omitted (par. 58 (_a_)). The English verb "can" is sometimes employed to express the permissive sense of "may"; in that case it is better to avoid the use of povi = _to be able_.

Examples.--_Cu vi (oni) permesas, ke mi parolu kun vi?_ = May (can) I speak to you? (lit., Do you permit that I speak to you?) _Cu oni permesas_, (or, _cu estas permesate_), _ke mi vidu la kastelon?_ = May (can) I see the castle? _Mi permesas, ke vi tion faru, se vi volas_, or, _Vi faru tion, se vi volas_ = You may (I permit that you) do that, if you like. _Se mi estus permesita tion diri_ (or, _se estus permesite_, or, _se oni permesus_, _ke mi tion diru_) = If I might (were permitted to) say so (that).

The above questions may be shortened thus:--_Cu mi parolu kun vi?

Cu mi vidu la kastelon?_ in this sense. The ellipsis understood here might, however, equally well be _Cu_ (_vi volas_, _cu necesas_, _cu estas bone_, _ke_) _mi parolu? vidu la kastelon?_ = Shall I (Am I to) speak (see the castle)?

(4). When they express "possibility," some word showing that the action is more or less a matter of doubt must be used, as eble = _possibly_, kredeble = _probably_, etc.

Examples.--_Eble li venos_ = He _may_ come, _or_, Maybe (possibly) he will come. _Eble li trancos la fingron, se vi donos al li trancilon_ = He may (possibly he will) cut his finger, if you (will) give him a knife. _Eble li venus, se vi lin invitus_ = He might (possibly he would) come, if you invited (were to invite) him. _Se vi tien irus, eble_ (_kredeble_) _vi lin vidus_ = If you went (were to go) there, you might (possibly, probably would) see him.

Note that the possibility of something happening varies with the adverb used. "May" rendered by _eble_ throws greater doubt on the contingency than _kredeble_.

(5). When they express "power," or "ability," povi = _to be able_ can be used.

Examples.--_La malsano povas konduki el komplikajoj_ = The illness may lead to complications. _Li povus tion fari, se li antaue volus_ (or, _estus volinta_) _gin fari_ = He might (could) have done that, if he had wished to do it.

Shall and Will.

237 (_n_). These verbs are used in English to denote:--

(1). Futurity.

(2). Determination or will.

As they are sometimes misplaced, it would be well for the student, not thoroughly conversant with their proper use, to consult some good English Grammar.

(1). Futurity. As the auxiliary for the Future tense, "shall," in _direct_ speech, is generally used for the first person, and "will"

for the second and third persons, as "_I_, or _we_, _shall go_,"

"_He_, _you_, or _they will go_," except in interrogation, when "shall" is generally used for the second person, as "Shall you go?"

But in _indirect_ speech "shall" is used for all three persons, as, "_He says he shall come._" "_You say you shall write._" In any of these cases they are translated by the future in _-os_.

(2). Determination or Will. When the meaning is not futurity, but _determination_ on the part of the speaker, then, in _direct_ speech, "will" is used for the first person, and "shall" for the second and third persons, as, "I _will_ do it, you cannot stop me." "You _shall_ not kill that bird." "Thou _shalt_ not steal." But in _indirect_ speech "will" is used for all the persons, as, "He says he _will_ go"

(it is his determination to go). "You say you _will_ try it" (you are determined to try it). In such cases one must, in Esperanto, use not the future, but the imperative, or some word expressing "will" or "determination."

N.B.--In some cases it is difficult to tell in which of the above senses "shall" or "will" is used, unless the context makes it clear; so, in writing, we have to underline the words, or, in speaking, to emphasize them strongly when they mean "determination." Note carefully their meaning in the following sentences. The number prefixed to each example denotes the heading under which it comes.

Examples.--(1). _Mi revenos, kiam ili foriros_ = I shall come back when they go away. (2). _Mi intencas gin fari, cu vi konsentos, au ne_ = I _will_ (intend to) do it whether you consent or not. (1). _Vi mortigos tiun birdon, se vi rekte pafos_ = You will kill that bird if you shoot straight. (2). _Mi ne permesas, ke vi mortigu tiun birdon_ = You _shall_ not (I do not allow you to) kill that bird. (1). _Mi scias, ke vi gin faros_ = I know that you will do it. (2). _Mi scias, ke vi povas gin fari, se vi volos_ = I know you can do it if you _will_.

Note the difference in meaning of "shall" and "will" in the following sentences:--I shall/will not see you to-morrow unless you come early.

If "shall" be used, it means that something will prevent the speaker from seeing the individual; the speaker may be out, or engaged; therefore, since the reason is unimportant, we can translate the sentence, as in English, by the future, as:--(1). _Mi ne vidos vin morgau, se vi ne_ (or, _krom se vi_) _venos frue_. But if "will" be used, determination on the part of the speaker is implied; nothing prevents him; he could see you if he wished, but he _will_ not (won't). Therefore, in Esperanto, we must express this determination, and say (2). _Mi ne volas_ (or, _mi ne intencas_) _vin vidi morgau, krom se vi venos frue_ = I _will_ not (I do not intend to) see you to-morrow unless you come early. (1). _Mi ne mortos sola_ = I shall not die alone. (2). _Mi ne volas_ (or, _mi certe ne intencas_) _morti sola_ = I _will_ not (I certainly do not intend to) die alone. (1).

_Cu vi estos_ (or, _ceestos_) _tie ci morgau?_ = Will you be here to-morrow? (1). _Jes, mi estos_ = Yes, I will. Note that "will" here repeats the verb in the question, and is used instead of "shall."

(1). _Li diras, ke li venos, sed_ (1) _cu li venos?_ or, (2) _cu li volos?_ = He says he will come, but will he? Here the words "but will he?" must be translated in accordance with the sense to be conveyed, viz.:--(1) will something prevent him? (2) will he have the will?

The phrase "Shall I do that?" can be translated by the future, _Cu mi tion faros?_ = Is it a fact that I shall do that? or, _Cu estos plej bone tion fari_ = Is it best to do that? or, _Cu estos profite_, _sage_, _k.c._ = Will it be expedient, wise, etc., or, _Cu decos, ke mi tion faru?_ = Will it be proper (right) to do that?

or, _Cu vi volas_ (or, _deziras_), _ke mi tion faru_, or, _Cu mi faru tion?_ = Shall I (do you wish me to, Am I to) do that? (1). _Cu vi iros?_ = Shall you go? (2). _Cu vi volas iri?_ = _Will_ you go?