Esperanto at Stanford University

Lesson Zero - Word Order

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Lesson Zero - Word Order

1. There is indeed strict word order for some things in Esperanto. But the case of the “Direct Object” shows where the flexibility of Esperanto allows The International Language to be used easily by many cultures.

   The direct object takes an _n ending. This frees it to be in any word order within a clause.

   Mi amas.	I love.
   Mi amas vin.	I love you. (Direct object is “you”.)

   The following variations all mean the same thing. Different languages/cultures use different word order.

   Mi vin amas.	I love you. (I, for you am loving.)
   Vin mi amas.	I love you. (It is you that i love.)
   Vin amas mi.	I love you. (You are loved by me.)
   Amas mi vin.	I love you. (Love is what i have for you.)
   Amas vin mi.	I love you. (Loving you is what i'm doing.)

2. When trying to understand compound words they are created in a strict order. The last (right-most) root is modified by preceeding roots in order.

   kantbirdo	song-bird
   birdkanto	bird-song
   blubirdo	bluebird
   birdblua	bird blue (a color)

Back to Pronouns

Next to A few final items