Chapter 9

render intransitive verbs transitive. The same is true of "el" prefixed to intransitive verbs not expressing motion:

Sxi priploris la mortintan birdon, she mourned the dead bird. Mi pripensos la aferon, I shall consider (think over) the matter. Ni gxin priparolos, we shall talk it over. Li klare elparolas la vortojn, he pronounces the words clearly.

[Footnote: In this use "pri" resembles the English and German inseparable prefix "be-", as in English "bemoan", "bewail", "bethink", "bespeak", German "beklagen", "besprechen", "sich" , etc.]

265. The accusative may be used after verbs of such meaning that either a prepositional phrase or an accusative would seem correct:

Mi pardonas lin (al li), I pardon (grant pardon to) him. Mi helpis lin (al li), I helped (gave aid to) him. Gxi placxas min (al mi), it pleases (is pleasing to) me. Li obeis nin (al ni), he obeyed (was obedient to) us. Sxi ridis mian timon (je mia timo), she ridiculed (laughed at) my fear.

[Footnote: When ambiguity would be caused, as by the presence of another accusative, this construction may not be employed. One may say "pardonu nin", but must say "pardonu al ni niajn pekojn".]

266. The accusative may be used after certain adverbs which are normally followed by a prepositional phrase:

Rilate tion (rilate al tio), in regard to that. Escepte tion (escepte de tio), with the exception of that. Koncerne la aferon (koncerne je la afero), concerning the affair. Kompare la alian (kompare kun la alia), in comparison with the other. Konforme la legxon (konforme al la legxo), in conformity to the law.

SYNOPSIS OF THE CONJUGATION OF THE VERB.

267. vidi, to see.

ACTIVE. PASSIVE.

INDICATIVE.

Present. (Aoristic) mi vidas mi estas vidata (Progressive) mi estas vidanta

Past. (Aoristic) mi vidis mi estis vidata (Imperfect) mi estis vidanta

Future. (Aoristic) mi vidos mi estos vidata (Progressive) mi estos vidanta

Perfect. mi estas vidinta mi estas vidita

Pluperfect. mi estis vidinta mi estis vidita

Future Perfect. mi estos vidinta mi estos vidita

Periphrastic Futures.

(Present). mi estas vidonta mi estas vidota

(Past). mi estis vidonta mi estis vidota

(Future). mi estos vidonta mi estos vidota

CONDITIONAL.

Present. (Aoristic) mi vidus mi estus vidata (Progressive) mi estus vidanta

Past. mi estus vidinta mi estus vidita

Future. mi estus vidonta mi estus vidota

IMPERATIVE.

Present. (Aoristic) mi vidu mi estu vidata (Progressive) mi estu vidanta

Past. mi estu vidinta mi estu vidita

Future. mi estu vidonta mi estu vidota

INFINITIVE.

Present. (Aoristic) vidi esti vidata (Progressive) esti vidanta

Perfect. esti vidinta esti vidita

Future. esti vidonta esti vidota

THE SUFFIX "-UM-".

268. The indefinite suffix "-um-" serves the same general purpose in word formation which "je" serves as an indefinite preposition (260):

aerumi = to air. kolumo = collar. busxumo = muzzle. plenumi = to fulfil. gustumi = to taste. proksimume = approximately.

VOCABULARY

eben-a = level, even. nepr-e = inevitably, certainly. escept-o = exception. obe-i = to obey. esper-i = to hope. obstin-a = obstinate. fremd-a = foreign. promes-i = to promise. histori-o = history. rilat-o = relation. kompar-i = to compare. sat-a = satiated. koncern-i = to concern. sav-i = to save. konform-i = to conform. verk-i = to compose (books or music).

LA REIRADO DE LA DEKMILO.

La grekaj militistoj sentis grandan teruron kiam Ciruso ne plu vivis. La celo de la longa marsxado ne povis esti plenumata, pro la morto de la obstina trokuragxa militestro mem. Kvankam la grekoj estis venkintoj, ili estis tute solaj en fremda lando, cxirkauxitaj de barbaroj kiuj, per trompemaj proponoj kaj falsaj promesoj pri amikaj interrilatoj, tuj okazigis la morton de la grekaj estroj. Senigite je siaj estroj, la kompatindaj viroj tute malesperis. Sed kelkaj subestroj, rapide kunveniginte la soldatojn, diris, "Ni mem kondukos vin per kiel eble plej rekta vojo hejmen! Ni faros nian eblon ("utmost") por ke ni cxiuj estu savitaj!" Cxar restis nenio alia por fari, la malfacila malgaja reirado de la grekoj komencigxis sen prokrasto. Ili transiris varmegajn ebenajxojn ("plains"), supreniris kaj malsupreniris krutajn negxkovritajn montojn, meze de la vintro, kaj sen pontoj transiris largxajn riverojn. Cxie la malfidindaj barbaroj atakis ilin, kvazaux por ke neniu greko restu viva. Krom tio, la grekoj mortis dekope kaj dudekope cxiutage, pro varmegeco, malvarmegeco, laceco kaj malsateco ("hunger"). Fine, post nekredeblaj suferoj, la restajxo de la dekmil soldatoj alvenis sur monton, kaj ekvidis la maron. Lauxta ekkriego "La maro! La maro!" eksonis inter la lacaj viroj, el kiuj multaj ploris larmojn de gxojo. De infaneco ili alkutimis al la vojagxado per akvo, kaj post iom da ripozo ili sin provizis je sxipoj, por transiri la maron al la patrujo je kiu ili estis tiel longe sopirintaj. Treege interesa historio koncerne la tutan aferon estas verkita de fama greka verkisto ("writer"), kiu estis akompaninta Ciruson por ke li povu gxui kaj studi cxion interesan sur la vojo. Tiu azia militado de Ciruso nepre estas unu el la plej rimarkindaj okazintajxoj iam priskribitaj, ecx sen escepto de la posta irado tien de Aleksandro Granda.

SENTENCES FOR TRANSLATION.

1. After the death of Cyrus, the leaders of the Greek warriors did not know what to do. 2. In the course of the following day, one of the leaders of the enemy sent a messenger (205) with deceitful promises about help. 2. He said "Assemble in our leader's tent, in order that you may all discuss the matter." 3. The Greek leaders went, although they suspected danger, because they did not know how else to save their men. 4. But they never returned, and soon the Greeks understood that the barbarians had killed them. 5. They wept tears of despair, and said "The barbarians will inevitably destroy us, for we are in a foreign land, where we know neither the languages nor the roads, and the peoples are without exception hostile to us." 6. But the leaders-of-lesser-rank said "Obey us and follow us, and we shall do our best to save you!" 7. Their return, across hot plains and snow-covered mountains, made-more-difficult by hunger and by the unceasing attacks of the barbarians, is related in the history written by a famous Greek historian. 8. One can still read this interesting narrative, in Greek or in a translation.

LESSON LVIII.

PERMISSION AND POSSIBILITY.

269. Permission is usually expressed by the use of "permesi", "lasi", or the imperative mood:

Cxu vi permesas ke mi restu? May I (do you permit me to) stay? Jes, mi permesas (jes, restu), yes, you may (yes, stay). Ne estas permesate eniri tien, it is not allowed to enter there. Lasu lin veni, let him come.

270. The idea of possibility or probability is given by the use of some such adverb as "eble", "kredeble", "versxajne", etc.:

Eble li obeos al vi, he may (perhaps he will) obey you. Kredeble li sukcesos, probably he will succeed. Versxajne vi estas prava, you are probably right. Eble oni lin savus, they might (possibly they would) save him. Ili nepre ne batis lin, they could not have (surely did not) beat him. Tio estas neebla! That can not be (that is impossible)!

THE PREFIX "GE-".

271. Words formed with the prefix "ge-" indicate the two sexes together:

gepatroj = parents. gefiloj = son(s) and daughter(s). geavoj = grandparents. gefratoj = brother(s) and sister(s). genepoj = grandchildren. geedzoj = husband(s) and wife (wives). gesinjoroj = Mr. and Mrs., lady (ladies) and gentleman (gentlemen).

THE SUFFIX "-ACX-".

272. The suffix "-acx-" has a disparaging significance:

domacxo = a hovel. pentracxi = to daub. hundacxo = a cur. popolacxo = rabble, mob. obstinacxa = obstinate. ridacxi = to guffaw.

INTERJECTIONS.

273. Interjections are words used to express feeling or call attention. Among the more common interjections are:

Adiaux! Farewell! (171). Hura! Hurrah! Fi! Fie! Nu! Well! Ho! Oh! Ho! Ve! Woe! (Ho ve! Alas!).

[Footnote: Verbs in the imperative, and adverbs, are frequently used as interjections, as "Atentu!", Look out!, "Auxskultu!", Hark!, "Bonvenu!", Welcome!, "Antauxen!", Forward!, "Bone!", Good!, "For!", Away!, "Ja!", Indeed!, "Jen!", There!, Behold!]

[Footnote: The interjection "fi" is sometimes used as a disparaging prefix, like "-acx-" (272), as "fibirdo", ugly bird, "ficxevalo", a sorry nag.]

VOCABULARY

Aleksandri-o = Alexandria. fond-i = to found, establish. Amerik-o = America. hispan-o = Spaniard. Aristotel-o = Aristotle. kapabl-a = capable. Auxstrali-o = Australia. komun-a = common, mutual. bibliotek-o = library. kontinent-o = continent. eduk-i = to bring up, educate. Krist-o = Christ. Egipt-o = Egypt. milion-o = million. estim-i = to esteem. spite = in spite of. firm-a = firm. vast-a = vast, extensive.

ALEKSANDRO GRANDA.

Permesu ke mi diru kelkajn vortojn pri la vivo de Aleksandro Granda, kiu ne estis matura viro sed havis nur dudek jarojn kiam li farigxis regxo. Liaj gepatroj estis tre zorge edukintaj lin, kaj la filozofo Aristotelo, kiun li tre alte estimis, estis unu el liaj instruistoj. Aleksandro firme tenadis sian propran regxolandon, kaj ankaux Grekujon, kiun lia patro estis venkinta; krom tio, li faris militadojn kontraux diversaj fremdaj landoj, unue en Azio, tiam en Afriko, kie li fondis urbon, kaj gxin nomis Aleksandrio. Aleksandrio nepre estis belega ricxa urbo. Tie trovigxis* poste la fama Aleksandria biblioteko. Se gxi ne estus detruita de fajro, en la dauxro de iuj militadoj, ni sendube konus multe pli bone la sciadon de la antikvaj grekoj, kiuj versxajne estis la plej klera popolo iam vivinta en Euxropo. Venkinte Egipton, Aleksandro reiris en Azion, gxis tre orienta kaj suda partoj, venkante cxiujn cxie, kvazaux ili estus la plej malkuragxaj popolacxoj en la mondo. Sed spite cxies petoj li estis obstinacxe nezorgema pri sia sano, kaj subite, ho ve, li mortis pro febro, tricent dektri jarojn antaux Kristo. Se li ne estus tiel frue mortinta, kiel multe li estus eble elfarinta! Li esperis venki Hispanujon, Italujon, kaj, mallongavorte, tiom de la okcidenta mondo kiom li jam posedis de la orienta. Tiam li celis kunigi cxion en unu vastan imperion, kvazaux por fari el la mondo unu grandan familion. Li intencis ke la milionoj da enlogxantoj akceptu komunajn legxojn kaj kutimojn, ecx komunan lingvon, -- kredeble la grekan. Eble li ja havis la kapablecon por fari cxion cxi. Estas pro tio ke oni ofte auxdas la diron "Aleksandro sopiris je aliaj mondoj por venki." Tamen, kiel malgranda estis tiu mondo kiun li konis! La tiamuloj konis nur malgrandan parton de Afriko, de Azio, ecx de Euxropo. Ili sciis nenion pri Anglujo, aux pri la vastaj kontinentoj Auxstralio, norda kaj suda Amerikoj.

[Footnote: The use of "trovigxi", and also of "sin trovi", "kusxi", "stari" and "sidi", in a sense not greatly differing from that of "esti", avoids the monotonous repetition of forms of "esti", just as English uses "lie", "sit", "perch", etc., in narration for similar reasons: Multaj vilagxoj trovigxas tie, many villages are (situated) there. Egipto trovigxas en la nordorienta parto de Afriko, Egypt is (found) in the northeastern part of Africa. Li sin trovis sola en la dezerto, he found himself (he was) alone in the desert. La urbo kusxis inter du lagoj, the city lay between two lakes. Sur la montflanko sidis vilagxeto, on the mountainside perched a tiny village.]

SENTENCES FOR TRANSLATION.

1. Alexander the Great wished to unite the whole world into one vast empire. 2. He intended that all the different peoples should conform to common laws and that their sons-and-daughters should speak one common language, and in spite of their love for their national languages, should leave-off speaking them. 3. Possibly he might have accomplished his object to some extent (217), if he had not died suddenly when he was only thirty-two years old. 4. His soldiers marched weeping past his tent, to bid farewell to their dying leader. 5. They must have esteemed him very highly! 6. It was Alexander who founded the city of Alexandria, in Egypt, where approximately three hundred years before Christ the famous Alexandrian library was located. 7. It contained an enormous collection-of-books -- almost seven hundred thousand. 8. Alas, this extensive library was destroyed by fire! 9. Alexander, who "sighed for other worlds to conquer," did not even know of the existence of North and South America, Australia, or even of England and Northern Europe. 10. Beside his Asiatic empire, he knew very little of Asia, even of China, with its millions of inhabitants. 11. How small the world was in those days!

LESSON LIX.

THE POSITION OF UNEMPHATIC PRONOUNS.

274. An unemphatic personal, indefinite or demonstrative pronoun very frequently precedes the verb of which it is the object. This is especially true if the verb in question is an infinitive:

Mi volas lin vidi, I wish to see him. Li povos tion fari, he will be able to do that. Vi devus ion mangxi, you ought to eat something. Cxu vi gxin kredis? Did you believe it? Se li min vidus, li min savus, if he should see me, he would save me.

[Footnote: Cf. in other languages, as in German "ich moechte ihn sehen", French "je veux le voir", Latin "se alunt, me defendi", etc. That such pronouns "are" unemphatic can be seen from English "let her come" (= "let'er come"), "make him stop" (= "make'im stop"), etc., in which the unemphatic forms "er, im", replace "him, her", in pronunciation (cf. the Greek enclitic pronouns "mou, moi, me, son, soi, se, ou, oi, e,", the Sanskrit enclitic forms "ma, me, tva, te, nas, vas, enam, enat, enam," also "sim", and the Avestan "i, im"). The same phenomenon is indicated in "prithee" (= "pray thee"), and in the spellings "gimme" (= "give me"), "lemme" (= "let me"), in dialect stories.]

SOME INTRANSITIVE VERBS.

275. Some intransitive verbs have English meanings which do not differ in form from the transitive English verbs to which they are related. In Esperanto the suffix "-ig-" (214) must be used when the transitive meaning is desired. Some examples are given in the following table:

Verb. Intransitive Use. Transitive Use.

Boli . . . . La akvo bolas Li boligas la akvon The water boils He boils the water

Bruli. . . . La fajro brulas Li bruligis la paperon The fire burns He burned the paper

Cxesi. . . . La bruo cxesas Li cxesigas la bruon The noise stops He stops the noise

Dauxri . . . La bruo dauxras Li dauxrigas la bruon The noise continues He continues the noise

Degeli . . . La glacio degelas Li gxin degeligas per fajro The ice thaws He thaws it with fire

Droni. . . . La knabino dronis La viro sxin dronigis The girl drowned The man drowned her

Eksplodi . . Pulvo eksplodas Li gxin eksplodigos Gunpowder explodes He will explode it

Halti. . . . Li haltis timigite Li haltigis la soldatojn He halted in alarm He halted the soldiers

Lumi . . . . La suno lumas Li lumigis la lampon The sun shines He lighted the lamp

Pasi . . . . La tempo pasas Tiel li pasigis la tagon Time passes Thus he passed the day

Pendi. . . . Gxi pendas de brancxo Li gxin pendigis de brancxo It hangs on a branch He hung it on a branch

Soni . . . . La saluta pafo sonis Oni sonigis la salutan pafon The salute sounded They sounded the salute

Sonori . . . La sonorilo sonoris Oni sonorigis la sonorilon The bell rang They rang the bell

[Footnote: A transitive use of such intransitive verbs would be like using the English intransitive verb "learn" for the transitive verb "teach," as in the "I'll learn you" (for "I'll teach you") of illiterate speech.]

THE SUFFIX "-ER-".

276. The suffix "-er-" is used to form words expressing units or component parts of that which is indicated in the root:

fajrero = spark (of fire). negxero = snowflake. monero = coin. sablero = grain of sand.

THE PREFIXES "BO-" AND "DUON-".

277. The prefix "bo-" indicates relationship by marriage. To indicate half-blood relationship, or step-relationship, "duon-" (166) is used:

bopatro = father-in-law. duonpatro = stepfather. bofratino = sister-in-law. duonfrato = half-brother.

CORRESPONDENCE.

278. a. Letters should be dated as indicated in the following:

Bostono, je la 24a de decembro, 1912a. Nov-Jorko, la 24an decembro, 1912a. Sirakuzo, 24/XII/1912.

b. The usual methods of address are (to strangers and in business letters): "Sinjoro, Sinjorino, Estimata Sinjoro, Karaj Sinjoroj, Tre estimata Frauxlino," etc.; (to friends and relatives) "Kara Frauxlino, Karaj Gefratoj, Kara Amiko, Kara Mario, Patrino mia," (placing the possessive adjective after the noun in this way gives an affectionate sense, as in English "Mother mine," etc) etc.; (to persons whose opinions on some subject are known to agree with those of the writer) "Estimata (Kara) Samideano" ("follower of the same idea").