Chapter 4

2. There is no indefinite article in Esperanto. Patro, a Father; or merely Father, as the case may be.

3. "NOT" is expressed by "NE." Mi ne havas amikon, I have not a friend.

4. Questions are introduced by "Cxu." Cxu mi ne havas amikon? Have I not a friend?

5. ESTI, to be, is the auxxiliary verb in Esperanto. Havi, to have, is never an auxxiliary.

N.B.--There are no exceptions or irregularities in Esperanto.

The VOCABULARY has been simplified by about 30 affixes, which are used to modify the meanings of root words. The commonest are the following PREFIXES:--

BO indicates relationship by marriage. Bofrato, Brother-in-law.

DIS indicates separation, as in English. Dissxiri, to tear to pieces.

EK indicates the commencement of an action. Eklerni, to begin to learn.

MAL is always used to indicate OPPOSITES. Varma, warm. Malvarma, cool. Amiko, friend. Malamiko, enemy.

RE denotes the repetition of an action. Relerni, to relearn. Rediri, to say again.

The principal SUFFIXES are the following:--

AJX signifies an object made from--thus, Fruktajxo, something made from fruit.

AR signifies a collection of. Arbo, a tree. Arbaro, a forest.

EBL signifies possibility. Videble, visibly. Lernebla, learnable.

EC signifies an abstract quality. Boneco, goodness. Beleco, beauty.

EG signifies increase. It is the augmentative suffix. Granda, large. Grandega, immense.

EJ signifies the place where an action takes place. Lernejo, school. Pregxejo, church.

ET is the diminutive suffix. Infaneto, a little child. Varmeta, lukewarm.

IG denotes the causing of an action. Morti, to die. Mortigi, to kill.

IGX denotes turning or becoming. Paligxi, to turn pale. Fortigxi, to become strong.

IL denotes the instrument by which an action is performed. Kudri, to sew. Kudrilo, a needle.

IN denotes the feminine. Patro, father. Patrino, mother. Onklo, uncle. Onklino, aunt.

IST denotes the occupation, or means of livelihood. Botisto, bootmaker. Servisto, manservant.

UL denotes the possession of a Quality or Attribute. Blindulo, a blind man. Danculo, a dancing man.

By means of these affixes, the Vocabulary is enormously simplified.

The Free Classes continue as usual:

Every Wednesday evening, at 6.30, The Gouin School, 34, Harrington Road, South Kensington.

Every Thursday, at 6.30, at The Gouin School, 16, Finsbury Circus, E.C. (Apply to Miss Schafer, 8, Gloucester Crescent, Regent's Park, N.W.).

Every Thursday, at The Gouin School, 16, Finsbury Circus, a Conversational Class, at 8 p.m.

Every Tuesday, at The Commercial College, Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, E., 7.45 p.m.

For the convenience of Esperantists, all works dealing with the language can now be obtained by writing to the Librarian, P. Howard, Esq., The Bungalow, Cranes Park, Surbiton, Surrey.

The books most read are:--

"Student's Complete Textbook," by J. C. O'Connor, B.A., 1s. 8d., post free (revised edition).

"Thirty five Exercises with Keys," by A. Motteau, 1s. 3d., post free (6 copies for 6s. 6d.).

"No. 52," a short Grammar, by the Hon. R. H. Geoghegan. Price 7d., post free. This is a capital preliminary work for giving to friends to arouse their interest. For this purpose we will supply _subscribers_ with 6 copies for 2s. 6d., post free.

Three Tales by Tolstoy and Pushkin, 1s. 1d.

Fundamenta Krestomatio; Dr. Zamenhof, 3s. 4d.

"Hamlet," translated by Dr. Zamenhof, 2s.

Grammar in French or German, 1s. 6d.

Commentaire in French, 2s.

Prose Selections, 2s. 6d. and 1s. 6d.

Stories from back "L'Esperantistes," 2d. each.

"Tourist's Phrase-Book," in 6 languages, 6d.

Esperanta Sintakso de P. Fruictier, 1s. 6d.

The following monthly magazines can be obtained. The annual subscriptions are:--

"La Lingvo Internacia," printed wholly in Esperanto, 3s. 6d.

"L'Esperantiste," in French and Esperanto, 4s.

"La Lumo," in French, English, and Esperanto, 2s. 6d.

"La Belga Sonorilo," in French, Flemish, and Esperanto, 2s. 6d.

"La Bohema Esperantisto," in Czech and Esperanto, 3s.

The new monthly "Internacia Scienca Revuo." Subscription 6s. per annum.

A New Hobby that may bring you a living, 7d.

Fabloj de La Fontaine; Vojagxo interne de mia Cxambro; and Advokato Patelin, 1s. each.

The English-Esperanto and Esperanto-English Dictionaries, 2s. 6d. each.

"French-Esperanto Vocabulaire," 2s. 6d.; "Esperanto-French Dictionnaire," 1s. 6d.

"Braille Instruction-Book for the Blind," 4s.

Translation of the above into English, 6d.

Neat star-shaped Badges, for use when travelling, are kept in stock. Price 9d. each.

End of Project Gutenberg's The Esperantist, Vol. 1, No. 6, by Various