Lesson 5 / 24

The accusative -n

Mark the direct object so word order can move freely.

After a verb that acts on something, add -n: Mi legas libron. The subject stays without -n. Because -n carries the role, Mi vidas Markon and Markon vidas mi mean the same. Adjectives take -n too: Mi legas novan libron.

A letter on the table

Read the story. Click a word to see what it means.

Lina leteron. leteron amiko .

Lina writes a letter. She writes the letter to a friend in another city.

vidas ĉe fenestro. belan .

She sees a bird at the window. The bird sings a beautiful song.

Tomaso malfermas . ĉambron libron.

Tomaso opens the door. He enters the room and takes the book.

? leteron. ? novan libron.

What does she send? She sends the letter. What does he take? The new book.

Read this aloud

  1. Kion vi legas? What are you reading?
  2. Mi legas novan libron pri Esperanto. I am reading a new book about Esperanto.
  3. Ĉu vi vidas la katon? Do you see the cat?
  4. Jes. La kato kuŝas sur la seĝon? Ne — sur la seĝo. Yes. Does the cat lie onto the chair? No — on the chair.

Location vs motion

After a preposition, stay without -n for location: sur la seĝo (on the chair). Add -n only if something moves onto it: sur la seĝon (onto the chair).

Words in this lesson

seĝo chair
pri about
kion what (object)
skribas writes
alia other
urbo city
birdo bird
kantas sings
kanto song
pordo door
eniras enters
prenas takes
sendas sends

Practice

Write the Esperanto. Do not forget -n on the object. Enter checks your answer.

I read a book.

libro + n.

I see the cat.

la kato + n.

I read a new book.

Both adjective and noun take -n.

She writes a letter.

skribi + object -n.

He takes the new book.

Both nova and libro take -n.

Build the word

Type the Esperanto, with -n if it is the object.

a letter (object)

letero + n.

a bird (object)

birdo + n.

a beautiful song (object)

Adjective and noun both take -n.

the new book (object)

la stays; nova and libro take -n.

Complete the sentences

Add the missing -n (type the full word).

Mi legas libro____.

The object of legas needs -n.

Ŝi vidas la kato____.

la katon.

Li kantas bela____ kanton.

The adjective agrees: belan.

Tomaso eniras la ĉambro____.

Motion into: ĉambron.