Lesson 2:
Verbs

Basic Forms

The Simple Tenses

There are three simple tenses: past, present, and future, which end in -is, -as, and -os, respectively.

Mi vidis, mi vidas, kaj mi vidos.

I saw, I see, and I will see.

Use of the Simple Tenses

These three tenses are used for almost everything in Esperanto. The simple past tense refers almost everything that occured in the past. The present tense refers to almost everything that currently occurs. The future tense refers to almost everything that will occur.

Mi lavis ĝin. Mi lavis ĝin. Mi lavas ĝin. Mi lavas ĝin.

I washed it. I have washed it. I wash it. I am washing it.

The Moods

There are three moods in Esperanto: conditional, imperative, and infinitve which end in -us, -u, and -i, respectively.

Vidus, vidu, vidi

Would see, see!, to see

Use of the Moods

The conditional is used in conditional statements and polite requests.

Se mi estus riĉa, mi estus kontenta. Ĉu vi farus ion utilan?

If I were rich, I would be content. Would you do something useful?

The imperative is used to command or express desire. It is used more often than in English.

Iru! Ni vidu. Kion mi donu al vi?

Go! Let us see. What shall I give you?

The infinitive is used as in English and after prepositions.

Mi volas legi. Mi lernas per legi.

I want to read. I learn by reading.

The Participles

There are three active participles: past, present, and future, which end in -inta, -anta, and -onta, respectively.

Mi estas vidinta, vidanta, kaj vidonta.

I have seen, am seeing, and am about to see.

There are also three passive participles: past, present, and future, which end in -ita, -ata, and -ota, respectively.

Mi estas vidita, vidata, aŭ vidota.

I have been seen, am seen, or am about to be seen.

Use of Participles

Technically, participles are adjectives and are used and inflected as such. They are also used in compound tenses and still inflected.

La promenanta viro promenas. La viroj estas promenintaj.

The walking man walks. The men have walked.

By changing the final -a to -o or -e, the participle may be used as a noun (person) or adverb, respectively.

Vidote, la pekanto kaŝiĝas.

About to seen, the sinner hides.

Complex Forms

Formation of Compound Verbs

Compound verbs are formed by any tense or mood of the verb esti and any participle of the main verb. This yields 36 compound verb forms for each verb.

Mi estis leginta la libron.

I have read the book.

Use of Compound Tenses

The tense or mood of esti, the auxiliary verb, gives the time frame: before now (-is), now (-as), or after now (-os), or the mood: conditional (-us), imperative (-u), or infinitive (-i) of the compound verb. The tense of the participle tells whether the action had/has/will-have been completed (-inta or -ita), was/is/will-be in progress (-anta or -ata), or had/has/will-have not yet been started (-onta or -ota) relative to the timeframe or mood given by the auxiliary verb. Whether the participle is active or passive, determines whether the resulting compound verb is active or passive. Never use a compound tense if a simple one will do!

Mi estis leginta la libron. Estu farita! Mi estas mortigota.

I had read the book. Be done! I am about to be killed.

Notes on Verbs

The Agent in the Passive Voice

In the passive voice, the agent may be introduced by the preposition de.

Mi estos amata de li.

I will be loved by him.

Impersonal Verbs

When an action isn't done by any particular subject, then the subject is omitted. This differs from English which uses "there" or "it" in place of a subject.

Pluvas.

It is raining.