Lesson 11:
Miscellaneous

Simple Questions

Ka(d)

A simple statement is made into a simple question asking if that statement is true by placing the word ka(d) before it.

The word yes means "yes", and no means "no".

Me vu plezas. Ka me vu plezas? Yes, men vu plezas.

You like me. Do you like me? Yes, I like you.

Elision

Definite Article

La may be replaced by l' and adjoined to the followed word if it beings with a vowel.

Also, by omitting the a altogether, contractions may be formed: dal = da la, del = de la, dil = di la, al = ad la.

L'amikino dil urbestro esas belega.

The girlfriend of the mayor is very beautiful.

Adjectives

The final -a of adjectives may be omitted if no confusion would arise.

Quala bel muliero!

What a beautiful woman!

Pronouns

The u may be omitted from the following personal pronouns if no ending or suffix follows the root: ilu, elu, and olu.

The initial i may be omitted from the following demonstratives if no prefix precedes the root: ita, ito, iti, ica, ico, and ici.

Other Words

The d may be omitted from the following words: kad, ad, ed, and od.

Direct Derivation

Adjectives to Adverbs

Adverbs may be formed from adjectives by changing the final -a to -e.

La puerino bela facas ico. La puerino bele facas ico.

The beautiful girl did this. The girl did this beautifully.

Prepositions to Adverbs

Adverbs may be formed from prepositions by adding a final -e. Some prepositions may be turned into adjectives by the addition of an -a.

Ante, antee, antea.

Before, previously, previous.

Adjectives to Nouns

Nouns may be formed from adjectives by changing the ending from -a to -o. Nouns formed in this manner mean "one which is _" or "_ one".

Bona, la bono. Acesora, acesoro.

Good, the good one. Accessory, an accessory.

Nouns to Adjectives

Adjectives may be formed from nouns by changing the ending from -o to -a. Adjectives formed in this manner mean "which is (a) _". Note the difference from the suffixes -e and -atr.

Oro, ora kuliero, orea kuliero.

Gold, gold spoon, gold-colored spoon.

Rozo, roza planto, rozatra planto.

Rose, rose plant, rose-like plant.

Nouns to Verbs

Nouns may be formed from verbs by changing the ending from -ar to -o. Nouns formed in this manner mean "an act of _ing". Use affixes to derive nouns from verbs differently.

Batar, bato. Dancar, la danso.

To beat, a beating. To Dance, a dance.

Expressing Date and Time

The Date

The date is expressed as: day (ordinal), month (name), year (cardinal).

12-ma septembro 1914.

September 12th, 1914.

What time is it?

Kloko and kloki mean "o'clock". Always reckon quarters and minutes from the last hour, not to the next one. A 24 hour clock may be used.

Qua kloko esas? Non kloki quaradek.

What time is it? Nine forty.

Kand? Ye du kloki e duimo.

When? At half-past two.