Coordinated Objects

When kaj “and,” aŭ “or,” or nek “nor” joins two objects, both coordinated parts have the same grammatical role. Each Esperanto word capable of showing that role therefore takes the appropriate accusative -n. In Mi aĉetis panon kaj lakton, both foods are direct objects of aĉetis.

The central idea is shared function, independently visible marking. The conjunction joins equivalent units; it does not carry the accusative for them. All unlabelled constructions on this page are neutral modern Esperanto in speech and writing.

Each coordinated object shows its role

With two noun objects, each noun takes -n:

The visible repetition is meaningful. Compare a coordinated subject, where neither noun has -n:

In the last sentence, fronting does not change the roles. Both proper names remain accusative, while the postverbal la najbaroj is the unmarked subject.

Agreement happens inside every conjunct

An adjective, possessive, participial adjective, or eligible determiner agrees with the noun it directly describes. When each conjunct has its own modifiers, each complete phrase shows accusative case:

Number and case combine in the order -j-n: pentritajn pejzaĝojn. Numerals such as du and unu do not take either ending.

A single modifier can sometimes describe a coordinated group, but attachment may be unclear. In Mi aĉetis freŝajn pomojn kaj pirojn, the once-expressed freŝajn can be understood as describing both fruits, though a reader may initially attach it only to pomojn. Repetition removes doubt:

For learners and in precision-oriented (formal) writing, repeat a modifier when its intended scope matters.

Pronouns and correlatives coordinate the same way

Personal pronouns take their ordinary object forms: min, vin, lin, ŝin, ĝin, nin, ilin, sin. Eligible correlatives in -u, -o, and -a also take -n; other correlative endings are invariable.

In the exchange, the nouns are omitted but understood. The remaining correlative and adjectives still stand in object phrases and therefore keep -n. This is not optional “agreement at a distance”; each visible word has the same form it would have with the noun present.

Some words cannot show accusative morphologically. Ambaŭ “both,” numerals, and correlatives ending in -es, -am, -al, -el, or -om do not accept -n. Their role is established by syntax and context:

The absence of ambaŭn is a property of the word ambaŭ, not an exception allowing case to be dropped from ordinary nouns beside it.

Alternatives and negative coordination

With aŭ, each alternative fills the same object slot:

In the second example, kurson is expressed only once. Both la matenan and la vesperan describe the shared noun, and both adjectives take object -n. This is noun ellipsis inside coordination.

Negative coordination with nek ... nek also preserves object case:

The paired nek ... nek construction already supplies the negation, so it does not need an additional ne. The dedicated nek ... nek page covers its scope. Object marking remains lin, min.

Do not confuse coordinated objects with other coordinated roles

The conjunction joins expressions that normally have the same function. A shared preposition can govern both nouns, so neither becomes an accusative object:

Here kun scopes over both names: kun Ana kaj [kun] Petro. Repeating it—kun Ana kaj kun Petro—is also correct and may be clearer. Adding -n to the second name would wrongly mix a prepositional complement with an object.

Coordination can also link whole clauses or verb phrases rather than two objects:

La raporton is the object of legis; al la aŭtoro is the complement of respondis. They are not a coordinated pair merely because kaj occurs between them.

Coordination can also be nested inside a longer sentence, so punctuation and parallel structure matter. Compare the following two patterns:

Here panon, fromaĝon, and vinon all fill the object slot of aĉeti. By contrast, the next kaj joins two infinitive phrases, each with its own object:

The useful diagnostic is not simply “look on both sides of kaj.” Expand the sentence into its parallel parts: aĉeti panon plus prepari supon. Case marking remains local to each phrase even when the whole pair is embedded after another verb.

Direction and measure can also be coordinated

Not every coordinated -n phrase is an object. Directional and measure uses follow the same parallel logic:

Norden and okcidenten are directions. Tri kilometrojn and understood du [kilometrojn] are extents. Coordination preserves their common roles, but neither pair is licensed as a direct object by veturi or marŝi.

Norm, variation, and clarity

The Fundamenta system requires -n on accusative-capable words in object phrases. PMEG describes kaj as linking words or groups that play the same role and gives ordinary examples with two objects. Corpus usage confirms both explicit repetition (panon kaj lakton) and economical sharing of a preposition or head noun.

Accepted omission concerns material that is recoverable: a repeated preposition, modifier, or noun may be left out. It does not normally concern the case ending of an expressed noun or adjective. For clear international style, keep parallel conjuncts structurally parallel, especially in long lists.

Common Mistakes

1. Marking only the first object.

2. Forgetting agreement in the second noun phrase.

3. Adding -n inside a shared prepositional phrase.

4. Inventing an accusative form of an invariable word.

5. Treating free order as permission to mix roles.

Key Takeaways

• Coordinated objects share one grammatical relation, and every eligible expressed word shows that relation.
• Modifiers agree inside each conjunct; omitted nouns leave their case on the remaining adjective or correlative.
• A shared preposition can govern both coordinated nouns, which then do not take object -n.
• Aŭ and nek ... nek preserve accusative marking just as kaj does.
• Coordinated directional or measure phrases may end in -n without being objects.