Questions & Answers about Akvo likas el la krano.
Why is there no la before akvo?
In Esperanto, la means the, but it is used only when the noun is specific or already identified.
So:
- Akvo likas el la krano. = Water is leaking from the faucet.
- La akvo likas el la krano. would mean The water is leaking from the faucet, referring to some specific water already being talked about.
Here, akvo is being used in a general sense, so no article is needed.
What does the -as ending in likas mean?
The ending -as marks the present tense in Esperanto.
So:
- likas = leaks / is leaking
- likis = leaked / was leaking
- likos = will leak
This is one of the most regular parts of Esperanto: every present-tense verb ends in -as.
Why is the verb likas and not something like estas likanta?