La trupo konsistas el aktoroj.

In Esperanto, konsisti normally goes with el. The full pattern is:

• konsisti el io = to consist of something

So:

• La trupo konsistas el aktoroj = The troupe consists of actors

Here el is the standard preposition used with this verb, just as English uses of after consist.

That is just how the expression works in Esperanto. While el often literally means out of / from, after konsisti it means of in the sense of composition.

So you can think of it as:

• konsisti el = be made up of

This is very natural Esperanto, even if the preposition does not match English word-for-word.

Because aktoroj is not the direct object of the verb.

The -n ending is used for:

• direct objects
• motion toward something in some cases

But here aktoroj comes after the preposition el, and nouns after prepositions normally do not take -n.

So:

• el aktoroj = correct
• el aktorojn = incorrect

Because the sentence says the troupe is made up of actors in general, meaning more than one actor.

In Esperanto:

• aktoro = actor
• aktoroj = actors

The -j ending marks the plural.

Because aktoroj is being used in a general, indefinite sense: actors, not the actors.

Compare:

• La trupo konsistas el aktoroj = The troupe consists of actors
• La trupo konsistas el la aktoroj = The troupe consists of the actors

The second version would mean some specific actors already known from context.

Because la marks a specific noun: the troupe.

So:

• trupo = a troupe
• la trupo = the troupe

Esperanto la works a lot like English the. In this sentence, the speaker is talking about a particular troupe, not just any troupe.

This sentence is a good example of Esperanto's regular endings:

• tru-p-o

  • trup- = the root
  • -o = noun ending
    So trupo means troupe

• konsist-as

  • konsist- = the verb root
  • -as = present tense
    So konsistas means consists

• aktor-o-j

  • aktor- = actor
  • -o = noun
  • -j = plural
    So aktoroj means actors

This kind of regularity is one of the most important features of Esperanto.

Not completely. Esperanto word order is fairly flexible, but the most neutral order is:

• La trupo konsistas el aktoroj.

You may sometimes see other orders for emphasis, but this standard order is the best one for learners.

What should stay the same is the phrase konsistas el together, because that is the normal verbal expression.

Not with the same meaning.

• La trupo konsistas el aktoroj means the troupe is made up of actors.
• La trupo estas aktoroj would sound like The troupe is actors, which is awkward and not the normal way to express composition.

So if you want to say what something is composed of, use konsisti el.

You would change aktoroj to aktoro:

• La trupo konsistas el aktoro.

Grammatically, that means The troupe consists of one actor.

It is correct Esperanto, though in real life it may sound unusual, since a troupe usually has several people in it.

A simple pronunciation guide is:

• konsistas ≈ kon-SEE-stahs

And the whole sentence is roughly:

• La TROO-po kon-SEE-stahs el ak-TOH-roy

A few reminders:

• stress is on the second-to-last syllable in Esperanto
• j sounds like English y
• every letter is pronounced clearly

So aktoroj sounds roughly like ak-TOH-roy.