Questions & Answers about La rubando estas el silko.
What does la mean here?
La is the definite article, meaning the.
So la rubando means the ribbon, not just any ribbon. Esperanto has only one definite article, la, and it never changes for gender, number, or case.
Also, Esperanto has no separate word for a/an. If you want to say a ribbon, you usually just say rubando.
Why do rubando and silko both end in -o?
In Esperanto, nouns normally end in -o.
So:
- rubando = a ribbon / ribbon
- silko = silk
This -o ending is one of the most basic and regular parts of Esperanto grammar. If you later make them plural, you add -j:
- rubandoj = ribbons
- silkoj = silks
Why is the verb estas?
Estas is the present-tense form of esti, which means to be.
A very important point for English speakers: Esperanto verbs do not change depending on the subject. So:
- mi estas = I am
- vi estas = you are
- li estas = he is
- ili estas = they are
It is always estas in the present tense.
Why is el used here?