La parlamento ŝanĝis la leĝon.

Ŝanĝis is the past-tense verb form.

It breaks down like this:

• ŝanĝ- = the root meaning change
• -is = the ending for the past tense

So ŝanĝis means changed.

In Esperanto, all verbs use regular endings:

• -as = present
• -is = past
• -os = future
• -us = conditional
• -u = command / jussive

So:

• ŝanĝas = changes / is changing
• ŝanĝis = changed
• ŝanĝos = will change

The -n marks the direct object.

In this sentence, the law is the thing that was changed, so it takes -n:

• la parlamento = the parliament
• ŝanĝis = changed
• la leĝon = the law

The base noun is leĝo = law.
Then Esperanto adds:

• -o for a noun
• -n for the accusative, meaning the direct object

So:

• leĝo = law
• leĝon = law as the object of the verb

English mostly shows this through word order, but Esperanto often shows it with -n.

Because la parlamento is the subject, not the object.

It is the thing doing the action:

• The parliament changed the law.

Since the parliament performs the action, it stays in the normal noun form:

• parlamento = parliament

Only the direct object gets -n, so:

• la parlamento = subject
• la leĝon = object

La is the Esperanto definite article, like English the.

So:

• la parlamento = the parliament
• la leĝon = the law

Esperanto does not have different forms like the / a / an changing with gender or number. La always stays la.

It is used separately before each noun that is definite. So if both nouns are definite, you normally use la with both.

No. Esperanto has only one article: la, meaning the.

There is no separate word for a or an.

So:

• leĝo can mean a law or just law, depending on context
• la leĝo means the law

That means the sentence specifically says the law, not just a law.

In Esperanto, nouns normally end in -o.

So:

• parlamento = parliament
• leĝo = law

This is one of the most helpful things about Esperanto: word classes are very regular.

Common endings include:

• -o = noun
• -a = adjective
• -e = adverb
• -i = infinitive verb

Because of that, when you see parlamento, you can immediately tell it is a noun.

Yes, more easily than in English, because the -n ending helps show who is doing what.

The normal order is:

• La parlamento ŝanĝis la leĝon.

But Esperanto could also allow forms like:

• La leĝon ŝanĝis la parlamento.

That still means The parliament changed the law, because leĝon has -n, so it is still the object.

Even so, the basic subject-verb-object order is the most neutral and common, especially for learners.

A rough pronunciation is:

SHAHN-jees

More exactly:

• ŝ sounds like English sh
• a is like a in father
• nĝ here sounds like the nj sound in banjo or change-like combinations
• i sounds like ee
• s always sounds like s, never like z

So ŝanĝis is approximately SHAHN-jees.

A rough pronunciation is:

LEH-jon

With the parts:

• l = normal l
• e = like e in bed, but pure and steady
• ĝ = like j in judge
• o = like a pure o
• n = normal n

So leĝo sounds roughly like LEH-jo, and leĝon adds the final n.

They represent specific sounds, and in Esperanto each letter has one regular pronunciation.

• ŝ = English sh
• ĝ = English j as in judge

So in this sentence:

• ŝanĝis begins with sh
• leĝo contains the j sound

This regular spelling is a major feature of Esperanto: words are usually pronounced exactly as written.

Yes.

Because -n marks the object, Esperanto can move parts around for emphasis.

For example:

• La leĝon la parlamento ŝanĝis.

This still means The parliament changed the law.

Putting la leĝon earlier can emphasize the law. But the neutral, most straightforward version is the original:

• La parlamento ŝanĝis la leĝon.

Yes, it is a close equivalent in meaning. It refers to a legislative body, not just the building.

Many Esperanto words look familiar to English speakers because they come from international roots. Here:

• parlamento resembles parliament
• leĝo means law
• ŝanĝi means to change

So even without knowing every word, an English speaker can often spot some familiar vocabulary.