Questions & Answers about Li kontrolas la fulmilon kaj la obturatoron.
Why does kontrolas end in -as?
In Esperanto, all present-tense verbs end in -as. So kontrolas means checks / is checking.
The verb is built like this:
- kontrol- = the root
- -as = present tense
A useful thing for English speakers: the verb does not change depending on the subject. So:
- mi kontrolas = I check
- li kontrolas = he checks
- ili kontrolas = they check
It is always kontrolas in the present tense.
Why do fulmilon and obturatoron end in -n?
The -n marks the direct object in Esperanto.
In this sentence, the person is checking two things:
- la fulmilon
- la obturatoron
Those are the things being checked, so both take the accusative ending -n.
Without the -n, they would just be the basic noun forms:
- fulmilo
- obturatoro
With the object marking:
- fulmilon
- obturatoron
What do the endings -o and mean?