Li kontrolas la fokuson de la objektivo tra filtrilo.

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Breakdown of Li kontrolas la fokuson de la objektivo tra filtrilo.

• la: the
• de: of
• kontroli: to check

Questions & Answers about Li kontrolas la fokuson de la objektivo tra filtrilo.

Why does fokuson end in -n?

Because fokuson is the direct object of kontrolas.

In Esperanto, the direct object usually takes the accusative ending -n:

• Li kontrolas la fokuson. = He checks the focus.

Here, li is the subject, kontrolas is the verb, and la fokuson is the thing being checked.

Why doesn’t objektivo also have an -n ending?

Because de la objektivo is not the direct object. It is a prepositional/genitive-style phrase meaning of the lens/objective.

So the structure is:

• la fokuson = the direct object
• de la objektivo = a phrase describing which focus

In other words, he is checking the focus, and that focus is of the lens/objective.

What does de mean here?

Here de means of.

So:

• la fokuso de la objektivo = the focus of the lens/objective

Esperanto often uses de where English uses of, possession, or a noun modifying another noun.

Examples:

• la pordo de la domo = the door of the house
• la koloro de la ĉielo = the color of the sky

Why is there before and , but not before ?