La tubisto laboras antaŭ la masonisto.

The plumber works before the mason.

Breakdown of La tubisto laboras antaŭ la masonisto.

• la: the
• labori: to work
• antaŭ: before
• tubisto: the plumber

Questions & Answers about La tubisto laboras antaŭ la masonisto.

Why is la used twice in La tubisto laboras antaŭ la masonisto?

Because Esperanto uses la for each definite noun phrase.

• la tubisto = the plumber
• la masonisto = the mason / bricklayer

Just like in English, if both people are specific and identifiable, both nouns can take the.

Also, Esperanto has only one definite article: la. It does not change for gender, number, or case.

What does the ending -o mean in tubisto and masonisto?

The ending -o marks a noun in Esperanto.

So:

• tubisto is a noun
• masonisto is a noun

This is one of the most basic Esperanto patterns:

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

What does -ist- mean in tubisto and masonisto?