Breakdown of La arkitekto montras la skizon al la reprezentanto.
la
the
al
to
montri
to show
arkitekto
the architect
Questions & Answers about La arkitekto montras la skizon al la reprezentanto.
Why does skizon end in -n, but reprezentanto does not?
Because la skizon is the direct object of the verb montras.
In Esperanto, the direct object usually takes the accusative ending -n:
- la skizo = the sketch
- la skizon = the sketch (as the thing being shown)
By contrast, al la reprezentanto means to the representative. The word al already shows that this noun is an indirect object / direction of giving or showing, so reprezentanto does not need -n here.
So:
- montras la skizon = shows the sketch
- al la reprezentanto = to the representative
Why is al used before la reprezentanto?