Li faras kopion de la legitimilo.

He makes a copy of the identity document.

Breakdown of Li faras kopion de la legitimilo.

• li: he
• la: the
• de: of
• fari: to make

Questions & Answers about Li faras kopion de la legitimilo.

Why is it faras kopion instead of using a single verb for copy?

Esperanto can do this in two natural ways:

• Li faras kopion de la legitimilo. = He makes a copy of the ID/credential.
• Li kopias la legitimilon. = He copies the ID/credential.

Both are correct.
The version with faras kopion is a very literal makes a copy, while kopias is the simple verb copies.

So this sentence is completely natural, but it is not the only possible way to say it.

Why does kopion end in -n?

The -n marks the direct object.

Here, the thing being made is kopio → kopion.
So:

• Li faras kopion = He makes a copy

The verb fari takes a direct object, and that object gets -n.

A very common learner habit is to forget this ending, but in Esperanto it is important.

Why is it de la legitimilo?

Here de means of.

So:

• kopio de la legitimilo = a copy of the ID/credential

It shows what the copy is a copy of.

This is similar to English:

• a copy of the document
• a copy of the passport
• a copy of the credential

In Esperanto, de often shows this kind of relationship.