Breakdown of Kiel ni povas helpi vin kiam vi ne havas tempon?
vi
you
havi
to have
ni
we
kiel
how
povi
can
helpi
to help
vin
you
kiam
when
tempo
the time
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Questions & Answers about Kiel ni povas helpi vin kiam vi ne havas tempon?
What does kiel mean in this sentence?
Kiel translates to "how" in English. It introduces the question, prompting for the manner or method behind the action.
What is the function of ni here?
Ni is the first-person plural pronoun meaning "we." It indicates that the help is being offered by a group or the speaker and others.
How does povas work in this sentence?
Povas comes from the verb povi, which means "to be able to" or "can." In this sentence, it expresses the ability or possibility of helping.
What role does vin play in the sentence?
Vin is the accusative form of "vi" (you). It serves as the direct object of the verb helpi (to help), indicating who is being helped.
What does kiam signify and how is it used?
Kiam means "when." It introduces a subordinate clause that specifies the time or condition under which the action (helping) is considered.
Why is tempon written with an -n ending?
In Esperanto, the -n ending marks the direct object. Tempon is the object of havas (to have), and the -n clarifies its role in the sentence, similar to how word order or prepositions function in English.
How does the overall structure of this Esperanto sentence compare to its English equivalent?
The Esperanto sentence "Kiel ni povas helpi vin kiam vi ne havas tempon?" roughly translates to "How can we help you when you don't have time?" While the basic sentence elements mirror those in English—question word, subject, verb, object, and a subordinate clause—Esperanto relies on grammatical markers like the accusative -n to indicate roles, which allows for more flexible word order compared to English.