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Questions & Answers about La urbo enhavas domojn.
Why does the noun domo change into domojn in this sentence?
In Esperanto, to show that a noun is plural you add the ending -j (so domo becomes domoj), and then, when the noun is the direct object of a verb, you attach the accusative ending -n. Thus, domo becomes domojn to clearly indicate that it is a plural direct object.
What does the verb enhavas mean, and how is it formed?
Enhavas means "contains". It comes from the root havi (to have) with the prefix en- which adds the sense of "inside" or "within." The ending -as shows that the verb is in the present tense.
What grammatical role does the -n ending play in Esperanto?
The -n ending in Esperanto marks the accusative case, which indicates the direct object of a verb. In this sentence, domojn receives this ending because it is the object being contained by the city, regardless of its position in the sentence.
Does word order matter in Esperanto, given that direct objects are marked with -n?
Esperanto features a relatively flexible word order because grammatical roles are clearly marked by endings like -n for the direct object. While the standard structure is subject–verb–object—as in La urbo enhavas domojn—you can rearrange words without losing the meaning, as long as the case markings are maintained.
What is the function of the word la in the sentence?
La is the definite article in Esperanto, equivalent to "the" in English. It does not change form regardless of whether the noun that follows is singular or plural, so it remains la for both.
Can the accusative -n ever be omitted if the word order is clear?
No; in Esperanto the accusative -n is always required for direct objects. Even if the sentence follows the typical subject–verb–object order, the -n ending must be used to clearly mark the grammatical function of the noun.