Se vi volus trinki kafon kun mi, ni povus diskuti pri la nova komputilo.

If you wanted to drink coffee with me, we could discuss the new computer.

Breakdown of Se vi volus trinki kafon kun mi, ni povus diskuti pri la nova komputilo.

• mi: I
• vi: you
• la: the
• ni: we
• kun: with
• nova: new
• voli: to want
• pri: about
• se: if
• komputilo: the computer
• trinki: to drink
• povi: to be able
• kafo: coffee
• diskuti: to discuss

Questions & Answers about Se vi volus trinki kafon kun mi, ni povus diskuti pri la nova komputilo.

What does Se mean and why is it placed at the beginning of the sentence?

Se means if. It is used to introduce a conditional clause, indicating that the rest of the sentence depends on a particular condition being met.

Why is volus used instead of volas, and what does it convey?

Volus is the conditional form of volas (“to want”). The ending -us signals that the action is hypothetical or dependent on a condition—in this case, the willingness to drink coffee together. It translates to “would want” or “would like.”

How is the infinitive trinki functioning in the sentence?

After the modal verb (volus), the action verb remains in its infinitive form, trinki (“to drink”). In Esperanto, it is common to pair modal verbs with the infinitive to clearly express an intended or potential action.

Why does kafon end with -on, and what role does it play in the sentence?

The ending -on marks kafon as being in the accusative case, which indicates that it is the direct object of the verb trinki. This shows that coffee is what is to be drunk.

What does kun mi mean, and how is it used here?

Kun mi means “with me.” Kun is the preposition for “with,” and mi is the first-person singular pronoun. It specifies that the action involves accompanying the speaker.

What is the purpose of povus in the sentence, and how is it formed?

Povus is the conditional form of the verb povi (“to be able to” or “can”). By adding the -us ending, it conveys the idea of “could” or “would be able to,” indicating that discussing the new computer is a possibility contingent on the earlier condition.

In the phrase la nova komputilo, why is la used and what is the significance of the word order?

La is the definite article in Esperanto, equivalent to “the” in English. The phrase la nova komputilo translates as “the new computer,” with the adjective nova (“new”) coming before the noun komputilo (“computer”), much like in English, to clearly specify which computer is being discussed.