Breakdown of Rigardu tiun ruĝan libron sur la tablo!
libro
the book
la
the
sur
on
tablo
the table
rigardi
to look
tiu
that
ruĝa
red
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Questions & Answers about Rigardu tiun ruĝan libron sur la tablo!
What does the verb Rigardu mean in this sentence?
Rigardu is the imperative form of the verb rigardi, which means “look” or “observe.” It directs the listener to focus on something, functioning as a command.
Why do tiun, ruĝan, and libron all end in -n?
In Esperanto, the -n ending signals the accusative case, used to mark the direct object of a verb. Since the red book is what is to be looked at, all elements forming that object—the demonstrative (tiun), the adjective (ruĝan), and the noun (libron)—adopt the accusative ending. This rule also requires adjectives to agree in case with the nouns they modify.
Why is the demonstrative rendered as tiun instead of its base form?
Tiun is the accusative version of the demonstrative tiu, meaning “that.” When modifying a noun in the direct object position (as in “ruĝan libron”), demonstratives must also take the accusative ending. This marks the object that the listener is being asked to look at.
What role does the prepositional phrase sur la tablo play in this sentence?
The phrase sur la tablo translates to “on the table” and indicates the location of the red book. In Esperanto, static locations expressed with prepositions (like sur) use the nominative form, so there’s no need for an accusative ending here. It simply specifies where the book can be found.
Why isn’t there an explicit subject (like vi) in this sentence?
In Esperanto, commands are typically given in the imperative mood without a stated subject, as the second-person “you” is implied. The form Rigardu inherently tells the listener to look, making the explicit subject unnecessary.