Learn Hardcore Esperanto: Nia kuiristo ordonas: “Manĝu la legomojn!” kaj poste li kantas gaje en la kuirejo. - Our cook commands: “Eat the vegetables!” and then he sings happily in the kitchen.

Manĝu is the imperative form of the verb manĝi (to eat). In Esperanto, the imperative is created by adding the ending -u to the verb’s root. This form is used to give a command or instruction. Here, the cook is ordering someone to eat the vegetables.

Why is legomojn written with the ending -ojn, and what does this ending signify?

The noun legomo (vegetable) takes the ending -o as its base form. In Esperanto, to form the plural, you add -j (making it legomoj), and when the noun is the direct object of a verb, you add the accusative -n. Therefore, legomojn is both plural and in the accusative case, indicating that “the vegetables” are the object being eaten.

What is the purpose of the colon after ordonas and the exclamation mark at the end of the command?

The colon is used to introduce direct speech, showing that what follows is the exact order given by the cook. The exclamation mark emphasizes the command, reinforcing its urgency and the forcefulness of the instruction.

How does the adverb gaje function in the sentence, and why is it placed where it is?

Gaje means “cheerfully” or “joyfully” and serves as an adverb modifying the verb kantas (sings). Its placement immediately after the verb makes clear that the manner in which the cook sings is cheerful. In Esperanto, while adverbs can sometimes be flexible in position, placing them near the verb they modify helps avoid ambiguity.

What is the difference between kuiristo and kuirejo in terms of meaning and their suffixes?

Kuiristo means “cook” (the person who cooks) and utilizes the suffix -isto, which designates a person involved in a certain activity or profession. Conversely, kuirejo means “kitchen” (the place where cooking occurs) and uses the suffix -ejo, which indicates a location associated with an activity. Thus, the sentence clearly differentiates between the cook and the kitchen.

What does nia mean in this context, and how does it function grammatically?

Nia translates to “our” and functions as a possessive adjective modifying kuiristo (cook). In Esperanto, adjectives end in -a and do not change for number or gender, which makes it clear that the cook belongs to or is associated with the speaker’s group.