Breakdown of Tiu kanto ekzistis jam de multaj jaroj, sed nun oni reverkis ĝin.
sed
but
ĝi
it
de
of
kanto
the song
nun
now
ekzisti
to exist
jam
already
multa
many
jaro
the year
oni
one
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Questions & Answers about Tiu kanto ekzistis jam de multaj jaroj, sed nun oni reverkis ĝin.
What does Tiu kanto mean in the sentence?
It translates to "That song". Here, tiu is a demonstrative adjective modifying kanto (song), much like saying “that song” in English.
How are the verbs ekzistis and reverkis formed to indicate past tense?
Both verbs end in -is, which is the Esperanto ending for the past tense. Thus, ekzistis means "existed" and reverkis means "rewrote" (or "wrote again").
What does the phrase "jam de multaj jaroj" convey?
It means "for many years already". The word jam implies that the state had been in effect for a long duration, and de is used with a time period (multaj jaroj meaning “many years”) to indicate the length of that time.
What is the function of the prefix re- in reverkis?
The prefix re- indicates repetition. In reverkis, it shows that the original version was written again; in other words, the song was rewritten.
How is the generic pronoun oni used in this sentence?
Oni functions as a generic subject pronoun similar to "one" or "people" in English. It allows the sentence to state that someone or people in general performed the action of rewriting the song without specifying who exactly.
Why is ĝin used at the end of the sentence, and what does it refer to?
Ĝin is the accusative singular pronoun referring back to kanto (song). Since reverkis is a transitive verb requiring a direct object, ĝin (meaning "it") is correctly used to indicate what was rewritten.
How do the clauses connect through sed, and what is the overall structure of the sentence?
The sentence is divided into two contrasting parts. The first clause, "Tiu kanto ekzistis jam de multaj jaroj", establishes that the song had existed for many years. The conjunction sed (meaning "but") introduces the contrasting idea in the second clause, "nun oni reverkis ĝin", indicating that now the song has been rewritten. This structure emphasizes a change or shift from the song’s long-standing existence to its recent modification.