Breakdown of Mi planas vojaĝi al la urbo kun amikoj.
mi
I
amiko
the friend
kun
with
vojaĝi
to travel
al
to
urbo
the city
plani
to plan
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Questions & Answers about Mi planas vojaĝi al la urbo kun amikoj.
What does the verb phrase "planas vojaĝi" mean, and why is "vojaĝi" in the infinitive form?
"Planas" is the present tense form of the verb "plani" (to plan). When you say "Mi planas vojaĝi", you are expressing your current intention. "Vojaĝi" is in its infinitive form (ending in -i) because, in Esperanto, it is common to follow a conjugated verb with an infinitive to indicate what action is intended.
How is the destination expressed in "al la urbo" and how does its structure compare to English?
The preposition "al" means "to", and "la urbo" means "the city" (with "la" as the definite article and "urbo" meaning city). Together, "al la urbo" specifies the destination of the travel, much like saying "to the city" in English.
What does "kun amikoj" tell us, and how is the plural formed in this phrase?
"Kun" means "with", indicating accompaniment. "Amikoj" is the plural form of "amiko" (friend). In Esperanto, the plural is formed by adding -j—so one friend is "amiko", and several friends become "amikoj". The phrase "kun amikoj" translates directly to "with friends".
Is word order strict in Esperanto, and what role do the word endings play in understanding this sentence?
Word order in Esperanto is relatively flexible because the endings on nouns and verbs clearly mark their grammatical roles. Although Subject-Verb-Object is common and makes the sentence easy to follow, you can rearrange the parts for emphasis or style without losing meaning. In this sentence, the endings help you recognize the subject (Mi), the verbs (planas and vojaĝi), and the complements (al la urbo and kun amikoj) regardless of order.
Why is the present tense used in "planas" even though the travel might occur in the future?
In Esperanto, using the present tense for "planas" conveys that you are currently making a decision or intention. While the actual travel may happen later, the planning happens in the present. This is similar to how English speakers say "I plan to..." even if the planned action is in the future, emphasizing the intention rather than the timing.