Questions & Answers about Mi havas malnovan domon.
Why do both malnovan and domon end with -n?
In Esperanto, the -n ending marks the direct object of a sentence. In this example, domo is the direct object of havas, so it becomes domon. Since the adjective malnova describes that object, it must also receive the accusative ending, resulting in malnovan. This agreement helps clarify which words are related even if the word order changes.
What exactly is the role of the -n ending in Esperanto sentences?
The -n ending is used to indicate the direct object. It ensures that regardless of the word order, the listener knows which noun is receiving the action of the verb. In our sentence, by adding -n to domo, we clearly mark it as the object of havas. The same marker is required on any modifiers, such as adjectives, to maintain clear grammatical agreement.
How does the prefix mal- affect the meaning of novan in this sentence?
The prefix mal- in Esperanto always creates the opposite meaning of the base word. Here, nova means new, so when you add mal-, it turns into malnova, which means old. Thus, malnovan tells us that the house is old.
How would I modify this sentence to say, "I have multiple old houses"?