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Questions & Answers about La domo estas tro granda.
What does each word in the sentence "La domo estas tro granda" mean?
La is the definite article meaning “the.” Domo is a noun ending in -o, which translates to “house.” Estas is the present tense of esti (to be), meaning “is.” Tro is an adverb meaning “too” or “excessively,” and granda is an adjective ending in -a that means “big.” Together, the sentence means “The house is too big.”
Why is the adverb tro placed before the adjective granda?
In Esperanto, adverbs that modify adjectives are generally placed immediately before the adjective they affect. Here, tro comes before granda to clearly indicate that it modifies the size described, meaning the house is “excessively big” or “too big.”
How can I tell which words are nouns and adjectives in this sentence?
Esperanto uses characteristic endings to mark parts of speech. Nouns always end in -o (as in domo) and adjectives in -a (as in granda). This consistent use of endings helps learners easily identify each word’s role regardless of sentence structure.
What is the role of the verb estas in this sentence?
Estas is the present form of the verb esti (to be) and serves as the linking verb. It connects the subject la domo with its attribute tro granda, establishing the current state of the house as being “too big.”
Can I change the word order in this sentence, for example, placing tro after granda, without changing the meaning?
Although Esperanto’s regular endings allow for some flexibility in word order, keeping tro directly before granda is important to ensure it clearly modifies the adjective. Moving tro elsewhere might create ambiguity about what it is modifying, so it’s best to maintain the order as tro granda for clarity.