Questions & Answers about Li mem solvas la problemon.
What does mem add to the meaning here?
Mem is an emphasising word meaning roughly “himself” / “he himself (and not someone else)”.
- Li solvas la problemon. = He solves the problem. (neutral statement)
- Li mem solvas la problemon. = He himself solves the problem.
→ It stresses that he is the one doing it, not another person, or that he does it personally.
So mem doesn’t change the basic meaning, it just adds emphasis to the subject li.
Where does mem usually go in the sentence? Can its position change the nuance?
Yes. Mem normally comes right after the word it emphasises.
Li mem solvas la problemon.
→ Emphasis on li: HE himself solves the problem.Li solvas la problemon mem.
→ Emphasis more on how he solves it: He solves the problem himself (without help).La problemon li mem solvas.
→ Strong emphasis that this particular problem is solved by him personally.
All of these are grammatically correct. The core meaning is similar, but the focus moves around depending on where mem is placed.
Is mem the same as English reflexive pronouns like himself, myself? How is it different from si?