Mi provas mem solvi la problemon.

I try to solve the problem myself.

Breakdown of Mi provas mem solvi la problemon.

• mi: I
• la: the
• problemo: the problem
• solvi: to solve
• mem: myself
• provi: to try

Questions & Answers about Mi provas mem solvi la problemon.

Why is provas in the present tense when English might say I am trying?

In Esperanto, the -as ending covers the general present tense. That can correspond to English I try or I am trying, depending on context.

So:

• Mi provas = I try / I am trying

Esperanto does not usually make a separate grammatical distinction between simple present and present progressive the way English does.

Why is the second verb solvi and not solvas?

Because after provi (to try), the next verb stays in the infinitive form.

• provas = the conjugated verb
• solvi = to solve

So Mi provas solvi... literally works like I try to solve...

If you said Mi provas solvas, that would be ungrammatical.

Why is there no separate word for to before solvi?

Esperanto usually does not use a separate word like English to before an infinitive. The infinitive is shown by the ending -i.

So:

• solvi = to solve
• vidi = to see
• fari = to do / to make

That means provas solvi already includes the idea of try to solve.

What does mem mean here?

Mem adds emphasis, like myself, itself, personally, or even depending on context.

In this sentence:

• Mi provas mem solvi la problemon.

it means something like:

• I am trying to solve the problem myself.

Here mem emphasizes that I am the one doing the solving, rather than someone else doing it for me.

Is mem the same as alone or by myself?

Not exactly.

Mem means myself/personally as an emphatic word. It does not literally mean alone.

Compare:

• Mi mem faris tion. = I did that myself.
• Mi faris tion sola/sole. = I did that alone / by myself.

So in your sentence, mem stresses personal involvement. It may suggest without relying on someone else to do it, but its basic job is emphasis, not the idea of physical solitude.

Why is mem placed there? Could it go somewhere else?

Yes, position matters because mem usually emphasizes the word or idea nearest to it.

Compare:

• Mi mem provas solvi la problemon.
  = I myself am trying to solve the problem.
  The emphasis is on I.

• Mi provas mem solvi la problemon.
  = I am trying to solve the problem myself.
  The emphasis is on doing the solving personally.

So the sentence you gave is natural if the idea is I’m trying to solve it on my own / myself.

Why does problemon end in -n?

The -n marks the direct object.

Ask: what is being solved?

• la problemon = the problem

Since solvi is a transitive verb, it takes an object, and that object gets -n.

Compare:

• La problemo estas granda. = The problem is big.
  (problemo = subject, no -n)

• Mi solvas la problemon. = I solve the problem.
  (problemon = object, with -n)

Why is it la problemon instead of just problemon?

La is the definite article, meaning the.

So:

• la problemon = the problem
• problemon = a problem / some problem, depending on context

Esperanto has no indefinite article. That means there is no separate word for a/an.

So if you omit la, the sentence becomes more like:

• Mi provas mem solvi problemon.
  = I’m trying to solve a problem.

With la, it refers to a specific problem already known from context.

Is the word order fixed here?

Esperanto word order is fairly flexible, but some orders are more natural than others.

The neutral order here is:

• Mi provas mem solvi la problemon.

Because the -n on problemon marks it as the object, you can often move parts around without losing the basic meaning. But moving words changes emphasis and can sound less natural.

For example:

• Mi mem provas solvi la problemon.
  More emphasis on I.
• La problemon mi provas mem solvi.
  Stronger emphasis on the problem.

So the original sentence is a normal, straightforward way to say it.

Does provi always take an infinitive like this?

Very often, yes.

A common pattern is:

• provi + infinitive

Examples:

• Mi provas kompreni. = I’m trying to understand.
• Ŝi provas helpi. = She is trying to help.
• Ni provas fini la laboron. = We are trying to finish the work.

So Mi provas mem solvi la problemon follows a very common Esperanto structure.

Would Mi provas solvi la problemon mem mean the same thing?

It would be understandable, but Mi provas mem solvi la problemon is clearer and more natural for the meaning I try to solve the problem myself.

Since mem usually emphasizes what it is closest to, its placement helps show exactly what is being stressed. Putting mem right before solvi makes the idea of solving it myself especially clear.

So learners should pay attention not just to the word mem, but also to where it is placed.