Questions & Answers about Mi devas konfesi, ke mi preskaŭ forgesis la bileton.
Why is devas followed by konfesi and not another finite verb form?
Because devas is a modal-like verb meaning must / have to, and in Esperanto it is followed by an infinitive.
So:
- mi devas = I must
- konfesi = to confess / to admit
Together:
- Mi devas konfesi = I must admit
This is very similar to English must confess or have to confess.
What exactly does konfesi mean here? Is it really as strong as English confess?
Not always. Konfesi can mean to confess, but in sentences like this it often works more naturally as to admit.
So although the literal sense is close to I must confess, the natural English meaning is often:
- I must admit that...
It does not necessarily imply a serious wrongdoing. It can simply introduce something the speaker is acknowledging.
What does ke do in this sentence?