Ni ŝprucigas akvon sur foliojn kaj metas sterkon en la substraton.

We spray water onto leaves and put fertilizer into the growing medium.

Breakdown of Ni ŝprucigas akvon sur foliojn kaj metas sterkon en la substraton.

• akvo: the water
• la: the
• ni: we
• kaj: and

Questions & Answers about Ni ŝprucigas akvon sur foliojn kaj metas sterkon en la substraton.

Why is ŝprucigas used instead of a simpler verb like ŝprucas?

Ŝprucigi is the -ig- form, which often means to cause something to happen.

• ŝpruci = to spurt / spray / squirt
• ŝprucigi = to make something spray, or to spray something

So:

• Ni ŝprucigas akvon = We spray water
  • literally, something like we cause water to be sprayed

In practice, this is a normal way to express spraying water in Esperanto.

Why does akvon end in -n?

Because akvon is the direct object of ŝprucigas.

In Esperanto, the direct object usually takes -n:

• Ni ŝprucigas akvon = We spray water
• Ni metas sterkon = We put fertilizer

So both akvon and sterkon have -n because they are the things being acted on.

Why does foliojn also end in -n after sur?

This is a very common question. Here, the -n is not for direct object. It is the directional accusative.