La radikoj putras kaj la folioj velkas en malseka substrato.

The roots rot and the leaves wilt in wet growing medium.

Breakdown of La radikoj putras kaj la folioj velkas en malseka substrato.

• la: the
• en: in
• kaj: and
• malseka: wet

Questions & Answers about La radikoj putras kaj la folioj velkas en malseka substrato.

Why do radikoj and folioj end in -oj?

Because -o is the noun ending in Esperanto, and -j marks the plural.

So:

• radiko = a root
• radikoj = roots
• folio = a leaf
• folioj = leaves

Together, -oj means plural noun.

Why is there la twice: la radikoj ... kaj la folioj ...?

Esperanto often repeats la when two separate noun phrases are being mentioned.

So:

• la radikoj = the roots
• la folioj = the leaves

This is very natural and clear in Esperanto. English can sometimes omit the second the, but Esperanto commonly keeps it.

What do putras and velkas mean grammatically?

Both are present-tense verbs.

In Esperanto:

• -as = present tense

So:

• putras = rot / are rotting
• velkas = wilt / are wilting

A key point for English speakers: Esperanto verbs do not change according to person or number.

So the same form works for: