Introduction
We use verbs to express an action, process or state. In this section we explain the tenses, modal verbs, transitive and intransitive verbs, reflexive verbs, the imperative, passive voice and participles.
The tenses in Esperanto can be learnt very quickly: there are four basic tenses, each having only one verb ending for all forms.
- Example:
- Mi parolas Esperanton. (Present)
Mi parolis Esperanton. (Past)
Mi parolos Esperanton. (Future)
Mi parolus Esperanton. (Conditional)
Compound tenses allow us to express ourselves more precisely. We can stress, for example, whether an action is in progress, has already taken place or is about to take place.
- Example:
- Li estas lernanto/lerninto/lernonto.
Li estis lernanto/lerninto/lernonto.
Li estos lernanto/lerninto/lernonto.
Modal verbs express what we are allowed to do, must do, know how to do and want to do. We use them with the infinitive form of the verb.
- Example:
- Mi volas/ŝatas/devas danci.
Reflexive verbs are constructed with reflexive pronouns or by adding the syllable -iĝ-.
- Example:
- Ĉu mi havas permeson prezenti min? Mi nomiĝas Ino.
The volitive mood (-u ending) functions as an imperative command or requests. It is also used in dependent clauses after specific expressions (it’s similar to the subjunctive in other foreign languages).
- Example:
- Rigardu!
Mi volas ke vi rigardu.
We use the passive voice to emphasize an action, or when it’s not important to know who caused/carried out the action.
- Example:
- La letero estas skribita.
Active (ant/int/ont) and passive (at/it/ot) participles can form other kinds of words or shorten dependent clauses.
- Example:
- La skribanto koncentriĝis.
- Mi sendas skribitan leteron.
Transitive verbs have a direct object whilst intransitive verbs do not.
- Example:
- Ŝi faras tradukojn. (transitive)
- Ni iras al kinejo. (intransitive)
