SYNOPSIS OF THE GRAMMAR.
The ALPHABET is composed of 28 letters. They are the following:—
A B C Ĉ D E F G Ĝ H Ĥ I J Ĵ K L M N O P R S Ŝ T U V Z and Ŭ.
The VOWELS are always given a long sound; as in the well-known phrase, "Pa, may we go too?" Shorthand students will at once recognise them as the long vowels of "Pitman." Their sound can also be illustrated by—"Bart, Bait, Beat, Boat and Boot."
The following CONSONANTS need special attention. It must be remembered that the sounds given are invariable, because Esperanto spelling is phonetic and each letter has only one sound:—
| The letter | C | is sounded as | in | Czar, or as the "ts" in Bits. |
| " " | Ĉ | " " | Church. | |
| " " | G | " " | Gag; i.e., the hard sound. | |
| " " | Ĝ | " " | George; i.e.,the soft sound. | |
| " " | H | " " | His; i.e., it is aspirated and never mute as in French. | |
| " " | Ĥ | " " | Loch; i.e., the Scotch or German "CH" or Spanish "J." | |
| " " | J | " " | the | English letter Y. Thus Paroloj is sounded Paroloy. |
| " " | Ĵ | " " | the | French J in Bijou or the S in the English word Pleasure. |
| " " | S | " " | in | Sun; never as in Rose (Rozo in Esperanto). |
| " " | Ŝ | " " | in | She. |
The English letters Q, W, X and Y do not exist in Esperanto.
The letter Ŭ is only found in diphthongs—Baldaŭ is sounded Bahldow.
The one remaining point to be mentioned is that "AJ" is the same as in By. "OJ" as in Boy.
ALL NOUNS end in O in the nominative singular. Birdo, a bird.
When the direct object to a verb, an N is added to this O. Mi havas birdon, I have a bird.
All nouns form the PLURAL by adding J to the singular. Birdoj, birds. If objective, birdojn.
All ADJECTIVES end in A and agree with the noun in number and case. Mi havas belajn birdojn, I have beautiful birds.
The INFINITIVES of VERBS always end in I. Lerni, to learn. Pensi, to think.
PRESENT INDICATIVES end in AS in all persons singular and plural. Mi iras, I go. Ili iras, they go.
PAST INDICATIVES end in IS in all persons singular and plural. Mi iris, I went. Ni iris, we went.
FUTURE INDICATIVES end in OS in all persons singular and plural. Ŝi iros, she will go.
CONDITIONAL MOOD ends in US in all persons singular and plural. Li irus, he would go.
IMPERATIVE MOOD ends in U. Parolu! speak! Iru! go!
SUBJUNCTIVES are formed by using "KE" and the Imperative. Ke mi iru, that I might go.
The PRESENT PARTICIPLE ACTIVE ends in ANTA—Iranta, going. In the Passive voice in ATA—Farata, being done.
PAST PARTICIPLE ACTIVE ends in INTA—Irinta, having gone. In the Passive voice in ITA—Farita, having been done.
FUTURE PARTICIPLE ACTIVE ends in ONTA—Ironta, about to go. In the Passive voice in OTA—Farota, about to be done.
ADVERBS end in E—Bone, well. Bele, beautifully.
1. The DEFINITE ARTICLE is invariably LA in all cases singular and plural. La Patroj, the Fathers.
2. There is no indefinite article in Esperanto. Patro, a Father; or merely Father, as the case may be.
3. "NOT" is expressed by "NE." Mi ne havas amikon, I have not a friend.
4. Questions are introduced by "Ĉu." Ĉu mi ne havas amikon? Have I not a friend?
5. ESTI, to be, is the auxiliary verb in Esperanto. Havi, to have, is never an auxiliary.
N.B.—There are no exceptions or irregularities in Esperanto.
The VOCABULARY has been simplified by about 30 affixes, which are used to modify the meanings of root words. The commonest are the following PREFIXES:—
- BO indicates relationship by marriage. Bofrato, Brother-in-law.
- DIS indicates separation, as in English. Disŝiri, to tear to pieces.
- EK indicates the commencement of an action. Eklerni, to begin to learn.
- MAL is always used to indicate OPPOSITES. Varma, warm. Malvarma, cool. Amiko, friend. Malamiko, enemy.
- RE denotes the repetition of an action. Relerni, to relearn. Rediri, to say again.
The principal SUFFIXES are the following:—
- AĴ signifies an object made from—thus, Fruktaĵo, something made from fruit.
- AR signifies a collection of. Arbo, a tree. Arbaro, a forest.
- EBL signifies possibility. Videble, visibly. Lernebla, learnable.
- EC signifies an abstract quality. Boneco, goodness. Beleco, beauty.
- EG signifies increase. It is the augmentative suffix. Granda, large. Grandega, immense.
- EJ signifies the place where an action takes place. Lernejo, school. Preĝejo, church.
- ET is the diminutive suffix. Infaneto, a little child. Varmeta, lukewarm.
- IG denotes the causing of an action. Morti, to die. Mortigi, to kill.
- IĜ denotes turning or becoming. Paliĝi, to turn pale. Fortiĝi, to become strong.
- IL denotes the instrument by which an action is performed. Kudri, to sew. Kudrilo, a needle.
- IN denotes the feminine. Patro, father. Patrino, mother. Onklo, uncle. Onklino, aunt.
- IST denotes the occupation, or means of livelihood. Botisto, bootmaker. Servisto, manservant.
- UL denotes the possession of a Quality or Attribute. Blindulo, a blind man. Danculo, a dancing man.
By means of these affixes, the Vocabulary is enormously simplified.
The Free Classes continue as usual:
Every Wednesday evening, at 6.30, The Gouin School, 34, Harrington Road, South Kensington.
Every Thursday, at 6.30, at The Gouin School, 16, Finsbury Circus, E.C. (Apply to Miss Schafer, 8, Gloucester Crescent, Regent’s Park, N.W.).
Every Thursday, at The Gouin School, 16, Finsbury Circus, a Conversational Class, at 8 p.m.
Every Tuesday, at The Commercial College, Woodgrange Road, Forest Gate, E., 7.45 p.m.
For the convenience of Esperantists, all works dealing with the language can now be obtained by writing to the Librarian, P. Howard, Esq., The Bungalow, Cranes Park, Surbiton, Surrey.
The books most read are:—
- "Student’s Complete Textbook," by J. C. O’Connor, B.A., 1s. 8d., post free (revised edition).
- "Thirty five Exercises with Keys," by A. Motteau, 1s. 3d., post free (6 copies for 6s. 6d.).
- "No. 52," a short Grammar, by the Hon. R. H. Geoghegan. Price 7d., post free. This is a capital preliminary work for giving to friends to arouse their interest. For this purpose we will supply subscribers with 6 copies for 2s. 6d., post free.
- Three Tales by Tolstoy and Pushkin, 1s. 1d.
- Fundamenta Krestomatio; Dr. Zamenhof, 3s. 4d.
- "Hamlet," translated by Dr. Zamenhof, 2s.
- Grammar in French or German, 1s. 6d.
- Commentaire in French, 2s.
- Prose Selections, 2s. 6d. and 1s. 6d.
- Stories from back "L’Espérantistes," 2d. each.
- "Tourist’s Phrase-Book," in 6 languages, 6d.
- Esperanta Sintakso de P. Fruictier, 1s. 6d.
The following monthly magazines can be obtained. The annual subscriptions are:—
- "La Lingvo Internacia," printed wholly in Esperanto, 3s. 6d.
- "L’Espérantiste," in French and Esperanto, 4s.
- "La Lumo," in French, English, and Esperanto, 2s. 6d.
- "La Belga Sonorilo," in French, Flemish, and Esperanto, 2s. 6d.
- "La Bohema Esperantisto," in Czech and Esperanto, 3s.
- The new monthly "Internacia Scienca Revuo." Subscription 6s. per annum.
A New Hobby that may bring you a living, 7d.
Fabloj de La Fontaine; Vojaĝo interne de mia Ĉambro; and Advokato Patelin, 1s. each.
The English-Esperanto and Esperanto-English Dictionaries, 2s. 6d. each.
"French-Esperanto Vocabulaire," 2s. 6d.; "Esperanto-French Dictionnaire," 1s. 6d.
"Braille Instruction-Book for the Blind," 4s.
Translation of the above into English, 6d.
Neat star-shaped Badges, for use when travelling, are kept in stock. Price 9d. each.