In English and some other languages an imperative idea may often be expressed by the infinitive, as "I wish you to go," but in Esperanto this must be expressed by the equivalent of "I wish that you go." The infinitive may not be used except when it can itself be the subject of the verb in such general statements as "it is necessary to go."
THE PREPOSITION JE.
260. Since prepositional uses are not exactly alike in any two languages, it is not always possible to translate a preposition of one language by what is its equivalent in some senses in another. In order to insure some means of translating correctly into Esperanto any prepositional phrase of the national languages, the preposition je is regarded as of rather indefinite meaning. In addition to its use in dates and allusions to time (89, 185), it may be employed when no other preposition gives the exact sense required, especially in protestations and exclamations, expressions of measure (see also 139), and of indefinite connection:
Je la nomo de ĉielo! In the name of Heaven!
Je mia honoro mi ja elfaros tion! On my honor I will accomplish that!
Ĝi estas longa je du mejloj, it is two miles long (long by two miles).
Ili venis je grandaj nombroj, they came in great numbers.
Li estas tenata de la policano, je la brako, per forta ŝnurego, he is held by the policemen, by the arm, with (by) a strong rope.
The preposition je is used to express indefinite connection after the following words (other prepositions sometimes used are given in parentheses):
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ekkrii je (pro), to cry out at. enui je, to be bored with. fiera je (pri), proud of. fidi je (al), to rely upon. ĝoji je (pri), to rejoice at. gratuli je (pri), congratulate on. honti je (pri), to be ashamed of. inda je, worthy of. interesiĝi je, to take interest in. kapti je, to seize by. kontenta je (kun), content with. kredi je, to believe in. |
(sin) okupi je, to busy (oneself) at. plena je (de), full of. preni je, to take by. provizi je (per), to provide with. riĉigi je (per), to enrich with. ridi je, to laugh at. satiĝi je, to be sated with. senigi je, to deprive of. simila je (al), similar to. sopiri je (al), to yearn for. ŝarĝi je, to load with. teni je, to hold by. |
The translation given for a preposition in any dictionary is the general one which serves in the majority of cases. The finer shades of meaning and real or apparent exceptions can merely be touched upon if mentioned at all.
THE SUFFIX -OP-.
261. The suffix -op- is used to form collective numerals:
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duope, by twos, in pairs. kvarope, by fours. |
milope, by thousands. sesopigi, to form into groups of six. |