Lesson Four

Now let's look at statements, questions, and answers:

A statement: La pano estas bruna. The bread is brown.

A question: Cxu la pano estas bruna? Is the bread brown?

The answer: (a) Jes, la pano estas bruna. (b) Ne, la pano ne estas bruna, gxi estas blanka.

Note: Every question is based on a statement; we identify that statement, placing the 'doubting' word cxu (literally, 'whether') in front, and then we are asking "Is this true?" Also note that the word order in Esperanto is not changed; only the word 'cxu' is placed in front of the statement.

English question: Will the boys sell the cake?

Underlying statement: (The boys will sell the cake.) (La knaboj vendos la kukon.)

Esperanto question: Cxu la knaboj vendos la kukon?

All 'yes-or-no' questions are handled in the same way.

extract from here:

Ekzercoj, Leciono Kvar (parto unu)

Change the following statements into questions:

Mia filo forgesis la teon. ->

Lia patro faras panon. ->

La tago estas griza. ->

:extract to here

In the first three lessons, you have learned how to write simple statements correctly, and now know how to make questions and give answers. As soon as you have learned all the sounds of Esperanto (detailed, as best as possible in writing, see below) we can start in on conversations, in Lesson Five. (Remember to complete the exercises at the bottom.)

The Esperanto alphabet:

a b c cx d e f g gx h hx i j jx k l m n o p r s sx t u ux v z

Note that the names of the letters (used when spelling aloud, etc.) are a, bo, co, cxo, do, e, fo, go, gxo, ho, hxo, i, etc. That is, the consonants get an 'o' after them, and the name of each vowel is the sound of the vowel itself. Note that "uxo" is pronounced sort of like English 'wo'.

There are 26 letters in the English alphabet; 28 in Esperanto. In Esperanto there is no q, w, x, or y. In Esperanto there are 6 letters not found in English (all 6 have accent marks): cx, gx, hx, jx, sx [all circumflexes], and ux [a u-breve].

The Esperanto letters 'j' and 'ux' are not vowels and can combine with real vowels (a, e, i, o, and u) to make 'vowel glides' which must be learned as separate sounds (below).

Pronunciation Guide

Remember, in Esperanto: one letter - one sound. No exceptions.

Vowel Sounds (accented/emphasized vowels are capitalized)

a as in Ma, father: blANka sAna grAnda vArma e as in send, met: bEla plEna vErda pEti i as in me, three: vIvi Ami trInki fIlo o as in more, or: Ovo dOmo kIo nOva u as in two, soon: Unu plUmo sUno butIko

Consonant Sounds (mainly as in English, except:)

c pronounced 'ts' in nests: dAnco leciOno bicIklo cx pronounced 'ch'in church: cxAmbro sandvIcxo cxokolAdo g pronounced 'g' in great: sagEto gustUmi geografIo gx pronounced 'g' in George: mAngxi lOgxi sEgxo hx pronounced 'ch'in Bach: jAhxto hxOro Ehxo j pronounced 'y' in yet: jEs jAro jUna jx pronounced 's' in leisure: jxurnAlo teatrAjxo jxalUzo sx pronounced 'sh'in shoe: sxAti pOsxo sxUo

ux is used most often in the combination 'aux' or 'eux' (otherwise it has a 'w' sound, as in weather).

Remember: All sounds presented in this Pronunciation Guide are approximations. They are the closest approximations for North American English-speakers.

Vowel Glides (diphthongs). The following combinations between a vowel (a, e, o, u) and 'j' or 'ux' make one sound:

aj pronounced as 'eye': mAjo kAj semAjno oj pronounced as in 'boy': knAboj vojAgxi gxOjo ej pronounced as in 'they': plEj mEjlo lernEjo uj pronounced 'oo-ee' (quickly) tUj AnglUjo monUjo aux pronounced as in 'cow': nAUX Antaux jxAUXdo eux pronounced as in 'wayward': EuxrOpo neuxtrAla EuxklIdo

In all the examples above, the vowel of the stressed (or accented) syllable has been capitalized. This follows the rule without exception that every word in Esperanto is stressed on the next-to-last syllable.

Here is a list of words (and translations) that represent sounds in Esperanto [not just those covered above]. Practice them carefully and your pronunciation will get better and better.

Anglujo England lernejo school antaux before majo May acxeti to buy mangxi to eat biciklo bicycle mejlo mile cxambro room monujo purse cxokolado chocolate neuxtrala neutral danco dance ovo egg domo house plej most... ehxo echo plena full Euxropo Europe posxo pocket Euxklido Euclid sageto dart geografio geography sandvicxo sandwich gustumi to taste segxo seat, chair gxojo joy suno sun hxoro choir sxati to like jahxto yacht sxuo shoe juna young teatrajxo (theatrical) play jxaluzo jealousy tuj immediately jxauxdo Thursday vojagxi to travel jxurnalo newspaper kio what (thing) leciono lesson best advice: practice! practice! libro book practice! logxi to reside

extract from here:

Ekzercoj, Leciono Kvar (parto du)

(translate, but don't answer!)

  1. Is father making a cake?
  2. Did the son forget the milk?
  3. Will father sell the cakes?
  4. Does a healthy boy drink warm milk?
  5. Will the daughter eat a sandwich?
  6. Did the new teacher forget your sugar?
  7. Do they sell tea and coffee?
  8. Did the sick girl write badly?
  9. Is he healthy?
  10. Are seven days one week?

Answer in Esperanto; use complete sentences, not just jes or ne.

  1. Is milk white?
  2. Is water dry?
  3. Is the sun warm?
  4. Is your mother a man?
  5. Are you wearing an empty shoe?
  6. Do two and two make four? [Use "estas"]
  7. Do you eat water?
  8. Is coffee blue?
  9. Are seven days one week?
  10. Do you drink cakes?

(Sorry about the silly questions, but the answers are easy.)

Don't forget to add your name and e-mail address, and mail these exercises to the address for your tutor in the Welcome Letter, with subject: 'FEC ekz 4'.

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