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.