The use of final "n".
In order to understand the meaning of a sentence it is necessary to be
able to recognise clearly and unmistakably what it is that is spoken
about, that is, what the "subject of the sentence" is. In English this
is often to be recognised only by its position in the sentence. For
instance, the three words--visited, John, George, can be arranged to
mean two entirely, different things, either "John visited George," or
"George visited John." [Footnote: In teaching Esperanto to children it
is well to make sure before going further that they thoroughly
understand, what the subject is. The subject is that which we think or
speak about. The word which stands for it is the subject of the
sentence. The children may be required to underline the subject of each
sentence in a suitable piece of prose or verse.] In Esperanto the sense
does not depend on the arrangement-- "Johano vizitis Georgon" and
"Georgon vizitis Johano" mean exactly the same thing, that John visited
George, the "n" at the end of "Georgon" showing that "Georgon" is not
the subject. There is no want of clearness about the following
(Esperanto) sentences, absurd as they are in English:--
La patron mordis la hundo.
The father bit the dog.
La infanon gratis la kato.
The child scratched the cat.
La birdojn pafis Johano.
The birds shot John.
La musojn kaptis la knabo.
The mice caught the boy.
La kokidon mangxis la onklo.
The chicken ate the uncle.
La bildon pentris la pentristo.
The picture painted the painter.
La fisxojn vendis la fisxisto.
The fish sold the fisherman.
In these sentences the subjects are at once seen to be "hundo, kato,
Johano, knabo, onklo, pentristo, fisxisto", for the final "n" in
"patron, infanon, birdojn, musojn, kokidon, bildon, fisxojn",
distinguishes these words from the subject.
This use of "n" renders clear sentences that are not clear in English.
"John loves Mary more than George" may mean "more than John loves
George" or "more than George loves Mary." In Esperanto it is quite
clear. "Johano amas Marion, pli ol Georgo" means "more than George loves
Mary," because "Georgo" is the subject of the second (elliptical)
sentence, but "Johano amas Marion, pli ol Georgon" means "more than
John loves George," because the final "n" in Georgon shows this to be
not the subject.
There are cases, however, in which it is not necessary to add "n", the
noun or pronoun being distinguished from the subject in another way.
Examples are found in the first exercise:--"Sur la tero" kusxas sxtono,
"On the ground" lies a stone. "Antaux la pordo" staras arbo, "Before the
door" stands a tree. Notwithstanding their position, "ground" and "door"
are seen to be not the subject, because before them are the words "on,"
"before," which connect them with the rest of the sentence--it is "on
the ground," "before the door." So with other sentences.
The words "on", "before", and others given [in Lesson 26] are called
PREPOSITIONS ("pre" = before). The noun or pronoun which follows them
can never be the subject of the sentence.