LESSON 11.

VERBS (continued), -us.

Sometimes we want to express a "supposition", to say that something

"would" take place, supposing that something else, which is not likely

to occur, were to do so, or that something "would have" taken place if

something else which did not occur had done so. In this case the verb

must end with "-us", as, If I were well (which I am not) I should be

happy (which also I am not), "Se mi estus sana, mi estus felicxa". If

he knew (supposition) that I am here (a fact) he would immediately come

to me (supposition), "Se li scius, ke mi estas tie cxi, li tuj venus

al mi". Compare the two following sentences:-- (i.). "Kvankam vi estas

ricxa, mi dubas, cxu vi estas felicxa", Though you are (in fact) rich, I

doubt whether you are (in fact) happy, (ii.). "Kvankam vi estus ricxa,

mi dubas, cxu, vi estus felicxa", Though (supposing that) you were rich,

I doubt whether you would be happy.

The Esperanto Teacher: A Simple Course for Non-Grammarians · 第 36 / 167 题