ho, se
If Only
Ho, se with -us makes a wish for something that is not so.
How It Works
| The wish is about | Verb | Example |
|---|---|---|
| something that is not true now | -us | Ho, se mi estus pli juna! |
| the past that cannot change | estus + -inta | Ho, se mi estus sciinta! |
| something that may still happen | -os, with nur | Se nur ŝi venos! |
A wish has the shape of the first half of an if sentence, but it stands alone and ends with an exclamation mark. Behind it you can imagine the second half: Ho, se mi estus pli juna, tiam mi estus feliĉa!
Ho shows feeling. Nur makes the wish stronger, and almenaŭ (at least) can join in too. A wish about something that cannot happen uses -us. A wish about something that is still open uses -os, and PMEG says that it normally has nur.
Examples (5)
- Ho, se mi estus pli juna!
Oh, if only I were younger!
The wish is about something that is not true, so estus ends in -us.
- Se nur vi scius!
If only you knew!
Nur makes the wish stronger.
- Ho, se mi havus pli da tempo!
Oh, if only I had more time!
Havus shows that the time is not there.
- Ho, se mi estus sciinta!
Oh, if only I had known!
Estus sciinta looks back at the past.
- Se nur ŝi venos al la festo!
If only she comes to the party!
Venos with nur shows a wish that may still come true.
Common Mistakes
Using the past ending -is for a wish about something that is not true.
Ho, se mi estis pli juna!Ho, se mi estus pli juna!The ending -is is a real past. A wish for something that is not true needs -us.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Ho, se starts a wish and uses an unreal verb.
Related Patterns
Practice ho, se in Bubblegum
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