necesas / eblas + ke Clause

It Is Necessary, It Is Possible

Level 5

Necesas, ke normally takes -u. Eblas, ke usually takes a real tense.

How It Works

VerbMeaningVerb after keExample
necesasit is necessary-uNecesas, ke vi venu.
eblasit is possible-as, -is or -osEblas, ke li venos.

The ke clause is the subject: Necesas, ke vi venu means Tio necesas. The same ideas can be written estas necese and estas eble.

A need is something that should happen, like a wish, so -u fits after necesas. A possibility is a plain statement about what may be real, so the verb keeps the real tense.

When the doer is the speaker or anybody, an infinitive is shorter: Necesas atendi. Use ke when you want to name another person: Necesas, ke vi atendu.

Examples (5)

  1. Necesas, ke vi venu antaŭ la oka.

    It is necessary that you come before eight.

    Necesas is followed by a ke clause with -u.

  2. Eblas, ke Pedro venos morgaŭ.

    It is possible that Pedro will come tomorrow.

    Eblas is followed by a real tense, here -os.

  3. Necesas aĉeti bileton antaŭ la vojaĝo.

    It is necessary to buy a ticket before the trip.

    An infinitive is shorter when the doer is anybody.

  4. Eblas, ke Mei jam forveturis.

    It is possible that Mei has already left.

    Forveturis tells what may already have happened.

  5. Necesas, ke ni parolu pri la plano ankoraŭ hodiaŭ.

    It is necessary that we talk about the plan today.

    Parolu shows what is needed.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a real tense after necesas, ke.

    Necesas, ke vi venos.
    Necesas, ke vi venu.

    What is needed is something that should happen, so the normal form after necesas, ke is -u. A real tense would state a fact, not a need.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

necesas / eblas + ke ClauseLevel 5It Is Necessary, It Is Possible

Learn This First

A ke clause is the subject of necesas and eblas.