unu … alia
One ... Another
Unu names the first one and alia names the next.
How It Works
| Pattern | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| unu ... alia | Unu babilis, alia kantis. | One chatted, another sang. |
| unuj ... aliaj | Unuj ŝatas kafon, aliaj ŝatas teon. | Some like coffee, others like tea. |
| unu ... alian | Unu mi renkontis en Londono, alian en Parizo. | One I met in London, another in Paris. |
Each part can have its own verb, as in the first two rows, or the two parts can share one verb, as in the last row. When the second part is an object, it takes -n: alian.
The word unu never takes -n, even when it is an object. In the last row unu is the object of renkontis, and the -n shows only on alian. The plural unuj can take -n (unujn), but that is very rare.
Examples (5)
- Ĉe la festo unu babilis, alia kantis.
At the party one person chatted and another sang.
Unu and alia set the two people against each other.
- En nia klubo unuj ŝatas kafon, aliaj ŝatas teon.
In our club some like coffee and others like tea.
A group needs unuj and aliaj, with -j on both.
- Mi havas du amikojn en Eŭropo: unu mi renkontis en Londono, alian en Parizo.
I have two friends in Europe: one I met in London, another in Paris.
Unu is an object but has no -n. Alian has it.
- Unu el la studentoj venas el Japanio, alia venas el Brazilo.
One of the students comes from Japan, another comes from Brazil.
Alia stands for another student.
- Unuj lernas la lingvon per libroj, aliaj lernas per muziko.
Some learn the language from books, others learn from music.
Per shows the means each group uses.
Common Mistakes
Putting -n on unu.
Unun mi renkontis en Londono, alian en Parizo.Unu mi renkontis en Londono, alian en Parizo.Unu never takes -n, even as an object. The -n goes on alian.
Leaving -j off the second half of a group pair.
Unuj ŝatas kafon, alia ŝatas teon.Unuj ŝatas kafon, aliaj ŝatas teon.Unuj means some people, so the partner is aliaj. With alia alone, the sentence says that only one other person likes tea.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Unu ... alia sets one thing against another.
Related Patterns
Practice unu … alia in Bubblegum
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