io, iu, ie, iam
Something, Someone, Somewhere, Sometime
The i- words point to something unknown.
How It Works
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| io | something | Ĉu vi vidas ion? |
| iu | someone | Iu venas. |
| ie | somewhere | Pedro loĝas ie en Hispanio. |
| iam | some time | Ni renkontiĝos iam. |
The endings work as with the other table words. Io takes -n and normally not -j, iu takes -j and -n (iuj, iun), ie can take -n for movement (ien), and iam never changes.
Use these words when you do not know which one or do not want to say.
Words that describe io come after it: io bona (something good), and as an object ion bonan.
Examples (5)
- Ĉu vi vidas ion?
Do you see something?
Ion has -n because it is the object.
- Iu venas.
Someone is coming.
Iu stands for a person the speaker does not know.
- Pedro loĝas ie en Hispanio.
Pedro lives somewhere in Spain.
Ie means in some place.
- Ni renkontiĝos iam en Berlino.
We will meet in Berlin some time.
Iam means at some time.
- Ana havas ion bonan por vi.
Ana has something good for you.
Ion bonan: the describing word comes after io and both have -n.
Common Mistakes
Leaving -n off io as an object.
Ĉu vi vidas io?Ĉu vi vidas ion?Io takes -n as the object of vidas.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The i- words use the same table endings as the ki- words, with a beginning that means some.
Related Patterns
- The Table Words
How all the table words fit together.
Level 2 - ĉio, ĉiu, ĉie, ĉiamEverything, Everyone, Everywhere, Always
The ĉi- words, which mean every.
Level 3 - nenio, neniu, nenie, neniamNothing, Nobody, Nowhere, Never
The neni- words, which mean no.
Level 3 - ia, iel, iom, ial, iesSome Kind, Some Way, Some Amount
The rarer i- words.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice io, iu, ie, iam in Bubblegum
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