Subject and Object
The plain form is the subject, and the form with -n is the object.
How It Works
Look at two sentences that use the same words.
| Sentence | Meaning |
|---|---|
| La kato vidas la hundon. | The cat sees the dog. |
| La hundo vidas la katon. | The dog sees the cat. |
The subject is who or what does the action: la kato in the first sentence. The object is who or what receives it: la hundon. In these sentences only the object takes -n.
Grammar books call the plain form the nominative case and the form with -n the accusative case. Esperanto has only these two. Ideas such as "of" and "to" are shown by small words (de, al). In the plural, the -n goes after the -j: la hundojn. A word that stands after estas says what the subject is and takes no -n.
Examples (4)
- La kato vidas la hundon.
The cat sees the dog.
Kato is the subject, and hundon is the object with -n.
- La hundo vidas la katon.
The dog sees the cat.
The words are the same as before, but now hundo is the subject.
- Ana amas Kenjin.
Ana loves Kenji.
Ana is the subject, and the name Kenji takes -n as the object.
- Kofi trinkas teon.
Kofi drinks tea.
Teon is the object of trinkas.
Common Mistakes
Leaving -n off the object.
La kato vidas la hundo.La kato vidas la hundon.Without -n the object looks like a second subject. Every object takes -n, even when the meaning is easy to guess.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The object takes -n, while the subject keeps the plain form. This builds on the idea that endings carry meaning.
Related Patterns
- Object Ending -nThe Object Ending -n
The object ending in detail.
Level 1 - Word Order Is Flexible
Why -n lets the words move.
Foundations - Basic Word Order
The usual order of the three parts.
Level 1 - -jPlural Nouns
The plural ending, which comes before -n.
Level 1 - min, vin, lin, ŝin, ĝin, nin, ilinMe, You, Him, Her, Us, Them
Pronouns in the object form.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice Subject and Object in Bubblegum
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