The Ending Shows the Word Type
One root, a family of words: change the ending and the job of the word changes.
How It Works
The ending of a word shows its type. Take the root parol and change only the ending.
| Ending | Type | Word | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| -o | noun | parolo | speech |
| -a | adjective | parola | spoken, oral |
| -e | adverb | parole | aloud, in speech |
| -i | infinitive | paroli | to speak |
| -as | present tense | parolas | speaks, is speaking |
The other verb endings are -is (past), -os (future), -us (would) and -u (command). The endings -j (more than one) and -n (the object) can be added to nouns and adjectives. They do not change the type of the word.
When you meet a new word, look at its ending first. The ending tells you the job of the word before you know its meaning.
Examples (4)
- Pedro laboras en Madrido.
Pedro works in Madrid.
Laboras ends in -as, so it is a verb.
- La laboro de Pedro estas interesa.
Pedro's work is interesting.
Laboro ends in -o, a noun, and interesa ends in -a, an adjective.
- Li parolas klare kaj bone.
He speaks clearly and well.
Klare and bone end in -e, so they are adverbs.
- Ŝi ŝatas labori.
She likes to work.
Labori ends in -i, the infinitive.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The ending shows the word type, so it builds on the idea that a word is a root plus an ending.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice The Ending Shows the Word Type in Bubblegum
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