al
To
Al means to, and the noun after it stays plain.
How It Works
| Say | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Mi iras al la lernejo. | I go to school. |
| Bonvenon al Pollando! | Welcome to Poland! |
| Ana skribas al Kenji. | Ana writes to Kenji. |
Al shows a goal. The goal can be a place where someone is going or a person who receives something or hears something, as in Mi parolas al mia amiko.
The word al already shows direction, so the noun after it takes no -n. You write al la lernejo, never al la lernejon. The same is true of de and el.
You will also meet a place that takes -n without al, as in en la urbon. A later topic explains this direction ending.
Examples (5)
- Mi iras al la lernejo.
I go to school.
Al shows the goal of the trip.
- Bonvenon al Pollando!
Welcome to Poland!
Al names the place of the welcome.
- Ana skribas al Kenji.
Ana writes to Kenji.
Al can also show the person who receives the writing.
- Ni veturas al Hispanujo morgaŭ.
We are traveling to Spain tomorrow.
Veturas is a movement, and al names the country we travel to.
- Mi parolas al mia amiko.
I am talking to my friend.
Al shows the person who hears.
Common Mistakes
Adding -n after al.
Mi iras al la lernejon.Mi iras al la lernejo.Al already shows direction, so the noun after it takes no -n.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Al is the opposite direction of de.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice al in Bubblegum
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