-us
Would: The -us Ending
Replace -as with -us to say would.
How It Works
| Present | With -us | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| iras | irus | would go |
| diras | dirus | would say |
| ŝatas | ŝatus | would like |
| volas | volus | would want |
The ending -us is for things that are imagined and not real: a plan you are only thinking about, a daydream or a wish. It does not show tense.
It also makes a request or a wish gentler: Ni ŝatus vidi la urbon is kinder than Ni volas vidi la urbon, and Ĉu vi povus paroli pli malrapide? is a very polite request.
Mi volus helpi means that you would like to help, but it is not possible. In the same way Mi devus speaks of a duty you are not carrying out, and Mi povus of something you could do but may not.
Examples (5)
- Mi irus al Japanio, sed mi ne havas tempon.
I would go to Japan, but I have no time.
Irus shows an imagined trip.
- Ni ŝatus vidi la urbon, Kofi.
We would like to see the city, Kofi.
Ŝatus makes the wish gentle.
- Ŝi dirus tion en Esperanto, sed ŝi ne scias la vortojn.
She would say that in Esperanto, but she does not know the words.
Dirus is imagined, because she does not know the words.
- Mi volus helpi al vi, sed mi devas labori.
I would like to help you, but I have to work.
Volus speaks of a wish that cannot come true.
- Ĉu vi povus paroli pli malrapide?
Could you speak more slowly?
Povus makes a request polite.
Common Mistakes
Using -us for something that really happened often.
Kiam mi estis juna, mi irus ofte al la maro.Kiam mi estis juna, mi iris ofte al la maro.The ending -us is for things that are imagined. Something that really happened takes the past ending -is.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The conditional is another verb ending that sits next to the tenses.
Related Patterns
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice -us in Bubblegum
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