Lesson 9 / 24

Past, future, command

Switch time with -is, -os, -us, and ask with -u.

Six verb endings cover the system: -i infinitive, -as present, -is past, -os future, -us conditional, -u volitive (command or wish). Mi lernis hieraŭ. Ni lernos morgaŭ. Se mi havus tempon, mi lernus. Bonvolu sidi! Ne iru!

Yesterday’s letter, tomorrow’s trip

Read the story. Click a word to see what it means.

Lina lernis skribis . sendis Eva.

Yesterday Lina learned and wrote a letter. She sent the letter to Eva.

Hodiaŭ . iros . , hejme.

Today she rests. Tomorrow she will go to the park. If it rains, she will stay at home.

Tomaso diras: “Venu ! . Bonvolu libron.”

Tomaso says: “Come early! Don’t be late. Please bring the book along.”

havus tempon, . Nun lernu verbojn.

If they had time, they would visit the museum. Now let them learn the verbs.

Read this aloud

  1. Kion vi faris hieraŭ? What did you do yesterday?
  2. Mi lernis kaj skribis leteron. Morgaŭ mi iros al la parko. I learned and wrote a letter. Tomorrow I will go to the park.
  3. Se vi havus tempon, ĉu vi venus? If you had time, would you come?
  4. Venu! Ni parolu Esperanton. Come! Let’s speak Esperanto.

Ne iru, not ne iras

A prohibition uses the volitive: Ne parolu tiel. Bonvolu is literally “be willing to,” then an infinitive or a -u form: Bonvolu sidi.

Words in this lesson

hieraŭ yesterday
morgaŭ tomorrow
skribi to write
letero letter (mail)
se if
parko park
ripozas rests
pluvos it will rain
restos will stay
frue early
malfruu be late (command)
kunporti to bring along
vizitus would visit
muzeo museum

Practice

Write the Esperanto. Enter checks your answer.

I learned yesterday.

-is for past.

We will go tomorrow.

-os for future.

Please sit. (command)

Bonvolu + infinitive.

Yesterday she sent a letter.

-is; object -n.

Please bring the book.

Bonvolu + infinitive.

Don’t be late.

Ne + -u.

Build the word

Type the verb in the asked tense.

I learned (past)

-is for past.

we will go (future)

-os for future.

come! (command)

-u for a wish or command.

if I had… I would learn

-us in both parts after se.

Complete the sentences

Fill the verb ending.

Hieraŭ ŝi skrib____ leteron.

Past: -is.

Morgaŭ ŝi ir____ al la parko.

Future: -os.

Ne malfru____!

A prohibition uses -u.

Se ili hav____ tempon, ili vizitus.

Conditional: -us.