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de MiEstasDavid, 2011-oktobro-12

Mesaĝoj: 9

Lingvo: English

MiEstasDavid (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 08:40:34

I'm not sure if I remember when to use "la". Is it option-able or are there times when you absolutely HAVE to use it?

Miland (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 08:51:16

You will find a comprehensive account of when to use la in PMEG, which I hope you will be able to make sense of in due time. Meanwhile, here's a summary:
1. Certainly use it when you would use the English "the".
2. It can be used before possessive pronouns, e.g. "Here's your room and here's mine". Jen via ĉambro kaj jen la mia. For some more examples, see PMEG (3rd box).
3. It can be used instead of possessive pronouns, e.g. "he raised his hand", li levis la manon = li levis sian manon.
4. Names of languages e.g. French = la franca (the word "language" is understood implicitly at the end).
5. It can used for speaking of things in the abstract, e.g. "humanity" is la homaro. This last one is more difficult, so I wouldn't worry about it too much for now, if you're not sure.

Kirilo81 (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 09:44:46

Miland:2. It can be used before possessive pronouns, e.g. "he raised his hand", li levis la manon = li levis sian manon.
Not before ("*Li levis la sian manon" is impossible), but instead.

Miland:4. It can used for speaking of things in the abstract, e.g. "humanity" is la homaro. This last one is more difficult, so I wouldn't worry about it too much for now, if you're not sure.
humanity = humaneco; homaro = mankind (or is there a second, less abstract use of "humanity"?)

sudanglo (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 11:20:18

Although there are some cases where 'la' is optional, most of the time you have to use it to make your meaning clear.

'Ĉu vi havas la monon?' is a quite different question to 'Ĉu vi havas monon?'

darkweasel (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 11:27:59

Kirilo81:(or is there a second, less abstract use of "humanity"?)
Seems so.

Kirilo81 (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 12:11:33

Fundamenta Gramatiko, §1:

"Remarque. ― L’emploi de l’article est le même qu’en français ou en allemand. Mais les personnes auxquelles il présenterait quelque difficulté peuvent fort bien ne pas s’en servir."

"Примѣчаніе. Употребленіе члена такое же, какъ въ языкахъ нѣмецкомъ, французскомъ и другихъ. Лица, для которыхъ употребленіе члена представляетъ трудности, могутъ совершенно его не употреблять."

(lacking in the english, german, and polish version)

So, if in doubt, don't use the article.

darkweasel (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 12:48:52

Kirilo81:
(lacking in the english, german, and polish version)
... but it’s there in the Ekzercaro, §27:
La personoj, kiuj ne komprenas la uzadon de
la artikolo (ekzemple rusoj aŭ poloj, kiuj ne scias alian
lingvon krom sia propra), povas en la unua tempo tute ne uzi la
artikolon, ĉar ĝi estas oportuna sed ne
necesa.

Miland (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 13:59:54

Kirilo81:Not before ("*Li levis la sian manon" is impossible), but instead.
Thanks, both are possible but with different examples; I've corrected the message.

MiEstasDavid (Montri la profilon) 2011-oktobro-12 22:02:23

Thanks for the information everyone. I was a little bit confused but now it all makes sense.

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