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La...

by MiEstasDavid, October 12, 2011

Messages: 9

Language: English

MiEstasDavid (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 8:40:34 AM

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 (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 8:51:16 AM

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 (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 9:44:46 AM

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 (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 11:20:18 AM

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 (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 11:27:59 AM

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

Kirilo81 (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 12:11:33 PM

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 (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 12:48:52 PM

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 (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 1:59:54 PM

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 (User's profile) October 12, 2011, 10:02:23 PM

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

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