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The "n" suffix

kokobeto, 2013年4月26日

讯息: 3

语言: English

kokobeto (显示个人资料) 2013年4月26日上午12:06:39

Hello to everyone! I'm new in this community and I'm also just beginning to learn the language.
I've noticed that despite that all of the nouns end in "o" some end in "n" such as in "Saluton" or "Dankas vin". Is it supposed to emphasize the person to which the speaker is talking to? Or is it only used for certain type of words? I really don't know. I do know that the suffix "an" is supposed to indicate that the word in which it is used belongs to something (like an organisation or a country) but I have not found the meaning of the "n" prefix.
I would appreciate if someone could answer my question.

JDnDorks (显示个人资料) 2013年4月26日上午12:20:58

Someone will come along and give a more thorough answer, but the most common reason for the -n is to identify the object of the sentence, the thing that is being "done to". Think of it like the difference between "who" and "whom". "Who found whom" = "Kiu trovis kiun".

Sometimes it's not obvious, because words are implied.

[Mi] dankas vin.

[Mi donas] saluton [al vi] (or something like that).

There are other reasons,too, like showing movement toward something, and something to do with units of measure.

kokobeto (显示个人资料) 2013年4月26日上午12:22:20

JDnDorks:Someone will come along and give a more thorough answer, but the most common reason for the -n is to identify the object of the sentence, the thing that is being "done to". Think of it like the difference between "who" and "whom". "Who found whom" = "Kiu trovis kiun".

There are other reasons,too, like showing movement toward something, and something to do with units of measure.
Thank you. I think I have a better idea know.

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