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Difference between provi and elprovi?

de SolidTux, 2014-januaro-10

Mesaĝoj: 8

Lingvo: English

SolidTux (Montri la profilon) 2014-januaro-10 13:18:28

So if provi means: to try, to attempt, to test, to try out
and elprovi means: to try out, to test

In what instance would I choose one word over the other?

Mustelvulpo (Montri la profilon) 2014-januaro-10 13:56:41

SolidTux:So if provi means: to try, to attempt, to test, to try out
and elprovi means: to try out, to test

In what instance would I choose one word over the other?
To me, "elprovi" indicates a more serious or thorough approach, perhaps involving multiple attempts or tests. "Provi" indicates a more general or casual approach or perhaps a one-time attempt or test.

kaŝperanto (Montri la profilon) 2014-januaro-10 17:17:29

Mustelvulpo:
SolidTux:So if provi means: to try, to attempt, to test, to try out
and elprovi means: to try out, to test

In what instance would I choose one word over the other?
To me, "elprovi" indicates a more serious or thorough approach, perhaps involving multiple attempts or tests. "Provi" indicates a more general or casual approach or perhaps a one-time attempt or test.
I think I've seen that "el-" is supposed to convey that sense of thoroughness/completeness of action. That does leave me confused on elpensi - to think up, invent. Unless you take "think up" or "invent" as being fully thought-out creations of your mind. I guess you could think of it as either "complete" or "out from something", depending on the word. Another good counterexample is elĵeti - to throw out.

Nexar (Montri la profilon) 2014-januaro-10 20:29:02

Elprovi sounds like prove out (completely)

noelekim (Montri la profilon) 2014-januaro-11 03:10:49

SolidTux:So if provi means: to try, to attempt, to test, to try out
and elprovi means: to try out, to test

In what instance would I choose one word over the other?
As a prefix, el- can give a verb the meaning of "completely", "thoroughly", "fully", "to the very end". Some examples are:

ellerni - to acquire a thorough knowledge of something; to master a subject

elteni - to withstand (literally, to hold on to the very end)

So you would choose "elprovi" if you want to say "test as thoroughly as possible" "... to the limit".

sudanglo (Montri la profilon) 2014-januaro-11 12:29:40

The difference is not too far from the difference between try and try out.

To see the difference in usage go to the Tekstaro and enter prov\VF. That will find instances of the usage of provi and elprovi. To search for elprovi alone enter elprov\VF.

The \VF stands for any verbal ending -as -os -is -i -u.

By the way, note that English 'try' gets 3 translations in Esperanto: peni, provi and klopodi.

sudanglo (Montri la profilon) 2014-januaro-11 12:50:17

The assistant in a shoe shop might bring various pairs of shoes for you to try on (provi). When you get home you might go for a long walk in them to try them out (elprovi).

Mi kredas ke tiu estas la malĝusta ŝlosilo - provu ĉi tiun.

Zamenhof ĉiam konsilis ke oni elprovu novaĵojn per la uzado. Oni ne povas fidi je lingva projekto, kiun la vivo ankoraŭ ne sufiĉe elprovis”.

SolidTux (Montri la profilon) 2014-januaro-14 14:08:55

Ah, it makes sense now. Thank you, everyone!

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