How do I say "one" when asking for something?
글쓴이: Foreigner, 2014년 7월 1일
글: 4
언어: English
Foreigner (프로필 보기) 2014년 7월 1일 오후 8:16:40
If I am asking someone for something, and I want to say "Can I have one," what word should I use for "one?" Should I say, "Cxu mi povas havi unu?"
Mustelvulpo (프로필 보기) 2014년 7월 1일 오후 8:42:41
Foreigner:If I am asking someone for something, and I want to say "Can I have one," what word should I use for "one?" Should I say, "Cxu mi povas havi unu?""Unu" should be used for "one." I would say "Ĉu mi povas preni unu?" or "Ĉu vi donus unu al mi?" depending on the circumstance rather than using "havi" but your sentence is clear enough. But the way we use "one" in English doesn't always translate as "unu." For instance "I like that one" would translate as "Mi ŝatas tiun" or " Tiu plaĉas al mi."
sudanglo (프로필 보기) 2014년 7월 2일 오전 11:11:01
If you mean one as opposed to two or three, then the 'unu' is essential.
However, whilst in English Can I have? sounds weird, or at least incomplete (something a foreigner might say), Ĉu mi povas havi/preni? would be acceptable in Esperanto, particularly if, in the circumstances, one would be the normal quantity.
However, whilst in English Can I have? sounds weird, or at least incomplete (something a foreigner might say), Ĉu mi povas havi/preni? would be acceptable in Esperanto, particularly if, in the circumstances, one would be the normal quantity.