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What word means "what" as a substitute for an object?

של Foreigner, 6 ביולי 2014

הודעות: 5

שפה: English

Foreigner (הצגת פרופיל) 6 ביולי 2014, 23:47:10

In English one can say, "I want that one," or "Do you see that one?"

For example, my friend might show me two books, and ask if I have read either *one. I might say, "I have read that ONE, but not that ONE."

What word means "one" in this sense?

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Bonus question: While typing this question, I didn't have this use in mind, but I noticed it: "and ask if I have read either *one." What is the word I would use for "one" in that particular sentence?

johmue (הצגת פרופיל) 7 ביולי 2014, 05:34:46

Foreigner:In English one can say, "I want that one," or "Do you see that one?"
Mi volas tiun. Ĉu vi vidas tiun?
For example, my friend might show me two books, and ask if I have read either *one. I might say, "I have read that ONE, but not that ONE."
Mi legis tiun, sed ne tiun.

Sometimes you might use tiu(j)(n) ĉi or ĉi tiu(j)(n) to indicate that you are refering to the "nearest one".

tiu ĉi = this one
tiu = that one
Bonus question: While typing this question, I didn't have this use in mind, but I noticed it: "and ask if I have read either *one." What is the word I would use for "one" in that particular sentence?
Ĉu vi legis unu el ili?

sudanglo (הצגת פרופיל) 7 ביולי 2014, 09:24:37

The thing about either and both is that only two things are involved.

Esperanto has its equivalent of both (ambaŭ) but as far as I am aware has no single word to imply positive selection from two. I suspect that other European languages may also lack an equivalent of this meaning.

So a workaround will be necessary.

Ĉu vi ambaŭ ne legis? - (not literally but functionally) Have you read either one?

other examples:

Aŭ tiu aŭ la alia ŝlosilo malfermos - Either one will open the lock.

Mi legis nek tiun nek la alian - I have read neither.

Ĉu vi entute legis neniun - Haven't you read any of them.

Ĉu vi legis unu el ili means have you read one of them, which is slightly different to asking if you have read either.

BoriQa (הצגת פרופיל) 8 ביולי 2014, 01:44:30

Can this work: Ĉu vi legis unu aŭ alion?

michaleo (הצגת פרופיל) 8 ביולי 2014, 04:59:40

BoriQa:Can this work: Ĉu vi legis unu aŭ alion?
Ĉu vi legis tiun aŭ la alian?

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