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Imperative forms of transitive verbs

fra Rohan,2008 5 29

Meldinger: 8

Språk: English

Rohan (Å vise profilen) 2008 5 29 00:18:43

Hello!

I came across a book titled 'Traduku!'.
The title contains no object, although 'traduki' is a transitive verb.

Can objects be left out while using the imperative forms of transitive verbs?

Thanks.

toiletdude (Å vise profilen) 2008 5 29 00:25:22

Yes, the objects can be left out with any verb when the imperative form is used.

It would be just like saying:
"Li tradukas."
He translates.

Although the subject is an implied you, so we don't need it:
"[vi] Traduku!"
"Traduku!"

Anyone with more info, please give a better discription.

mnlg (Å vise profilen) 2008 5 29 07:25:29

Rohan:Can objects be left out while using the imperative forms of transitive verbs?
Objects may always be left out. You can say, for example, "li manĝas". He's eating. The verb is transitive but there might simply be no need for further information.

If you mean the subject, then yes. Without a subject, a transitive verb is assumed to refer to the second person singular, just like in English.
Infinitives do not have subjects.

pinky (Å vise profilen) 2008 5 29 08:46:56

Yes,objects can be left out while using the imperative forms of transitive verbs.
We have the concept in our minds that transitive verbs should always be followed by direct object,but such verbs may have direct objects or not.Simply they can be omitted.
Ex. Drink water (Inperative form transitive verb + Direct object

Drink (Imperative form transitive verb no Direct object

Study this lesson (same case)

Study (same case)

Rohan (Å vise profilen) 2008 5 30 14:45:17

Well, the example 'Li mangxas' is fine. Even in English, this is a correct statement, an example of a transitive verb being used (correctly) without an object.

But, in English, you'll find some verbs which don't let go of their object even in their imperative form.

E.g. 'Find it/him/her!'.

Just 'Find!' would be incorrect. Are there any Esperanto verbs which behave the same way?

mnlg (Å vise profilen) 2008 5 30 15:19:14

Rohan:Just 'Find!' would be incorrect. Are there any Esperanto verbs which behave the same way?
Right now I can't think of any such verb.
I will get back to this thread in case I find one!

Miland (Å vise profilen) 2008 5 30 15:29:09

Rohan:in English, you'll find some verbs which don't let go of their object... Are there any Esperanto verbs which behave the same way?
How about Ripetu! by the teacher of an Esperanto language class?
In one DVD-based Esperanto course, rigardu, aŭskultu and ĝuu are used in this way.

erinja (Å vise profilen) 2008 5 30 19:51:15

Rohan:
Just 'Find!' would be incorrect. Are there any Esperanto verbs which behave the same way?
In everyday speech, this is true. But I can easily imagine a search tool that has a button labeled simply "Find!"

In Esperanto, I can't think of any verbs at all that would sound absolutely horrible and wrong if they were used all alone. For any verb that you name, I can think of an instance where it would sound fine and normal to use it alone.

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