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A doubt for clarification

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Ubutumwa 6

ururimi: English

Phiroj6 (Kwerekana umwidondoro) 12 Nzero 2021 16:52:27

If bona is good and mateno is morning in Esperanto why do we say Bonan matenon for good morning? Why add an n?

nornen (Kwerekana umwidondoro) 12 Nzero 2021 17:54:12

We don't always say "bonan matenon" for "good morning". It depends on which role in the sentence the "good morning" fulfils:

Today is a good morning. = Hodiaŭ estas bona mateno.
I wish you a good morning. = Mi deziras al vi bonan matenon.

The phrase "Bonan matenon!" is just short for "Mi deziras al vi bonan matenon."

The -n is added when the good morning is in the accusative case. When is it in accusative case? When it is the direct object of the clause. As "good morning" in the second example is the direct object of "wish", it stands in the accusative case and therefore adds an -n.

Phiroj6 (Kwerekana umwidondoro) 13 Nzero 2021 19:57:52

I really appreciate your help. Thanks

sudanglo (Kwerekana umwidondoro) 16 Nzero 2021 13:49:05

The phrase "Bonan matenon!" is just short for "Mi deziras al vi bonan matenon."
Nornen, I know this is the standard explanation of this accusative use, but might it not be simpler to say that Esperanto has an accusative of salutation.

I am not at all sure that when I pass a stranger in the street and say Bonan matenon, I am sincerely hoping that he has a good morning.

Or when I say Goodnight (Bonan Nokton) on parting that I am really bothered about what sort of night he or she might have.

novatago (Kwerekana umwidondoro) 16 Nzero 2021 17:09:22

sudanglo:
The phrase "Bonan matenon!" is just short for "Mi deziras al vi bonan matenon."
Nornen, I know this is the standard explanation of this accusative use, but might it not be simpler to say that Esperanto has an accusative of salutation.

I am not at all sure that when I pass a stranger in the street and say Bonan matenon, I am sincerely hoping that he has a good morning.

Or when I say Goodnight (Bonan Nokton) on parting that I am really bothered about what sort of night he or she might have.
Actually that's why it was clever to use the short form. This way the elliptical part of the sentence can be: "I really don't mind whether you have a...", "I rather you don't have a...", etc.

This way we have a more peaceful world. ridulo.gif
Ĝis. Novatago (blogo / 7 + 1)

nornen (Kwerekana umwidondoro) 20 Nzero 2021 17:31:14

sudanglo:
The phrase "Bonan matenon!" is just short for "Mi deziras al vi bonan matenon."
Nornen, I know this is the standard explanation of this accusative use, but might it not be simpler to say that Esperanto has an accusative of salutation.

I am not at all sure that when I pass a stranger in the street and say Bonan matenon, I am sincerely hoping that he has a good morning.

Or when I say Goodnight (Bonan Nokton) on parting that I am really bothered about what sort of night he or she might have.
Although an "accusativus salutationis" would be a fun and novel concept, I think it doesn't hit the nail on the head. It doesn't cover phrases like "Ĝojan feston!" and similar. I would recommend "accusativus optativus".

However this is only idle musing, because it is just the accusative of direct objects of the omitted verbs.

If any, it could be considered an "accusativus exclamationis" like in Latin "Me miserum!" = "Poor me". However I doubt that in Esperanto one would shout "Kompatindan min!".

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