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de Filanator, 2009-marto-02

Mesaĝoj: 21

Lingvo: English

tommjames (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-03 20:59:22

Also probably worth pointing out that kapabli and scipovi don't really mean the same thing. Capability dosn't necessary arise from knowing how to do something, and indeed knowing how to do something dosn't mean you're actually capable of doing it.

Miland (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-03 21:01:32

tommjames:kapabli and scipovi don't really mean the same thing. Capability dosn't necessary arise from knowing how to do something, and indeed knowing how to do something dosn't mean you're actually capable of doing it.
I'm not sure there's much of a distinction with most things. Were you thinking of a particular experience?

tommjames (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-03 21:11:57

Miland:I'm not sure there's much of a distinction with most things. Were you thinking of a particular experience?
The two words may well be used interchangeably in some cases, but my point is that this is far from a given.

For example I might know how to paint, but that dosn't mean I'm capable of painting if I'm out of paint and canvas. Likewise I might be capable of things that I don't have any clue about. I'm sure there will be many contexts where one or the other word would be entirely inappropriate.

Capability, even in English, is a much more general concept than knowing how to do something, which is a more specific means of achieving capability.

erinja (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-03 23:24:03

If I know how to paint but both my arms are broken, you might say that "scipovas" to paint, but that I "ne kapablas"; I know how to do it, but I am not actually capable of it (at least not at the moment).

JeffB (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-04 03:36:23

Another "novulo"(?) question...

Would a musego and a granda muso be the same thing?

And can possession be indicated by an -a
(exemple: Ĝefa nazo, Jeff's nose)

Dankas al ĉiuj

-Ĝefo

69UM24OSU12 (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-04 04:32:16

JeffB:Another "novulo"(?) question...

Would a musego and a granda muso be the same thing?

-- They pretty much mean the same thing but to me, the word "musego" conveys the idea of a truly huge mouse while "granda muso" calls to mind a mouse that's just moderately larger than normal. If you're talking about a mouse that's big enough to chase cats, you could even go for "grandega musego!"

And can possession be indicated by an -a
(exemple: Ĝefa nazo, Jeff's nose)

-- I suppose so, but I don't like the sound of it. I think "la nazo de Ĝefo" is better.

Dankas al ĉiuj

-Ĝefo

Miland (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-04 14:57:39

erinja:If I know how to paint but both my arms are broken, you might say that "scipovas" to paint, but that I "ne kapablas"; I know how to do it, but I am not actually capable of it (at least not at the moment).
Yes, that is a possible scenario that brings out the distinction well.

RiotNrrd (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-04 16:16:31

JeffB:And can possession be indicated by an -a
(exemple: Ĝefa nazo, Jeff's nose)
No. Adjectives don't show possession.

darkweasel (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-04 16:44:21

Except for pronouns, of course. To show possession, use "de" (= "of"), that is "la nazo de Ĝef"

KoLonJaNo (Montri la profilon) 2009-marto-04 16:46:02

Hello!

RiotNrrd:
JeffB:And can possession be indicated by an -a
(exemple: Ĝefa nazo, Jeff's nose)
No. Adjectives don't show possession.
It is true, the possessive adjectives are formed by adding -a to the personal pronouns, e.g. li (= he) ---\> lia (= his).

Hence: lia nazo (= his nose).

But there is no equivalent of the 's genitive in Esperanto. Instead, you have to use de (= of):

la nazo de Petro (= *the nose of Peter) = Peter's nose

Kolonjano

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