Esperanto lesson 4: present tense verbs and hobbies

In this lesson you learn how Esperanto verbs work. The present tense ends in -as for every person, and the dictionary form – the infinitive – ends in -i. With five useful verbs – ŝati "to like", voli "to want", povi "can", devi "must" and preferi "to prefer" – you can talk about your work, your studies and what you like doing.

#Dialogue

Ana and Tomo chat by text message on a weekday afternoon.

Two small words appear here before their own lessons. Ĉu turns a sentence into a yes/no question (Lesson 7). Kion is kio "what" with the object ending -n (Lesson 5).

#New words

Verbs

Match each Esperanto word with its meaning.

• • kuiri
    Answer

    to cook
  • kanti
    Answer

    to sing
  • labori
    Answer

    to work
  • aŭskulti
    Answer

    to listen
  • studi
    Answer

    to study
  • voli
    Answer

    to want

  Meanings: to cook · to study · to listen · to sing · to want · to work

#Grammar

#The present tense: -as for everyone

Every verb in the present tense ends in -as, whatever the person. There are no irregular verbs – not even esti "to be". The full system is on the verbs page.

Mi laboras covers both "I work" and "I am working". Esperanto doesn't need a separate continuous form.

#The infinitive: -i

The infinitive ends in -i: labori "to work", kuiri "to cook", esti "to be". Dictionaries list verbs in this form. To get the present tense, swap -i for -as: kanti → kantas.

#Verb + infinitive

After ŝati, voli, povi, devi and preferi, the second verb stays in the infinitive, just as in English "I want to learn".

To say "not", put ne before the verb you negate: Mi ne povas kuiri.

-i or -as?

Choose the right ending.

1. I like singing.

   Mi 1ŝat 2kant.

   Ending for ŝat-

   1ŝat--i-as

   Ending for kant-

   2kant--i-as
   Answer

   Mi ŝatas kanti.

2. Ana wants to be a biologist.

   Ana 1vol 2est biologo.

   Ending for vol-

   1vol--i-as

   Ending for est-

   2est--i-as
   Answer

   Ana volas esti biologo.

3. I can't cook.

   Mi ne 1pov 2kuir.

   Ending for pov-

   1pov--i-as

   Ending for kuir-

   2kuir--i-as
   Answer

   Mi ne povas kuiri.

4. We have to work.

   Ni 1dev 2labor.

   Ending for dev-

   1dev--i-as

   Ending for labor-

   2labor--i-as
   Answer

   Ni devas labori.

5. In the evening Tomo prefers to cook.

   Vespere Tomo 1prefer 2kuir.

   Ending for prefer-

   1prefer--i-as

   Ending for kuir-

   2kuir--i-as
   Answer

   Vespere Tomo preferas kuiri.

#Adverbs of time and place with -e

The ending -e turns a word into an adverb – a word that says how, when or where. From vespero "evening" you get vespere "in the evening"; from hejmo "home", hejme "at home". The adverbs page has many more.

From noun to adverb

Type the answer. For ĉ, ĝ, ŝ, ŭ you can type cx, gx, sx, ux.

1. vespero "evening" → "in the evening"

   Answer

   vespere

2. mateno "morning" → "in the morning"

   Answer

   matene

3. hejmo "home" → "at home"

   Answer

   hejme

4. tago "day" → "in the daytime"

   Answer

   tage

#Practice

Lesson 4 practice

1. Which ending marks the present tense?

   -is-as-i
   Answer

   -as

2. Translate: "I work."

   Answer

   Mi laboras

3. Fill in the verb kanti: Ŝi ___ en koruso.

   Answer

   kantas

4. Translate: "I want to sing."

   Answer

   Mi volas kanti

5. What does Mi devas studi mean?

   "I have to study.""I studied.""I want to study."
   Answer

   "I have to study."

6. Which word is the infinitive (the dictionary form)?

   kuiraskuirikuiro
   Answer

   kuiri

7. Translate: "We like to cook."

   Answer

   Ni ŝatas kuiri

8. Fill in: Ili ne ___ kanti. ("They can't sing.")

   Answer

   povas

9. Translate: "Tomo works at home."

   Answer

   Tomo laboras hejme / Tomo hejme laboras / laboras Tomo hejme / laboras hejme Tomo / hejme Tomo laboras / hejme laboras Tomo

CheckTry again

#Culture corner

Esperanto has its own music scene. The record label Vinilkosmo, founded in 1990 by Floréal Martorell near Toulouse in France, publishes rock, folk, pop, metal and hip-hop in Esperanto. Well-known names include the Swedish rock band Persone (formed in 1986), the Frisian folk group Kajto and the French singer JoMo. Find more bands, films and radio on the music and film page.

#Common questions

#How do you say "I am working" in Esperanto?

Just Mi laboras. The -as form covers both "I work" and "I am working". Context shows which one you mean.

#Are there irregular verbs in Esperanto?

No. Every verb follows the same endings, including esti "to be": estas, estis, estos. You will learn the past and future in Lesson 6.

#What is the difference between ŝati and ami?

Ŝati means "to like": Mi ŝatas kafon – "I like coffee". Ami means "to love": Mi amas vin – "I love you".

#Sources

• Fundamento de Esperanto – grammar in English (rule 6, verbs)
• PMEG: Verboj (verbs)
• PMEG: I-verboj (the infinitive)
• PMEG: AS (the present tense)
• PMEG: Bazaj reguloj por E-vortoj (adverbs like hejme, matene, tage)
• Wikipedia: Vinilkosmo
• Vikipedio: Persone and JoMo; Wikipedia: Kajto