A Complete Grammar of Esperanto | Page 2

to occur.
Affixes are not mentioned until some familiarity with the general character of the
language is assured, as well as the possession of a fair vocabulary. They are introduced
gradually, with adequate explanation and illustration. Of importance in connection with
word-formation is an element distinctly new--the explanation and classification of
compound words. Such words, like affixes, are withheld until the use of simple words is
familiar.
Another new feature is the gradual introduction of correlative words in their logical order,
and in their proper grammatical categories, before they are called "correlatives," or
tabulated. The tabulation finally presented is a real classification, with regard to the
meaning and grammatical character of the words, not merely an arbitrary alphabetical
arrangement. The use of primary adverbs precedes the explanation of adverb derivation;
prepositions, especially "de", "da", "je", etc., receive careful attention, also the verb
system, and the differentiation of words whose English equivalents are ambiguous.
A general characteristic of obvious advantage is that almost without exception new forms
and constructions are illustrated by means of words or roots already familiar. Likewise,
the new words or roots of each lesson recur at least once in the next lesson, and usually in
some lesson thereafter as well. Each reading exercise gives not only a thorough
application of the grammatical principles of the lesson, but a review of those in the
preceding lesson, and no use is made of words or constructions not yet explained. The
comparative ease of the language, and the lack of necessity for reciting paradigms, permit
the reading exercises to be long enough for the student to feel that he has really mastered
something. These exercises are further unique, in that each after the fifth is a coherent
narrative, and nearly every one is a story of genuine interest in itself. These stories, if
bound separately, would alone constitute a reader equivalent to those used in first and
second year work in national languages. (For list of titles, see Table of Contents.)
The second element of the twofold need which this volume meets is the necessity for a
presentation of Esperanto, not as a thing apart, but in that form which will make it most
serviceable as an introduction to national tongues. A stepping-stone to both ancient and
modern languages, Esperanto may render invaluable aid, and pave the way for
surmounting the many difficulties confronting both student and teacher. Through
Esperanto, the labor in the acquirement of these languages may be reduced in the same
proportion in which the pleasure and thoroughness of such acquirement are increased.
For this reason, the grammatical constructions of Esperanto are here explained as
consistently as possible in accordance with the usage of national languages, especially
those in the school curriculum, and precise names are assigned to them. Such matters as
"contrary to fact conditions", "indirect quotations", "clauses of purpose" and "of result",
"accusatives of time" and "measure", "expressions of separation", "reference", etc., thus
become familiar to the student, long before he meets them in the more difficult garb of a
national tongue, whose exceptions seem to outnumber its rules, and whose idioms prove

more puzzling than its exceptions, unless approached by the smooth and gradual ascent of
the International Language, Esperanto.
Ivy Kellerman.
Washington, D. C., August 3, 1910.
* * * * *
TABLE OF CONTENTS.
LESSON I. Alphabet.--Vowels.--Consonants.--Names of the Letters.--
Diphthongs.--Combinations of Consonants.--Syllables.--Accent. II. Nouns.--The
Article.--Adjectives.--Attributive Adjectives.-- Present Tense of the Verb III. The Plural
Number.--Predicate Adjective and Noun IV. Transitive Verbs.--The Accusative
Case.--The Conjunction "Kaj".--The Negative "Ne". V. The Complementary
Infinitive.--Interrogation.--The Conjunction "Nek". VI. Personal Pronouns.--Agreement
with Pronouns.--Conjugation of the Verb. VII. The Past
Tense.--Prepositions.--Accusative Case of Personal Pronouns. VIII. Reflexive
Pronouns.--Reflexive Verbs. IX. Limitation of the Third Personal Pronoun.--Possessive
Adjectives.--Pronominal Use of Possessive Adjectives.--"La Kato kaj la Pasero". X. The
Accusative of Direction.--The Article for the Possessive Adjective.--Apposition.--"La
Arabo kaj la Kamelo". XI. Possessive Case of Nouns.--Impersonal Verbs.--Verbs
Preceding their Subjects.--Coordinating Conjunctions.--"La Arabo en la Dezerto". XII.
Indirect Statements.--The Indefinite Personal Pronoun "Oni".--The Future Tense.--"La
Ventoflago". XIII. The Demonstrative "Pronoun Tiu".--Tenses in Indirect
Quotations.--Formation of Feminine Nouns.--"En la Parko". XIV. The Demonstrative
Pronoun "Cxi tiu".--Possessive Form of the Demonstrative Pronoun.--The Suffix
"-Il-".--The Expression of Means or Instrumentality.--"La Mangxo". XV. The
Demonstrative Adjective.--Adverbs Defined and Classified.--Formation of
Opposites.--"La Ruza Juna Viro". XVI. The Demonstrative Adverb of
Place.--Accompaniment.--The Adverb "For".--The Meaning of "Povi".--"Malamikoj en
la Dezerto". XVII. The Demonstrative Temporal Adverb.--Comparison of
Adjectives.--Manner and Characteristic.--"Diri", "Paroli" and "Rakonti".--"Frederiko
Granda kaj la Juna Servisto". XVIII. The Demonstrative Adverb of Motive or
Reason.--Derivation of Adverbs.--Comparison of Words Expressing Quantity.--
Comparisons Containing "Ol".--Causal Clauses.--"Pri la Sezonoj". XIX. "Ju" and "Des"
in Comparisons.--The Preposition "Inter".-- The Preposition "Pro".--Prepositions with
Adverbs and Other Prepositions.--"La Auxtuno kaj la Vintro". XX. The Demonstrative
Adverb of Manner and Degree.--Prepositions Expressing Time-Relations.--"En
Septembro". XXI. The Accusative of Time.--Adverbs and the Accusative of