Comparatives and superlatives are modified adjectives that are used to compare a noun to another noun. For example, stronger is a comparative which designates that one noun has more than strength than another. Strongest is a superlative, as it suggests the referenced noun has more strength than other noun being compared.
To form comparatives in Ido, you use "plu" and "min". Plu forta means "stronger", while min forta means "less strong". Forming superlatives is the same way, but with "maxim" and "minim". Maxim forta translates to "strongest" while minim forta translates to "least strong" (which is technically "weakest", I know, but I'm trying to make a point through consistency lol).
Verbs are the most complicated part of speech in Ido, due to verb tenses. Verbs end with -ar in their infinitive form, which is when the verb means "to ______". The infinitive of run is, for example, to run. In Ido, it is "kurar. Unlike in English, verbs never conjugate. This means when referring to one person or ten, the verb is written the same. In English, you say "he runs" vs. "they run", but the equivalent in Ido doesn't distinguish between "runs" and "run".
That being said, verbs do change based on tense. We're probably all familiar with the three tenses everyone knows: past, present, and future. In Ido, these are all formed by replacing -ar with some other set of letters. Past tense replaces it with -is, present tense with -as, and future tense with -os. Kurar becomes "kuris" (ran), "kuras" (runs/run), and "kuros" (will run).
But there happen to be other tenses too. For example, the conditional tense replaces -ar with -us. This is used for actions that would take place under certain conditionals. For example, "he would come if he were able" is conditional, and becomes "il venus se il povus". Another tense is the imperative/hortative. This is essentially for commands, such as "go!" or "let us go". These are written by replacing -ar with -ez.
-anta is used to replace -ar when you want to write the equivalent of -ing in English. This first and foremost can be used as an adjective, such as when flugar becomes fluganta, to write fluganta uceli (flying birds). -inta (past tense) and -onta (future tense) can be also be used. Fluginta uceli is "birds which were flying/have flown", and flugonta uceli is "birds which will be flying/are going to fly".
But -anta/-inta/-onta can also be used as three verb tenses, known as the progressive tenses. These are "the bird is flying/the bird was flying/the bird will be flying" in English. In Ido, we follow this same pattern. "La ucelo esas/esis/esos fluganta/fluginta/flugonta".
Additionally, -ata/-ita/-ota functions the same but with a different meaning. "La letro skribata/skribita/skribota" translates to "the letter that is being written/has been written/will be written". If you use this as a verb instead of an adjective, you can say "la letro esas/esis/esos skribata/skribita/skribota" to say "the letter is being writter/has been written/will be written". The form of esar you use is based on context. For example, "ni esas vidita" means we have been seen. But "ni esis vidita" means "we had been seen.
Finally (don't worry verbs are almost done I promise), -es- can be used optionally to make an active verb passive. It goes between the verb root and the required ending. For example, "vidas" means sees. But adding -es- between vid- and -as gets you "videsas", which means is seen. This means an optional shorter way of saying "ni esas vidata" is "ni videsas". This can be used with any tense. Additionally, -ab- is an optional shorter way of writing phrases with -inta. "Esas vidinta" has seen, but "vidabas" also means has seen. Again, both of these are optional, but knowledge of them is necessary to understand other speakers of Ido.
Lesson Four: Comparatives/Superlatives, Verbs, and Tenses
1 post in this topic.
Sign in to reply to this topic.
Delete this post?
Are you sure you want to delete this post? This cannot be undone.