› Li havis tri pari [de] perdriki e sis dekedui [de] ostri.
Lesson XII
(1) If it joins two sentences, use ke.
(2) If it means who, whom, which, use qua as subject, quan as object (if before the verb).
(3) If it means that (person), use ita, ta.
(4) If it means that thing, use ito, to.
(5) If it means that kind of, use tala.
(6) If it means in order that, use por ke (with imperative).
E.g.—
(1) I see that you are here, me vidas, ke vu esas hike. (Joins sentences “I see”, “you are here”.)
(2) The cat that was here, La kato, qua esis hike.
— The dog that you saw, La hundo, quan vu vidis.
(3) That man is too old, Ita (or ta) viro esas tro olda.
(4) That is no use, Ito (or to) ne utilesas.
(5) That person! Well, I never! Tala persono! ne-kredebla!
(6) I tell you now, that you may be prepared, Me dicas ol a vu nun, por ke vu esez preparita (or pronta).
The word that is very often omitted in English, but should NEVER be omitted in Ido:
(1) The book I gave you (= the book that (or which) I gave you) → La libro quan me donis a vu. (In this case that is the pronoun.)
(2) I think he will come (= I think that he will come) → Me opinionas, ke il venos. (In this case that is the conjunction.)
It is generally omitted in English after verbs like to think, to hope, to wish, to believe.
It is impossible to pay too much attention to this rule, as the correct use of the word ke is the key to a good international style for English-speaking students.
All other words omitted in English have to be inserted in Ido:
• It was he mentioned the fact (= he who mentioned).
› Il esas ta qua mencionis la fakto.
• He knew the man we were speaking of (= of whom we were speaking).
› Il konocis la viro pri qua ni parolis.
• Do what he will (= let him do …), he cannot …
› Il facez quon il volas, il ne povas …
• If a man was great while living (= while he was living).
› Se homo esis famoza, dum ke il vivis.
• He gave the boy a penny (= a penny to the boy)
› Il donis dek centimi a la puero.
• Show it me (= show it to ne)
› Montrez ol a me.
Whose and of which are translated di qua (or di qui):
• The boy whose book I saw (= the boy of whom I saw the book).
› La puero di qua me vidis la libro.
• The sword which Hector gave Ajax was that on whose point Ajax fell.
› La glavo quan Hektor donis ad Ajax, esis ta sur la pinto di qua Ajax falis.
• The books, the binding of which you liked.
› La libri di qui vu prizis la binduro.
Another case in which that as a conjunction (=ke) should be used is the infinitive clause:
• I want you to come, Me volas, ke vu venez.
• He ordered them to go away, Il imperis, ke li de-irez.
It will be noticed that such phrases occur most frequently with verbs of command and desire.
Lesson XIII
(a) If it means that which, use to quo or to quon, according to sense:
(1) What is here is good (= That which is here is good) → To quo esas hike, esas bona. (In this sentence which is the subject of is.)
(2) What you say is right (= that, which you say, is right) → To quon vu dicas, esas justa. (Here which is the object of you say.)
NOTE. — In the correlation to quo, or to quon, the to can be omitted after a verb:
• I heard what he said → Me audis quon il dicis.
• I know what they are → Me savas quo li esas.
(b) If it is a question and means what thing, use quo or quon:
• What is it? Quo esas?
• What is the matter? → Quo eventas?
• What do you want? (= you want what thing? you subject, what object, placed before the verb) → Quon vu volas?
(c) As as adjective, use qua, quan:
• What carriage? → Qua veturo?
• What day? → Qua dio?
(d) As an exclamation, use quo!
• What! is it true! → Quo, ka vera?
(e) Followed by a, translate what by quala:
• What a wind! → Quala vento!
Some, any. See Lessons X and XI.
No before a noun of quantity = not before the verb:
• I have no bread (= I not have bread) → Me ne havas pano.
No before a noun of individuality = not one: nula:
No man will say → Nula homo dicos.
Either (= the one or the other):
• Either of them will do (= one or other will suit) → Una od altra konvenos.
[Either … or is a conjunction, sive … sive.]
Neither (= nor one nor the other):
• Neither door was open → Nek una nek la altra pordo esis apertita.
Few = poka.
A few = kelka.
Several = plura.
Many, much = multa (too many, much = tro multa).
Such meaning “quality” = tala.
Such meaning those = ti.