Log in
THE DICTIONARY VORTARO
To open the dictionary, click on the button above. You can find explanations on how to use the dictionary under "Help pages".
“La Vortaro”Pilger: “BER”Bick: “Esperanto-dansk”
Help: * ? More....
THE INSTANT MESSENGER TUJMESAĜILO
You can use this instant messenger to chat with other lernu! users. To start the messenger, click on one of the above buttons. You can find more information under "Help Pages".
Language questions
When should I use -iĝ- and -ig-?
Explanation
A transitive verb is a verb which can have a direct object, that is it acts on some person or thing, which one can name if one wants to make the meaning of the sentence precise. These verbs convey the action from the subject to the object.
An intransitive verb is a verb which cannot have a direct object and is not directed at any person or thing. Intransitive verbs can be followed only by adjuncts or predicates, but not a direct object. An adjunct is a word or phrase that is used to qualify or modify another word or phase. It's like an adjective or adverb, but more general.
The suffix -ig- is a typical suffix for verbs. It means "to cause, change, or make something". The root, which sits before the suffix, shows the final result of the action. The object in the sentence with an "ig" verb shows the thing to which the action of the verb is directed. The subject shows the thing or person that caused the change.
A verb with the suffix -ig- is always transitive. That is, it is always used with a preposition-less direct object. That object answers the question "to what?" and is used in the accusative form.
Ŝi purigis la plankon. - She cleaned the floor.
Li daŭrigis sian laboron. - He continued his (own) work.
Ŝi dormigis sian infanon. - She put her child to sleep.
Ni ordigis la ĉambron. - We put the room in order.
La gepatroj edzigis lin, kiam li havis 16 jarojn. - The parents married him off when he was 16 years old.
The suffix -iĝ- means "to transition to the new state, to become changed". The suffix is mostly used to form verbs. The part of the word which sits before the suffix -iĝ- shows the result of the transition or change. The subject shows the thing which undergoes the change.
A verb with the suffix -iĝ- is always intransitive. That is, after the verb, you can NEVER use a preposition-less direct object which answers the question "to what?".
Ĉiuj homoj finfine maljuniĝas. - All people become old in the end.
Hodiaŭ mi vekiĝis je la sepa horo. - Today, I woke up at seven o'clock.
La koncerto komenciĝis ĝustatempe. - The concert started on time.
La pordo malfermiĝis mallaŭte. - The door opened quietly.
Lia vizaĝo tre ruĝiĝis pro frosto. - His face turned very red because of the cold.