The magic of the verbal ending

You've gotta have this skill in your arsenal.

We can tell a verb infinitive (basic dictionary form) apart with the ending ‘i’:

helpi
to help

kuri
to run

marŝi
to walk (MAR- shee)

As with the other endings, you can make a word into a verb by exchanging its current ending for the verbal ending “i”:

diro
statement, remark

diri
to say, to tell, to state

What’s great is that the created verb takes on the most useful sense of verb from the type of word it is given.

Here’s some examples:

1. If the root is an action, like “kur-” (kuro = a run), then its verbal form will mean “to do the action”, in this case “kuri” = “to run”.

2. If the root is a description, or quality, like “blu-” (blua = blue), then its verbal form will mean “to be in the state”, in this case “blui” = “to be blue”. There is some nuance between "esti blua" (to be blue) and "blui" (to be blue), but that's for another time!

3. If the root is some kind of tool, or apparatus, like “bros-” (broso = brush), then its verbal form will mean “to use the tool (in usual manner)”, in this case “brosi” = “to brush”

4. If the root is a substance, like “akv-” (akvo = water), then its verbal form will mean “to provide with the substance”, in this case “akvi” = “to water, to provide water”.

5. If the root is a person, or type of person, like “tajlor-” (tajloro = tailor), then its verbal form will mean “to act in the manner of the person”, in this case “tajlori” = “to tailor”.