Direct Objects and Multiple Actions

e
e
jo
jo
lukin
lukin
pali
pali
pana
pana
sona
sona
ijo
ijo
ilo
ilo
kili
kili
poki
poki
sitelen
sitelen

grammar review

The grammar in this lesson is covered in chapter 5 in pu, lesson 3 in Pije, and pages 3-4 in Lentan.

In the last lesson we saw a single word operating as the predicate. In this lesson we examine two ways that the predicate can expand. It can offer an object to receive the action, or it can include more than one action.

To introduce a direct object, toki pona uses e. Everything between li and e describes an action the subject is taking, and everything after e describes what is being acted upon.

  • jan li moku e kili. - [subj] li [action] e [obj]. - The person eats fruit.

If there is more than one object, each one is preceded by e:

  • jan li moku e kili e telo. - [subj] li [action] e [obj] e [obj]. - The person consumes fruit and water.

We can also describe more that one [action/quality/state of being] if each one is preceded by li

  • jan li toki li sitelen. - [subj] li [action] li [action]. - The person talks and writes.
  • telo li suli li pona. - [subj] li [quality] li [quality]. - Water is important and good.

direct objects using e

In the last lesson, we saw how li works as a container for the predicate in a basic sentence. When there is a direct object, the particle e forms a second container for the object:

mi moku e kili.
mi moku e kili.
ona li lukin e poki.
ona li lukin e poki.

three block structure

We are now looking at sentences with a subject, action, and an object. This translates into 3 glyph blocks:

  • Subject
  • Action (infixed in ‘li’ if the subject is not mi or sina)
  • Object infixed in e.

Remember how we move down and to the right? We also want to keep each sentence as compact as possible, not strung out in a long line. Here are two useful arrangements for a three-block sentence:

Notice how in both cases, one of the blocks is larger in size? This keeps the sentence in a relatively square shape. It also clues us in to the direction that the sentence is to be read. You must read either across an entire row, or down an entire column.

don’t crowd your composition

ona li pona e ijo.
ona li pona e ijo.

When deciding how to lay out your sentences, the important thing to consider is information density. Make sure you don’t end up cramming a bunch of information into a small space. That’s why we wouldn’t choose to have a large S block, followed by small A and O blocks.

sina jo e ilo.
sina jo e ilo.

compound sentences

Now we can really see how sitelen sitelen treats language as spatial, rather than linear. In this respect, long compound sentences can prove an organizational challenge, since a string of actions or objects separated by li or e become atomic blocks that must be arranged in space.

A grouping of a couple actions or objects, however, can still be managed quite easily. In a sentence with two actions, the three block structure from above will still work.

jan li toki li sitelen
jan li toki li sitelen
lawa li pali li sona
lawa li pali li sona

four equal sized blocks

four block structure
four block structure

Sometimes the best organization is four blocks of equal size. To avoid ambiguity, four block structures are always read down the columns, from left to right.

two direct objects

One good example of the four block structure is a sentence with two direct objects. They naturally fall into four components:

  • Subject
  • Action
  • e + Object 1
  • e + Object 2

By running down the columns, the subject with rest on top of the action, and the objects will stack to the right:

mi moku e moku e telo.
mi moku e moku e telo.
mi lukin e ma e suno.
mi lukin e ma e suno.

columns and rows

Now that our sentences are getting longer, we’ve started to talk about block structure in terms of columns and rows. If this is still a little confusing to visualize, don’t worry. In the next lesson we will focus on how this works.

test your comprehension

translate into toki pona (hover or tab through to reveal the answer):

mi sona e ijo.
mi sona e ijo.
telo li suli li pona.
telo li suli li pona.
ma li jo e telo e suno.
ma li jo e telo e suno.
sewi li pana e sona.
sewi li pana e sona.

now compare your English translations to mine:

The land has water and sunshine.
The land has water and sunshine.
I know something.
I know something.
Water is important and good.
Water is important and good.
The gods gives knowledge.
The gods gives knowledge.