Use "seme la" as a yes/no question marker

[janKipo]

Good to know, though fairly obvious. The comma chat is just a sad mistake all around.

[jan_Lope]

[janKipo]

et voila!

[jan_Lope]

toki!

I've updated my lessons and went into more detail about la vs lon. Here is an excerpt. For more details please see:
https://htmlpreview.github.io/?https:// ... 0000000000

Conditional Phrases versus Prepositional Objects after the preposition lon

The (compound) noun of the prepositional object after the prepostion lon can in some cases be placed before la with nearly the same meaning. This only applies to location and time specifications and if the sentence contains only one predicate phrase with only one prepositional object.

mi moku e telo, lon tenpo ni. :: I drink now.
tenpo ni la mi moku e telo. :: If it's now, I'll drink. / I drink now.


The following sentence has two predicate phrases, each with a prepositional object with the preposition lon. None of the prepositional objects can be moved to before the separator la without changing the statement. The respective predicate phrase would be torn.

ona li pali, lon tomo pali li moku, lon tomo moku. :: He works in the office and eats in the canteen.

If the predicate is identical for all predicate phrases, prepositional objects with lon can be moved before la.

ona li moku, lon tenpo ni li moku, lon tenpo kama. :: He eats now and he eats later.
tenpo ni la tenpo kama la ona li moku. :: Now and later he eats.
tenpo ni en tenpo kama la ona li moku. :: Now and later he eats.

The other way around it is not possible to move all possible la phrases after the preposition lon. For example, a conditional phrase before la can consist of a complete sentence with a subject and predicate(s). However, you cannot use a complete sentence as a prepositional object. In the following examples, using conditional phrases as prepositional objects with the preposition lon would be confusing.

lon ona la ni li ' pona, tawa mi. :: If it exists, it's good for me.
sama ona la sina ken ante e ni. :: If it's the same, you can swap it.
ken la mi tawa. :: Maybe I'll go.

Conditional Phrases versus indirect Objects after the Intransitive Verb lon

The (compound) noun of the indirect object after the intransitive verb lon can in some cases be placed before la with nearly the same meaning.

mi lon tenpo ni. :: I exist now.
tenpo ni la mi lon. :: Now I exist.

The following sentence has two predicate phrases, each with the intransitive verb lon. Since the predicate (lon) is the same for both predicate phrases, the indirect objects can be moved before la.

ona li lon tenpo ni li lon tomo ni. :: He's here during this time and in this house.
tenpo ni la ona li lon tomo ni. :: At this time he's in the house .
tenpo ni la tomo ni la ona li lon. :: At this time and in this house he is.

The other way around it is not possible to move all possible la phrases after the intransitive verb lon. For example, a conditional phrase before la can consist of a complete sentence with a subject and predicate(s). However, you cannot use a complete sentence as an indirect object.

Conditional Phrases versus Predicate Noun lon or Predicate Adjective lon

After the separator li a predicate noun lon or a predicate adjective lon can stand also. Direct following words cannot be moved before lon because they do not form an object.

ona li ' lon ala. :: It has no existence.
ona li ' lon pi nasin sewi. :: It's a sacred existence.

[janTepanNetaPelin]

[jan_Lope]

[jan_Lope]

[jan Seloki]

using 'anu seme' is reminds me of how Japanese forms questions by adding 'ka' at the end.
英語を話せます
I speak English. (Eigo o hanasemas')
英語を話せますか
Do you speak English? (Eigo o hanasemaska)