Examples.--_Kiom kostis la ĉapelo? Naŭ ŝilingojn (aŭ, ĝi kostis naŭ ŝilingojn)_ = What did the hat cost? Nine shillings (_or_, it cost nine shillings). _Kien vi iras? En la ĝardenon (aŭ, mi iras en la ĝardenon)_ = Where (whither) are you going? Into the garden (_or_, I am going into the garden). _Kiom pezas la kesto? Dek naŭ funtojn_ = What does the chest weigh? Nineteen pounds; but, _Kiom estas la pezo de la kesto? Dek naŭ funtoj_ = what is the weight of the chest? Nineteen pounds.
65. Accusative: when used.--The accusative is used in Esperanto:--
(1). To show the direct object of a verb.
(2). To show motion towards something (Rule 13, par. 94).
(3). To show a preposition has been omitted (Rules 8 and 14, par. 94).
The following are examples of these three uses:--
66 (1). To show the direct object of a verb.
(_a_). After transitive verbs the accusative is used to show the direct object.
Examples.--_Johano vidas la knabon_ = John sees the boy. _Georgo aĉetis bonan ĉevalon_ = George bought a good horse. Now in either of these sentences the order of the words can be changed without altering the meaning. _La knabon vidas Johano_ would still mean "John sees the boy," because _Johano_, being in the nominative, is clearly the subject, and _knabon_, being in the accusative, is clearly the object. But if we inverted the words in English, the sense would be entirely changed (see order of words, pars. 73-93).
(_b_). After participles.--The accusative is also used after active participles (adjectival or adverbial) to denote the object.
Examples.--_Johano estis rigardanta la knabon, kiam mi lin vidis_ = John was looking at the boy, when I saw him. _Johano, vidante la knabon, donas al li pomon_ = John, seeing the boy, gives him an apple. _Georgo estis aĉetinta ĉevalon_ = George had bought a horse. _Georgo, aĉetinte ĉevalon, donis ĝin al sia frato_ = George, having bought (_or_, after buying) a horse, gave it to his brother (par. 212 (_d_)).
(_c_). When a verb is omitted.--The accusative is also used in exclamations and in expressions in which some verb expressing "wish" or "desire" is understood (see par. 64 (_a_)).
Examples.--_Peston al la tranĉilo: Mi tranĉis al mi la fingron!_ = Plague on the knife! I have cut my finger! _Bonan tagon, Sinjoro_ = Good day, sir. _Saluton al vi, sinjorino_ = (lit.) Salutation to you, madam. In reply to a question the accusative is used whenever the verb in the reply, which is omitted, governs the accusative, as:--_Kiom kostas tiu ĉi krajono? (Ĝi kostas) du pencojn_ = How much does this pencil cost? (It costs) twopence. _Kiom estas la kosto de tiu ĉi krajono? (Ĝi estas) du pencoj_ = What is the price of this pencil? (It is) twopence.