"Li havis nur kelkajn sekundojn."

Translation: He had only some seconds.

[Prittypeaches]

This sentence in English is super awkward. He had only seconds or only had a few seconds. 'Only some seconds' just doesn't make sense.

[deactivated user]

i still dont get this kelka word :(

[pripensi]

It basically means 'a few/some', from my understanding. Someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[ColtonBrev]

I think you're right, but I believe the confusion is stemming from whether to us "iom" or "kelka."

[Rabea733910]

Looks like the french "quelques" which basically means what the others said, as in "some" but in countable form

[shmeur]

does li havis nur iom da sekundojn work too

[kanguruo]

da is never followed by an accusative

[1e7nx0WG]

Well, if I get rid of the accusative, does "Li havis nur iom da sekundoj" work too?

[ColtonBrev]

Is "iom" accusitive? I didnt think it was.

[CelioFM]

IOM is in the nominative (primitive adverbs never go to the accusative, they are invariable).

[PawelBaj]

Adverbs don't have case, so it's neither nominative nor accusative

[PonyDesu]

Could it be "Li havis nur iom da sekudojn"?

[Celioluzverde]

Não poderia, Pony.

A preposição DA deve sempre ser seguida de nominativo.