"Their beer tastes good."

Translation: Ilia biero estas bongusta.

[KirbTX]

Why isn't "Their beer" accusative? Isn't it the direct object?

[latiif94]

The verb esti doesn't take a direct object, since it implies equality.

Mi estas via patro - Via patro estas mi.

[KirbTX]

Again, thanks for the response! I do wonder if your could clarify what you mean here though, because you're explanation/examples so far don't make any sense to me. What do you mean when you say verbs don't take direct objects? I've read all of the lesson hints so far, and I'm just not recalling anything remotely like that.

[latiif94]

Try reading this little entry, about Esperanto's accusative case.

[PurpleHuedMagPie]

Think of this, if a verb (-i, -as, -os, -is, -us, -u) is more or less describing something or saying it equals or is equivalent to the next part of the sentence, it doesn't need a -n :)

Example:
He is a man
He = a man
Li = viro
Li estas viro

[Mutusen]

That's not really relevant here because ilia beiro is the subject anyway.

[ChuckWalter]

Why is "Ilia biero gustas bonan" not accepted?

[Rejsi]

"Bone" would make it correct, not "bonan"

[Q-Allat]

Tial ursoj ŝatas ĝin!

[arono3]

Do jen la kialo, ursoj loĝas en niaj domoj

[arono3]

Shouldn't it be "ilia biero bongustas". The current sentence says "their beer is delicious/good-tasting"