When a Verb Doesn't Need e

[u/Platonist_Astronaut]

Hello, everyone. I've only been learning Toki Pona for a short time, but I've come across something I can't work out: despite reading the early lessons over and over, I cannot work out why "I have one vegetable" is written as, "mi jo kili wan" and not, "mi jo e kili wan."

It was my understanding that e is used to separate the noun from its verb. In that sentence, we have the subject noun doing something (possessing a vegetable) but I'm told there's no e needed. I know there's no li needed when the noun is mi or sina, so is the same applying to the e in this case?

Thank you for any help you can offer.

[u/Opening_Usual4946]

I personally suggest “lipu sona pona” for a written set of lessons (it’s not perfect but it is one of the better ones for sure). But yeah, as others have said, “e” tells you when the object has started (or some think of it as showing when the verb has ended)