CHAPTER XXII

176. (a) Of the three Voices referred to in 171, the Active (in its three constructions) is by far the most important. The forms (Imperative, Indicative and Subjunctive) discussed in this and the following chapters are all Active. The Passive and the Impersonal forms will be treated in Chapter XIV.

2. As for the Aspect(170) all the forms given in these chapters are to be taken as Terminate, unless otherwise stated. Aspects will be treated along with Compound Verbs (Chapter XIII).
3. Of the three moods referred to in 172, the Imperative has the simplest formation. This will, therefore, be discussed first.

177. The Imperative Mood, as already stated (178), denotes command, request, warning, prohibition, entreaty etc. By its very nature, the Imperative cannot refer to the past : command or request is impossible with regared to a past action. The Imperative, therefore, is restricted to the Present and the Future Tenses.

(In fact, the Imperative cannot refer even to the present, since what the speaker wants done can take place only after he has spoken : it is neither going on, nor completed at the moment of speaking. Some Imperative forms, however, refer specifically to future - relatively distant future. It is mainly for distinguishing these forms from the ordinary forms that the Imperative is said to have a present form as well).

178. Since the Imperative denotes command, request etc., its proper domain is the second person. Indirect command request etc. made to a third person may be expressed by the subjunctive (optative) forms. See 227.
179. The Imperative forms of the present are made as follows :-

1. In the second person singular, the bare root (with stress accent) is used :-

(�ܻ) �܁� `read (thou)'

(�ܻ) �� `come (thou)'

(�ܻ) ��� `go (thou)' !

Note : These forms can be used only for God, servants, young children, in affection for mother, sister etc. or for expressing anger. See 107-b (i).

2. In the second person plural, - �ܽ is appended to the root :-

(�ܺ��) �܁�ܽ `read (you)',

(�ܺ��) �܂ܽ `come (thou)'!

(�ܺ��) ��܂ܽ `go (thou)'

Note : The root ڽ��� `to give' makes �ܽ (not ڽ�ܽ). and �ܽ��� `to take' makes ��ܽ (not �ܽ�ܽ).

(ii) The alternative forms �ܨ�ܽ, ��ܨ�ܽ (instead of �܂ܽ, ��܂ܽ) etc., occasionally met with, should be discarded.

(iii) The usage of second person plural form is similar to that of the second person plural pronoun �ܺ��. See 107-b (ii).

3. With the second person honorific pronoun �ܜ� [107-b (iii) ],- �� is appended to the root.

Note : (i) The following roots have exceptional forms in the honorific :

�ţ��� `to do' makes �����܇ (besides �Ź��),

�ܽ��� `to take' makes �����܇,

ڽ��� `to give' makes ����܇,

������ `to drink' makes �����܇ �

But ۻ��܇ form �ܽ��� `to be' is archaic and should be discarded. The correct form is �ܽ�� which is rarely used.

2. �܃�, ��܃� etc. are also written �܃�ܽ, ��܃�ܽ etc. but the former are preferable.
3. The honorific forms are used in the same way as the honorific Pronoun. See 107-b (iii).

177. (a) The Future forms of the Imperative, both Singular and Plural, are identical with the Infinitive forms of roots - �ܥܛ��, �ܛ��, ��ܛ��, �܁���� etc.

2. The polite future Imperative is made by adding-ga to the honorfic forms :-

177. (a) An exceptionl (`Exclamatory') Imperative, denoting emergency, danger, warning etc. is formed by adding - ���ܽ to the root :-

�ܾ�����ܽ ! �܊� �܊�� ! `run (come quick)! Fire has broken out!,

�ܹ�ܡ�ܽ ! �ܽ������ �ܡ�� ! `come quick ! A wolf is coming'.

These forms are used mainly in calling for help and are addressed to all persons within hearing. Their use as mere Future Imperatives is now archaic or dialectic.

(b) The - ��� Imperatives may similarly be used to denote warning, emergency or informal request :-

��ܽ �� ����� ! `don't touch it! (it is hot, etc.)',

�܈������ ! `catch hold! (of the thif etc.)',

�܍ܛ�� ! `get aside! (there's a car behind you etc.)'

��� �ܽ���ܥ� ��ܛ�� !`will you just get that pencil?' (informal request).

178. (a) The Present Imperative forms can, of course, be also used with reference to Future also :-

�ܺ�� �ť� ����� ��܂ܽ `You go there to-morrow'.

�ܜ� ڬ� �ڛ� ���� �܃� `please come after ten days.'

(b) The so-called `Imperative' forms for the first and third persons are really subjunctive (optative). See 227.

2. The Present Imperative is sometimes called the `Direct Imperative' and the Future Imperative the `Indirect Imperative.'
3. The negative (prohibitive) forms of the Imperative are made by placing a ���� or �� immediately before the Verb. ���� is more emphatic and less polite.