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Most of the
sentences we write in D'ni are in the indicative mood: they state facts and
make observations. Sometimes, though, when we make a direct address, we don't
want to tell facts, we want to instruct what to do, to give a command. In these
cases, we use the imperative mood, which in D'ni is expressed with an -a (-a) suffix after the verb's
personal ending.
Traditionally,
the imperative mood is limited to the second person, such as you, go! or you all, go! since commands usually need to be directed at others who are intended to enact them.
However, we can make similar statements with reference to a first person
subject, such as we go! meant not as a statement of
fact, but as an injunction to action that includes the speaker or even a
third person subject, such as they go! meant similarly
as a command. D'ni considers all of these verb forms to be imperative in mood. Indeed, there is strong evidence to suggest that -a (-a) can be suffixed onto verbs of any person or
number. However, since commands are also a demand for an event that has not yet
occurred, imperative mood can only apply to verbs in the present tense. Since
commands tend to be direct and straightforward requests for action, most
sentences using the imperative mood will be relatively short and simple,
focusing on the verb.
Examples: |
.rEsema
(rēsema) |
Eat! |
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.eDertEa
(edertēa) |
Sleep! (Go to sleep!) |
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.eDereta
(edereta) |
We sleep! (Let us now sleep!) |
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.ril glasema reano
(ril glasema reano) |
Don't drink the water! |
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.xan Dolonema
(tsan dolonema) |
Always be discovering! |
Lesson 18
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