Imperatives
- For a definition of Imperatives see Imperative Mood (definition).
Contents
Overview
The imperative paradigm for the verb 'to put' is as follows:
| cuirim | let me put | cuireamaid | let us put |
| cuir (thusa) | you put | cuiribh | let you (pl) put |
| cuireadh (esan/ise)' | let him put | cuireadh (iadsan) | let them put |
Even though there are imperative forms for all different person and number features on the verb, the youth tend to only use the second person singular and plural.
There are three main types of deference in SG imperatives, ranging from a very polite request to an overt command:
| Nach | dèan | sibh | suidhe? | |||
| NEG | make | 2p | sit.vn? | |||
| 'Won't you make a sitting?' | ||||||
Optional and Obligatory Subjects
For the second person forms, the subject is optional:
| Seas! |
| stand.imp.2s |
| "Stand up!" |
or
| Seas | thusa! |
| stand.imp.2s | 2s.emph |
| "You stand up!" |
When the optional subject is used in these sentences, the subject becomes emphatic and the sentence is called a "particularizing imperative". However, when the third person form is used, then the subject becomes obligatory, either in pronominal form or as a noun.
| Seasadh | e! |
| stand.imp.3s | 3sm |
| "Let him stand up!" |
or
| Seasadh | Iain! |
| stand.imp.3s | Iain |
| "Let John stand up!" |
When a noun is used, we say that this is an "identifying imperative". A single imperative can incorporate both the "identifying" and "particularizing" features:
| Seas | thusa, | Iain! |
| stand.imp.2s | 2s.emph | Iain |
| "You stand up, John!" |
Negative Imperatives
Negative imperatives are created by placing the negative particle na in front of the verb:
| Na | ith | |||||
| NEG | eat.imp | |||||
| 'Don't eat!' | ||||||
External Links
Warning: At least one of the links below takes you to Wikipedia. Articles on wikipedia often contain inaccuracies or are subject to vandalism. especially about language issues.
References
- Fisher, Muriel (2004) Scottish Gaelic Level 1. Seattle: Each-Mara Publications
