Imperative and Optative Moods in Turkish
Imperative and Optative Moods
The imperative issues direct commands (gel = come, gelin = come [formal]), while the optative expresses suggestions (gidelim = let's go).
Turkish combines the Imperative Mood (Emir Kipi) and Optative Mood (İstek Kipi) into a comprehensive system of commands, requests, and collaborative suggestions across all persons:
1. Imperative (2nd & 3rd Person): - 2nd sing. informal: Bare verb stem (Gel! = Come!, Bak! = Look!) - 2nd plur. polite: -(y)In (Gelin! = Please come!) - 2nd plur. highly formal: -(y)InIz (Geliniz! / Lütfen oturunuz) - 3rd sing. ('let him/her'): -sIn (Gelsin = Let him come / May he come) - 3rd plur. ('let them'): -sInlAr (Gelsinler = Let them come). 2. Collaborative / Optative (1st Person): - 1st plur. ('Let's...'): -(y)AlIm (Gidelim = Let's go, Yapalim = Let's do it, Çay içelim = Let's drink tea). - 1st sing. ('Let me / Shall I'): -(y)AyIm (Gideyim = Let me go / I shall go, Yardım edeyim = Let me help). 3. Negation: Attach -me/-ma directly: Gelme! (Don't come!), Gelmeyin! (Don't come, pl.), Gitmeyelim (Let's not go).
In Turkish polite interaction, using -in / -iniz with lütfen (please) is standard etiquette.
Examples
Hafta sonu hep birlikte güzel bir doğa yürüyüşüne çıkalım.
Let's go on a nice nature hike all together this weekend.
Lütfen içeri giriniz ve boş bir sandalyeye oturunuz.
Please come inside and take a seat on an empty chair.
Ahmet hemen buraya gelsin ve müdürle görüşsün.
Let Ahmet come here immediately and speak with the manager.
Kütüphanede lütfen sessiz olun ve yüksek sesle konuşmayın.
Please be quiet in the library and do not speak loudly.
Related terms
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