Imperative forms

Abstract

The smallest unit of a verb is its stem and it is this stem that is most frequently used as the imperative. There are other means as well, all based on a stem plus a suffix: a polite request is issued in two ways, depending on whether one or more persons are being addressed. A third form is the compelling request, being applied as encouragement or to convey a certain degree of impatience. A paraphrased request is formed by using, for instance, an affirmative of negated present-tense form or by a verb form expressing possibility. Instructions can also be given in a declarative form expressing present or future. A certain ‘imperative’ effect can of course also be achieved by using modal forms corresponding to ‘can’ and ‘may’.