Imperatives: commands, requests and let's
የትእዛዝ ግሦች (imperatives)፦ ትእዛዝ፣ ጥያቄና let's
The base verb on its own (Turn left. Don't park here.) gives commands, instructions and warnings; let's makes suggestions. Knowing how to soften it is just as important.
The form
Amharic changes the command for a man, a woman, a group or a respected person: ሂድ, ሂጂ, ሂዱ, ይሂዱ. English has one form for everyone: Go. There is no subject, and the negative is Don't + base verb.
In Amharic
አማርኛ ትእዛዙን ለወንድ፣ ለሴት፣ ለቡድን ወይም ለሚከበር ሰው ይለውጣል፦ ሂድ፣ ሂጂ፣ ሂዱ፣ ይሂዱ። እንግሊዝኛ ለሁሉም አንድ ቅርጽ አለው፦ Go። ባለቤት የለውም፤ አሉታዊው ደግሞ Don't + መሠረታዊ ግሥ ነው።
| Form | Example | |
|---|---|---|
| positive | base verb | Turn left. Wait here. |
| negative | Don't + base verb | Don't park here. Don't be late. |
| strong negative | Never + base verb | Never leave the stove on. |
| emphatic | Do + base verb | Do come in! Do sit down. |
| suggestion | Let's + base verb | Let's go. |
| negative suggestion | Let's not + base verb | Let's not wait. |
- No you in a normal command: Sit down (not You sit down).
- Don't + base verb, with no to: Don't forget (not Don't to forget).
- Be is used too: Be careful. Don't be shy.
- Fill in your name and date of birth.
- Don't leave your bag on the seat.
- Be careful, the floor is wet.
- Never give your PIN to anyone.
Commands, requests and instructions
Imperatives are normal for instructions (recipes, directions, forms, signs) and between family and close friends. But in the US, a bare imperative to an adult you don't know, a coworker or a boss can sound rude. Add please, or turn it into a question with Can you…?, Could you…? or Would you mind…?
In Amharic
imperative ለመመሪያዎች (የምግብ አሠራር፣ አቅጣጫ፣ ፎርም፣ ምልክቶች) እና በቤተሰብና በቅርብ ጓደኞች መካከል የተለመደ ነው። በአሜሪካ ግን ለማያውቁት አዋቂ፣ ለሥራ ባልደረባ ወይም ለአለቃ ባዶ ትእዛዝ ብልግና ሊመስል ይችላል። please ይጨምሩ፣ ወይም በ Can you…?፣ Could you…? ወይም Would you mind…? ወደ ጥያቄ ይለውጡት።
| How polite | Example |
|---|---|
| direct (family, signs, instructions) | Close the door. |
| softer | Close the door, please. |
| polite | Can you close the door, please? |
| more polite | Could you close the door, please? |
| very polite | Would you mind closing the door? |
- Instructions use imperatives in order: First, mix the flour. Then add the water.
- Would you mind + -ing? Answer No, not at all if you agree to do it.
- Warnings are short: Watch out! Look out! Stop!
- Go straight for two blocks, then turn right.
- Take one tablet twice a day with food.
- Could you send me the address, please?
- Would you mind waiting a few minutes?
- Press 1 for English.
Let's and other suggestions
Let's (= let us) + base verb suggests something for you and the other person together, like Amharic እንሂድ. The negative is Let's not. Other ways to suggest are Why don't we…?, Shall we…? and How about + -ing? Let me is different: it offers to do something yourself (Let me help you).
In Amharic
Let's (= let us) + መሠረታዊ ግሥ ለእርስዎና ለሌላው ሰው አብሮ የሚሆን ሐሳብ ያቀርባል፤ እንደ አማርኛው "እንሂድ"። አሉታዊው Let's not ነው። ሌሎች የሐሳብ ማቅረቢያ መንገዶች Why don't we…?፣ Shall we…? እና How about + -ing? ናቸው። Let me ይለያል፦ አንድን ነገር ራስዎ ለመሥራት ያቀርባል (Let me help you)።
| Suggestion | Yes | No |
|---|---|---|
| Let's eat out tonight. | Yes, let's. / Good idea. | Let's not. I'm tired. |
| Why don't we take the bus? | Sure, why not? | I'd rather drive. |
| Shall we start? | Yes, let's. | Let's wait for Abebe. |
| How about going to the park? | Sounds good. | Maybe another day. |
- Let's + base verb, no to: Let's go (not Let's to go).
- Negative: Let's not (not Let's don't).
- How about takes -ing: How about meeting at six?
- Let's meet at the coffee shop after church.
- Let's not tell the kids yet.
- Why don't we split the bill?
- Let me carry that for you.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Correct | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Go straight and turn left. | Normal imperatives have no subject. | |
| Don't park here. | Negative imperative: Don't + verb. | |
| Don't forget your ID. | No to after Don't. | |
| Could I have some water, please? | A bare imperative to a server or a stranger can sound rude. | |
| Let's go home. | Let's + base verb, with no to. | |
| Let's not wait. | The negative of let's is let's not. |
Practice
Each answer is checked as you go, with the reason. Nothing here is saved.
___ left at the light.
___ park in front of the gate. (negative)
Which is the most polite to a stranger?
___ go to the park this afternoon. It's sunny! (suggestion, one word)
Let's ___ late again.
Don't ___ your phone at the counter.
Instructions: ___ in the form in black ink. (one word)
Would you mind ___ me with this bag?
Close the door. → ___ you close the door, please? (one word)
“Shall we eat now?” — “Yes, ___.”