LESSON LV.THE IMPERATIVE MOOD.
254. For expressions of command, exhortation, entreaty, etc., there is an imperative mood, as in English. The ending of the imperative mood is -u. Beside the aoristic tense, six compound tenses are formed by combining the participles with the imperative mood estu of the auxiliary verb, but these tenses are seldom used. The conjugation of vidi in the aoristic tense of this mood, together with a synopsis in the compound tenses, is as follows:
Aoristic Tense.
mi vidu!
let me see!
ni vidu!
let us see!
(vi) vidu!
(you) see!
(vi) vidu!
(you) see!
li (ŝi, ĝi) vidu!
let him (her, it) see!
ili vidu!
let them see!
Compound Tenses.
Active.
Passive.
Present:
mi estu vidanta,
Present:
mi estu vidata,
Past:
mi estu vidinta,
Past:
mi estu vidita,
Future:
mi estu vidonta.
Future:
mi estu vidota.
RESOLVE AND EXHORTATION.
255. The first person singular of the imperative mood is used to express the speaker's resolve concerning his own action, or an exhortation to himself concerning such action. The first person plural is used to express resolve or exhortation concerning the joint action of the speaker and the person or persons addressed:
Mi pensu pri tio! Let me think about that!
Mi ne forgesu tion! I must not (do not let me) forget that!
Ni ekzilu lin! Let us exile him!
Ni ne sidiĝu tie! Let us not sit down there!
Ni estu grize vestitaj! Let us be dressed in gray!
This force is usually expressed in English by "let" with an accusative and infinitive construction.
COMMANDS AND PROHIBITIONS.
256. The second and third persons of the imperative are used to express peremptory commands and prohibitions.
a. In the second person the pronoun is usually omitted, as in English, unless special emphasis is placed upon it:
Estu trankvila! Be calm! (One person is addressed.)
