Latin/Lesson 1-Imperative
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[edit] Imperative
[edit] Positive Imperative
[edit] English
In English (and in Latin), the positive imperative is a command. For example:
- Do it!
- Stop, in the name of love!
- Take out the garbage!
[edit] Latin
In Latin, the verb is made into the imperative singular by dropping the re from the end of the infinitive.
[edit] Examples:
Run, boy!
- Curre, puer![1] (from curro, currere; to run)
Go!
- I! (from eo, ire; to go)
Seize the day!
- Carpe diem! (from carpo, carpere; to pluck)
- ↑ In many cases, the vocative will be used with the imperative, unless the imperative is used in a conversation or at a reader, as in a letter or guide.
[edit] Questions
Write out:
- Love me, Octavia! (to love = amo, amare)
- Come to Rome! (to come = venio, venire; Rome = Roma, Romae, f.)
[edit] Plural
To form the plural imperative in Latin, add -te to the end of the singular imperative. Use the plural imperative to issue a command to multiple people.
Go home, boys!
- Ite domum, pueri.
Stay, all of you!
- Manete, omnes!
[edit] Exercises
Write out:
- Take them, men! (to take = adripio, adripere)
- Fear me, children! (to fear = timeo, timere; children = liberi)
[edit] Negative Imperative
[edit] English
In English, we use the word "don't" for prohibitions, or negative imperatives. For example:
- Don't do it!
- Don't say that!
[edit] Latin
Similarly, in Latin the negative imperative is formed with two words, the imperative of nolo, nolle and the infinitive.
Nolo by itself means "I do not want," but in its imperative it means "do not...!"
Nolle is irregular, and its imperative forms are noli and nolite.
[edit] Examples
Do not fear me!
- Noli me timere!
Don't build the aqueduct there, soldiers!
- Nolite aquaductum ibi aedificare, milites!
Don't wash the dog, boys!
- Nolite, pueri, canem lavare!
[edit] Exercises
Translate:
- Don't cry, daughter! (to cry = fleo, flere)
- Don't hurt me, friends! (to hurt = vulnero, vulnerare)
- Don't go into the water, boys!
- Don't hurt them, soldiers! (them = use eos, masculine accusative plural of is, ea, id)
