HomepageChapter 18 - Verbs - The Imperative

 Generalities: 


The simplest verbal form in Somali is the singular imperative.

This form serves as the "root" to form all other tenses, including the infinitive.

It is also the form often found in Somali vocabularies.

For example: keen = bring, akhri = read, samee = do, etc...



 Verbs in the Affirmative Imperative: 


The verb in the affirmative imperative is used alone, without a pronoun or preverbal particle.

The imperative is used to give an order to someone. If the order is addressed to several people, the plural ending -a is added.

If the verb ends in -i, insert -y before the final vowel -a. For example: Akhri ! = read! ; Akhriya ! = read!

Only one verb changes its final consonant -n to -m before -a: Wárran ! = give news! ; Warráma ! = give news!

The (unwritten) stress tone falls on the penultimate vowel: Kéen ! = bring!



 Some common verbs in the Affirmative Imperative: 


Singular Imperative Translation Plural Imperative Translation
Keen ! = bring! Keena ! = bring!
Akhri ! = read! Akhriya ! = read!
Qor ! = write! Qora ! = write!
Cun ! = eat! Cuna ! = eat!
Cab ! = drink! Caba ! = drink!
Sheeg ! = speak! Sheega ! = speak!
Tag ! = go! Taga ! = go!
Sug ! = wait! Suga ! = wait!
Eeg ! = look! Eega ! = look!
Fur ! = open! Fura ! = open!
Jooji ! = stop! Joojiya ! = stop!

Examples :

  • Aamus ! = be quiet!
  • Joogso ! = stop!
  • Halkan joog ! = stay here! (here stay !)
  • Ii soo raac ! = come with me! (me to come !)
  • Ii keen ! = bring me! (me bring !)
  • Biyaha kari ! = boil the water ! (water-the boil !)
  • Baquuligaaga ii dhiib ! = Give me you bowl ! (bowl-your me give !)
  • Saxankaaga ii dhiib ! = Give me your plate ! (plate-you me give !)


 Verbs in the Negative Imperative: 


The negative imperative is used to order someone not to do something.

It is formed by the negative particle ha followed by the verb in the negative imperative.

The negative imperative form of verbs from Groups 2 and 3 is identical to the infinitive form.

In the plural, the -a ending is added to the negative verb.
For example: the verb Keen (= to bring) -> Ha keenin ! (do not bring!) ; Ha keenina ! (= do not bring!)

Some verbs add -san in the singular and -san+ina in the plural:
For example: the verb Joog (= to stop) -> Ha joogsan ! (do not stop!) ; Ha joogsanina ! (= do not stop!)



 Some common verbs in the Negative Imperative: 


Negative Imperative Sing. Translation Negative Imperative Plur. Translation
Ha keenin ! = do not bring! Ha keenina ! = do not bring!
Ha akhriyin ! = do not read! Ha akhriyina ! = do not read!
Ha qorin ! = do not write! Ha qorina ! = do not write!
Ha cunin ! = do not eat! Ha cunina ! = do not eat!
Ha cabin ! = do not drink! Ha cabina ! = do not drink!
Ha sheegin ! = do not speak! Ha sheegina ! = do not speak!
Ha tegin ! = do not go! Ha tegina ! = do not go!
Ha sugin ! = do not wait! Ha sugina ! = do not wait!
Ha eegin ! = do not look! Ha eegina ! = do not look!
Ha furin ! = do not open! Ha furina ! = do not open!
Ha karin ! = do not cook! Ha karinina ! = do not cook!
Ha joogsan ! = do not stop! Ha joogsanina ! = do not stop!

Examples :

  • Ha riixin ! = don't push!
  • Ha riixina ! = don't push! (plur.)
  • Ha gelin ! = don't enter! (verb : gal = to enter)
  • Ha gelina ! = don't enter! (plur.)
  • Ha iman ! = don't go! (verb : imow = to go)
  • Ha imannina ! = don't go! (plur.)
  • Ha fadhiisan ! = don't sit !
  • Ha fadhiisanina ! = don't sit (plur.) !
  • Halkan ha ka shaqayn ! = don't work here !
  • Halkan ha ka shaqaynina ! = don't work here (plur.) !


 The imperative in the 1st person plural: 


The optative mood is used to give orders in the 1st person plural.

We add the ending -no to the verb base preceded by the pronoun aan = we.

Examples:

  • Aan taagno ! = Let's go!
  • Aan cunno ! = Let's eat!
  • Aan heesno ! = Let's sing!
  • Aan akhrino ! = Let's read!
  • Aan karino ! = Let's cook!




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