Language/Modern-greek-1453/Grammar/The-imperative

The imperative

The imperative (προστακτική) may express not only command (order) but also request and

desire. This mood is to be found in the Ενεστώτας (simple present), Αόριστος (simple past) and seldom

in the Παρακείμενος (present perfect). The imperative is used in the 2 nd and the 3rd person singular and plural.

However, notice that the 3 rd person, which is formed by the 3rd person of the subjunctive mood, is seldom used.

The 2nd person imperative may be also formed by the 2nd person of the subjunctive mood preceded by the particle “να”.

Prohibition is expressed by using the negative particle “μη(ν)” before the subjunctive forms:

Γράψε, σε παρακαλώ!!! (Να γράψεις (subj), σε παρακαλώ!) (singular) Write please!!!

Γράψτε!!! (Να γράψετε!!! (subj)) (plural) Write!!!

Να γράφει or Ας γράφει!!! (subj., 3rd person singular) Let him write!!!

Μη γράψεις!!!(singular) Do not write!!!

Μη γράψετε!!!(plural) Do not write!!!

The imperative of the simple present – Ενεστώτας Προστακτική

The imperative of the simple present expresses duration or repetition of the action.

Formation of the imperative of the simple present of the active voice

The imperative of the passive voice is seldom used and will not be examined. The verbs γράφω

(write), αγαπώ (love), and τηλεφωνώ (telephone) are used as examples

1.       Finde the present stem of the verb. Group A, 1st conjugation Group B, 2nd conjugation, γράφω - γράφ- αγαπώ – αγαπ   τηλεφωνώ – τηλεφων

Finde the present stem of the verb

Group A, 1st conjugation	Group B, 2nd conjugation,
γράφω - γράφ-	αγαπώ – αγαπ     τηλεφωνώ - τηλεφων

                                 

2 . Place after the stem the following endings

for the A group: -ε, -ετε

for the B1 group: -α, -άτε

for the B2 group: -ει (seldom used, however some verbs take -α), -είτε

Group A, 1st conjugation	Group B, 2nd conjugation
γράφ-ε γράφ-ετε	αγάπ-α αγαπ-άτε τηλεφών-α τηλεφων-είτε

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➡ Marianthi

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