03.06.25: Level 1; readings [12] - [15]: review (5); the imperative (command); 1st / 2nd conjugation

The term imperative comes from the Latin verb imperō, imperāre [1]: order; command. It’s also known as the command form i.e. it’s used when you’re telling somebody to do, or not to do something.

The Latin imperative most often has no tense (there is a future imperative but it’s by no means as common, and can be dealt with when it appears in reading); the only disctinction Latin makes is when a command is being given to one or more than one person. It’s straightforward to form.

Talking to one person:

1st conjugation

portāre: to carry; remove the -re > portā! carry! That’s the command. Latin had no exclamation mark, but it’s commonly used now to indicate it. It doesn’t mean that the person is shouting.

festināre: to hurry

> festinā lente: Hasten slowly.

2nd conjugation

manēre: to stay; remove the -re > manē! stay!

cavēre: to beware

> cavē canem! Beware (of) the dog!

audēre: to dare

> Sapere audē. (Horace) Dare to be wise.

Talking to more than one person:

[ii] Talking to more than one person:

-te is added to the imperative singular forms

1^st conjugation

portāte! carry!

2^nd conjugation

cavēte! beware!

[iii] Telling somebody not to do something

Latin has more than one way of doing this, but the easiest way is to use:

nōlī + the infintive of the verb (talking to one person)

nōlīte + the infinitive of the verb (talking to more than one person)

nōlī(te) are in themselves the imperative forms of the verb nōlō, -ere: ‘be unwilling’, but are used to express do not / don’t [do something]:

Nōlī mē tangere! │ Do not touch me! 

Nōlīte spēluncās intrāre! │ Don’t enter the caves!