Lesson 21: The Imperative

Learning how to form the Imperative Latin verb

• A) General Command (Present Imperative) - which is restricted to the 2nd person: tu, vos
• B) Universal Law (Future Imperative) - command projected beyond the present, which can be 2nd person: tu, vos; or or 3rd person: is, ea, ei. [This form is encountered infrequently.]

Grp I Verbs (Are)
A)	tu canta	vos cantate	you sing, ye sing
B)	tu cantato	vos cantatote	you, ye shalt/must sing
	is-ea-id cantato	ei-eae-ea cantanto	he, they shall/must sing

Grp II Verbs (Ere)
A)	tu move	vos movete	you move, ye move
B)	tu moveto	vos movetote	you, ye shalt/must move
	is-ea-id moveto	ei-eae-ea movento	he, they shall/must move

Grp III Verbs (êre)
A)	tu scribe	vos scríbite	you write, ye write
B)	tu scríbito	vos scribitote	you, ye shalt/must write
	is-ea-id scríbito	ei-eae-ea scribúnto	he, they shall/must write

Grp IV Verbs (Ire)
A)	tu senti	vos sentíte	you fell, ye feel
B)	tu sentito	vos sentitote	you, ye shalt/must feel
	is-ea-id sentito	ei-eae-ea sentiunto	he, they shall/must feel

The Verb Esse "to be"
A)	tu es	vos este	you be, ye be
B)	tu esto	vos estote	you, ye shalt/must be
	is-ea-id esto	ei-eae-ea sunto	he, they shall/must be

Now go on to do Homework 19

N.B. There are some consistent patterns.

• The second person singular (tu) form is just Time 1 (from Lesson 17) without the -s ending
• The plural second person is formed for both types by adding -te
• The 2nd and 3rd person singular of type B are identical
• The 3rd persons plural "they" (type B) is formed by adding -o to the T.1 form
• Notice the unusual accents in pronouncing Grp. 3 (vs. Gr. 4): scríbite vs. sentíte (and notice that Bl. 3 plural is "ite", not "ete".)

First Experience Latin - Fr. Reginald Foster

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