Cohortative

A cohortative is a grammatical mood used to express exhortation or encouragement, especially an invitation for the speaker and others to act together. It typically marks first-person inclusive or plural exhortation, often aligning with a “let us” or “we should” sense. In many languages, the cohortative is a distinct morphological form or a periphrastic construction that foregrounds the speaker’s intent to act jointly with the addressees.

Usage and function

The cohortative is primarily used to urge or invite action rather than to issue a direct command. It commonly conveys solidarity, agreement, or resolution among participants. In some languages, it appears only in the first-person plural (inclusive), while in others both inclusive and exclusive forms may exist. Related notions include the hortative mood, a broader label for exhortation in the first person, of which the cohortative is often described as a subtype.

Form and realization

Morphology varies by language. Some tongues provide a dedicated verb form, while others employ particles or clitic sequences (for example, English uses the periphrastic construction “let us” or “let me” to express a similar sense). In languages with real verbal inflection, the cohortative can be distinguished by specific endings or stem modifications.

Examples

English: “Let us begin.” “Let us go.” Hebrew (Biblical Hebrew): forms such as na’aleh (let us go up) illustrate a classic cohortative usage expressing joint action.

Relation to other moods

The cohortative is often contrasted with the imperative (direct second-person commands) and the jussive or optative (third-person or general wishes). It sits within the broader domain of exhortative or hortative constructions, focused on including the speaker and participants in the requested action.