Imperatiivid

Imperatiivid is a term used in Estonian-language grammar to refer to the imperative mood, the set of verb forms used to issue commands, requests, prohibitions, or invitations. As a mood, imperatiivid distingu ish from other verbal moods by signaling illocutionary force—what the speaker wants the listener to do or refrain from doing.

Formation and characteristics vary across languages. In many languages, imperatiivid are morphologically distinct from the indicative or other moods, often constructed from a verb stem with specific endings or particles. Some languages use the same form as the base present tense for the second person singular, while others employ unique endings, clitics, or auxiliary words. Negative imperatives are commonly formed with an extra particle or with a separate construction, such as "do not" in English or "no" plus the verb in several Romance languages.

Person and address options differ by language. Most imperatives target the second person, but inclusive or exclusive we forms (let’s go) and third-person jussives or hortatives exist in various languages to express commands or exhortations involving others. Politeness and formality are often achieved through separate syntactic forms, modal verbs, or honorific particles.

Functions and scope extend beyond simple commands. Imperatiivid convey requests, prohibitions, advice, or invitations, and can appear in direct speech, quoted speech, or subordinate clauses under certain conditions. They may also have special forms for formal address, or for plural or collective actions.

See also: mood (grammar), subjunctive, jussive, hortative.