käskluste

Käskluste, in English often called the imperative mood, is a category of Estonian verb forms used to issue commands, make requests, or express prohibitions. The term käsklus refers to the command or order itself, and käskluste denotes these forms as a grammatical group. The imperative is typically used with an understood second-person subject, whether singular or plural, and is distinguished from other moods such as the indicative or conditional.

Formation and variety are characterized by forms derived from the verb stem, with endings or consonant changes that mark singular or plural address. Many verbs undergo phonetic or consonant gradation in their imperative forms, and some require stem adjustments. Negative imperatives are formed with the particle ära placed before the verb, as in don’t do something.

Usage and register vary by context. Imperatives appear in everyday speech, instructions, signs, and manuals, and they can be direct or more attenuated when politeness is desired. To soften commands, speakers commonly add the word palun (please) or rephrase into a less forceful construction rather than relying on a strong imperative.

In linguistic descriptions, käskluste are a primary component of the Estonian mood system, alongside the indicative, conditional, and other verb forms. Their use interacts with verb type, phonology, and discourse level, but the core function remains to direct an addressee to perform an action, refrain from an action, or comply with a request.

See also: Estonian grammar, mood, imperative.