Language/Amharic/Grammar/Expressing-“Let-me”-or-“May-I”-“Shall-I”
Extending an invitation or offering something involves another form of the jussive. This form is represented in the dialog by:
- ልጋብዝሽ lïgabïzïš? May I invite you?
You also saw some verbs of this type in the previous unit:
- ልለካው lïläkaw? Can I try it?
- ልግዛልሽ lïgïzalïš? Shall I buy for you (♀)?
- ላምጣልህ lamt’alïh. Let me bring for you (♂)
When phrased as a question, this form of the jussive indicates either, “Shall I?” or “May I?”As a statement, the sense is, “Let me” (i.e. allow me to). These sorts of phrases are formed as follows:
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: “to be” and “to have”, Direct and Indirect Object Affixes, Conjugation of the verb መኖር “to live” (present tense) & Pronouns and Greetings.
Rule[edit | edit source]
ል lï + imperative verb form for male person
Examples:[edit | edit source]
- ልቆይ lïk’oy Let me wait. / Shall I wait?
- ልሂድ lïhid Let me go./ Shall I go?
- ላንብብ lanbїb Let me read./ Shall I read?
- ላምጣ lamїt’a Let me bring./ Shall I read?
Common uses:[edit | edit source]
- ልጋብዝህ lïgabïzïh? (♂)/ልጋብዝሽ lïgabïzïš? (♀) / ልጋብዛችሁ lïgabïzaččïhu (pl)? May I invite you?
- ልርዳህ lïrdah? (♂)/ልርዳሽ lïrdaš? (♀)/ልርዳችሁ lïrdaččïhu (pl)? Shall I help you?
Note[edit | edit source]
Notice that these verbs attach the indirect object suffix –ህ-ïh (♂)/-ሽ-ïš? (♀) / -አችሁ- aččïhu (pl) to express to whom the action refers. Object suffixes are always attached to the end of the jussive verb.
Source[edit | edit source]
https://www.livelingua.com/peace-corps/Amharic/Amharic%20Peace%20Corps%20Language%20Manual-2015.pdf
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- The Present Future Tense
- “to be” and “to have”
- The Possessive Adjectives
- Conjugation of the verb መኖር “to live” (present tense)
- Simple Sentence
- Questions
- Asking If and Saying Whether It Is “Suitable” or Not
- Complex Sentence
- Expressing Obligation or Necessity
- Personal pronouns