Language/Amharic/Grammar/Using-the-Subjunctive

Amharic → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Using the Subjunctive

The subjunctive mood is an intriguing aspect of the Amharic language that can open up new avenues of expression for learners. It allows speakers to convey wishes, hypothetical situations, and indirect commands, making it an essential tool for nuanced conversation. Understanding the subjunctive is particularly important for English-speaking learners, as it differs significantly from English usage, prompting a shift in thinking about mood and intention in language.

In this lesson, we will explore the subjunctive mood in Amharic in detail. We will cover its formation, usage, and provide numerous examples to solidify your understanding. By the end of this lesson, you will be equipped with the tools to employ the subjunctive mood confidently in your own Amharic sentences.

Introduction to the Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is used in Amharic to express:

• Wishes: What one hopes for or desires.

• Hypothetical situations: Scenarios that are not real but are imagined.

• Indirect commands or suggestions: Encouraging or suggesting actions.

It’s important to note that the subjunctive is not just a grammatical structure; it reflects the speaker's attitude towards the action. In this section, we will dive into how to form the subjunctive in Amharic and when to use it.

Formation of the Subjunctive

To form the subjunctive in Amharic, you typically modify the verb root. The endings added to the verb root will depend on the tense and the subject of the sentence. Here’s a basic structure:

• For most verbs, the subjunctive form is created by taking the root of the verb and adding specific endings.

• The endings can change depending on the subject pronoun (I, you, he/she, we, they).

Here’s a simple guideline for forming the subjunctive in Amharic:

• 1st person singular (I): add “-ን” (-n) to the verb stem.

• 2nd person singular (you): add “-ህ” (-h) for masculine or “-ሽ” (-sh) for feminine.

• 3rd person singular (he/she): add “-ይ” (-y).

• 1st person plural (we): add “-ን” (-n).

• 2nd person plural (you all): add “-ች” (-ch).

• 3rd person plural (they): add “-ይ” (-y).

Let’s take a look at some examples:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
እኔ ይህን እመን !! ʔɨne yihɨn ʔɨmɛn !! I wish this
አንተ ይህን እመን !! ʔanta yihɨn ʔɨmɛn !! You (male) wish this
አንቺ ይህን እመን !! ʔanchi yihɨn ʔɨmɛn !! You (female) wish this
እኛ ይህን እመን !! ʔɨnja yihɨn ʔɨmɛn !! We wish this
እናንተ ይህን እመን !! ʔɨnanta yihɨn ʔɨmɛn !! You all wish this
እነሱ ይህን እመን !! ʔɨnɨsu yihɨn ʔɨmɛn !! They wish this

Usage of the Subjunctive

Now that we know how to form the subjunctive, let's explore how it is used in sentences. The subjunctive is often introduced by words that indicate desire, doubt, or necessity. Here are some common contexts in which the subjunctive appears:

• Expressing desires:

• "I wish to go."

• "He wishes to study."

• Hypothetical situations:

• "If I were rich, I would travel."

• "If she were here, she would help."

• Indirect commands:

• "I suggest that you see a doctor."

• "It’s important that he comes."

Here are some more examples to illustrate these contexts:

Amharic	Pronunciation	English
እኔ መምር እፈልጋለሁ !! ʔɨne mämɨr ʔɨfɛlɨgälɨhu !! I wish to study
እሱ መምር እፈልጋለሁ !! ʔɨsu mämɨr ʔɨfɛlɨgälɨhu !! He wishes to study
እንደ አሳማ እንደምን እንደነበር !! ʔɨndä ʔäsa̱mɨ ʔɨndämɨn ʔɨndä nɨbär !! If I were rich, I would travel
እኔ ወደ ሕንጻ ልመጣ እፈልጋለሁ !! ʔɨne wädä hɨnɨṭʼa lɨmɨṭʼä ʔɨfɛlɨgälɨhu !! I want to go to the office
እንዲህ እንደ ማለትም አለው !! ʔɨndɨh ʔɨndä mälɨtɨm ʔaläw !! It’s important that he comes

Common Phrases with the Subjunctive

It’s beneficial for learners to familiarize themselves with common phrases that utilize the subjunctive form. Here are a few:

• እኔ ይቀበሉኝ (ʔɨne yɨqäbäluñ) – I want them to accept me.

• ይህ ይገባኝ (yih yɨgäbäñ) – This suits me.

• እንደ ወንጌል ይወዳሉ (ʔɨndä wängel yɨwädalu) – They love the gospel.

These phrases can serve as a foundation for building your own sentences in the subjunctive mood, enhancing your expressive capabilities in Amharic.

Practice Exercises

Now that we have explored the subjunctive mood in depth, let’s put your knowledge to the test with some exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences using the appropriate subjunctive form of the verb in parentheses.

1. እኔ እመን ወይዘህ (to see).

2. አንተ ይህን ይነግሩኝ (to tell).

3. እንደ እርስዎ ይህን ይቀበሉ (to accept).

4. እነሱ ወደ አስፈላጊ እንዲመጡ (to come).

Exercise 2: Translate to Amharic

Translate the following sentences into Amharic using the subjunctive mood.

1. I wish to learn.

2. You should come with me.

3. They hope to arrive early.

4. He wants her to help him.

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences

Using the subjunctive mood, create sentences for the following prompts:

1. Suggestion for a friend to study.

2. Wish for a better world.

3. Hypothetical situation about traveling.

Solutions and Explanations

Here are the solutions for the practice exercises:

Solutions for Exercise 1

1. እኔ እመን ወይዘህ (ʔɨne ʔɨmɛn wɨyɨzəhu) – I wish to see you.

2. አንተ ይህን ይነግሩኝ (ʔanta yihɨn yɨnägɨruñ) – You should tell me this.

3. እንደ እርስዎ ይህን ይቀበሉ (ʔɨndä ʔɨrsɨwo yihɨn yɨqäbälu) – They should accept this.

4. እነሱ ወደ አስፈላጊ እንዲመጡ (ʔɨnɨsu wädä ʔäṣfälägi ʔɨndɨmɨṭʼu) – They should come to the necessary place.

Solutions for Exercise 2

1. እኔ ማማይ እፈልጋለሁ (ʔɨne mämäy ʔɨfɛlɨgälɨhu) – I wish to learn.

2. አንተ እንዲመጣ እፈልጋለሁ (ʔanta ʔɨndɨmɨṭʼä ʔɨfɛlɨgälɨhu) – You should come with me.

3. እነሱ ወደ አስፈላጊ ይወዳሉ (ʔɨnɨsu wädä ʔäṣfälägi yɨwädalu) – They hope to arrive early.

4. እሱ እርሷ ይርዕ ይወዳል (ʔɨsu ʔɨrswä yɨrʕ yɨwädal) – He wants her to help him.

Solutions for Exercise 3

1. ወዮ ወንድም ይምር እፈልጋለሁ (wäyo wändɨm yɨmɨr ʔɨfɛlɨgälɨhu) – I suggest that my friend study.

2. እንደ ዓለም እንዲሆን ይምር (ʔɨndä ʔälem ʔɨndɨhɨn yɨmɨr) – I wish for a better world.

3. እኔ እየው ወደ አሜሪካ እንዲመጡ (ʔɨne ʔɨyew wädä ʔämerika ʔɨndɨmɨṭʼu) – If I were to travel to America.

As you practice using the subjunctive mood, remember to consider the context of your sentences and the feelings you want to express. With time and practice, you will find yourself using the subjunctive mood naturally in your conversations.

Table of Contents - Amharic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

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Introduction to Amharic Alphabet

• Fidel and Syllables
• Pronunciation and Phonetics

  ---

Basic Vocabulary

• Greetings and Introductions
• Numbers and Counting
• Days of the Week and Months
• Colors and Shapes
• Family and Relationships

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Nouns and Pronouns
• Verbs and Tenses
• Adjectives and Adverbs
• Prepositions and Conjunctions

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Everyday Vocabulary

• Food and Drinks
• Clothing and Accessories
• Weather and Seasons
• Travel and Transportation
• Hobbies and Leisure

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Intermediate Sentence Structure

• Negation and Questions
• Imperatives and Requests
• Expressing Possession
• Comparatives and Superlatives

  ---

Advanced Vocabulary

• Professions and Work
• Health and Body
• Education and Learning
• Nature and Environment
• Technology and Communication

  ---

Ethiopian Culture and Traditions

• Ethiopian Holidays and Festivals
• Ethiopian Cuisine
• Ethiopian Music and Dance
• Ethiopian History and Heritage

Sources

• Grammatical aspect and agreement in Amharic: a brief overview
• Verbal Nouns in Amharic

Other Lessons

• Personal pronouns
• Comparing and Contrasting
• Simple Sentence
• Question Words
• “to be” and “to have”
• The Past Perfect Tense
• 2 sequential actions in the present
• Time Adverbs
• Amharic Alphabets
• Compound sentence