Language/Standard-latvian/Grammar/The-subjunctive-mood-and-wishes
As a Latvian language teacher, I have encountered many students who struggle with expressing wishes or doubts in Latvian sentences. In this lesson, we will cover the subjunctive mood and how to use it to convey such emotions.
Finish this lesson and explore these related pages: Nouns & Indirect objects and the dative case.
Introduction to the subjunctive mood
The subjunctive mood is used to express what is imagined, wished, possible, hypothetical, or otherwise uncertain. It is commonly used in Latvian to convey wishes, doubts, or desires. The subjunctive mood can be recognized by the use of specific verb forms, which differ from those used in the indicative mood.
Using the subjunctive mood for wishes
One of the most common uses of the subjunctive mood is to express wishes. Here are some examples:
| Standard Latvian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Lai saule spīdētu visu dienu. | [lai saule spiːdeːtu vi-su die-nu] | May the sun shine all day long. |
| Lai tiktu izpildītas tavi sapņi. | [lai tik-tu iz-pil-diː-tas ta-vi sap-ɲiː] | May your dreams come true. |
These two examples both use the word "lai" to introduce the subjunctive mood. It means "may" or "let" and is followed by a verb in the present tense.
Using the subjunctive mood for doubts
The subjunctive mood can also be used to express doubts or hypothetical situations. Here are some examples:
| Standard Latvian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ja būtu bagāts, es ietu ceļojumā. | [ja buːtu ba-ɡaːts es iːe-tu tse-ɫo-ju-maː] | If I were rich, I would go on a trip. |
| Būtu lieliski, ja varētu dzert visu dienu. | [buː-tu li-e-lis-ki ja va-reː-tu dzert vi-su die-nu] | It would be great if I could drink all day long. |
As you can see, the subjunctive mood is introduced by "ja" or "būtu," which mean "if" or "were." The verb in the clause is in the past tense, but it would be incorrect to use the conditional mood in this case.
Conclusion
The subjunctive mood is an important aspect of Latvian grammar and is commonly used to express wishes or doubts. By using specific verb forms, you can convey the emotions you want to express in a clear and concise way. I hope this lesson has helped you understand the subjunctive mood better and allowed you to apply it in your Latvian conversations with ease. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments section below.
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Future Tense & How to Use Be.
Other Lessons
- The verb to be and basic sentence structure
- Nouns and their declensions
- Give your Opinion
- Gender
- How to Use Be
- Questions
- Nouns
- How to Use Have
- Conditional Mood