The Imperative

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The Imperative
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• mater! specta pompam!
• Mother! Look at the procession
• mater! pater! spectate pompam!
• Mother! Father! Look at the procession!
• Helena! veni ad me!
• Helena! Come to me!
• servi! venite ad me!
• Slaves! Come to me!

The form of the verb in bold type is known as the
IMPERATIVE
Why do you think it changes its ending?
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• Imperative Infinitive
• singular plural
• 1st conj. porta! portate! portare
• carry! carry! to carry
• 2nd conj. doce! docete! docere
• teach! teach! to teach
• 3rd conj. trahe! trahite! trahere
• drag! drag! to drag
• 4th conj. audi! audite! audire
• hear! hear! to hear

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What do you think these sentences mean?
Noli currere!
Dont run (singular)
Noli cantare!
Dont sing (singular)
Nolite festinare
Dont hurry! (plural)
Nolite trudere!
Dont push (plural)
Noli and nolite are the imperative forms of the
verb nolo
Notice they are used with the infinitive.
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Further examples

• iuvenes! tacete!
• diligenter labora!
• date mihi pecuniam!
• me adiuva!
• noli dormire!
• nolite discedere!
• nolite Romanos interficere!
• noli me punire!

• Young men! Be quiet! (pl.)
• Work hard! (sing.)
• Give me the money! (pl.)
• Help me (sing.)
• Dont sleep! (sing.)
• Dont leave (pl.)
• Dont kill the Romans (pl.)
• Dont punish me! (sing.)