Dalcurian verb moods
The mood of a verb is the manner in which the action or condition is conceived or intended. Dalcurian verbs have 4 moods:
1. Indicative, a verb stating an apparent fact or asking a question, to describe an habitual action, or generally an action that is happening now, in the past or the future (covered in the above section).
2. Imperative, a verb stating a command or request.
3. Subjunctive, a verb expressing a doubt, desire, supposition, or condition contrary to fact.
4. Conditional, a verb refering to a hypothetical state of affairs, or an uncertain event that is contingent on another set of circumstances.
Imperative
The imperative mood adds os to the infinitive. In dirct orders or forceful requests, this is often followed by the accusative pronoun. However, for politness, such as giving directions or instructing strangers, then either the nominative can be used or no pronoun at all:
- Quavéna, nistaros diöra taÞ! Can you stop doing that at once!
- Abetáros eladiö! You may begin!
- Quavéna, lecantros diöra taÞ zigaretij! Put that cigarette out!
- Qintä tistros diö. Please sit.
- Nebtöros jentø,, nes göros écanelbrädn’lencöÞ. Turn right then go straight ahead.
- ERACINÖRÄMÖS: TSÖCRAXOS ELA! DANGER: DO NOT TOUCH!
Subjunctive
For the most part, the subjunctive mood is expressed with the conditional form of the verb nöacr-can, which is näocr-could (take care not to use the actual simple past of can which is gä'nöacr, as you may not be understood). This can also mean could be when preceeding an adjective:
- Méla binä näocr diöra,, nes binä maqurquasax taÞ. If I were you, I wouldn't do that.
- Binä sæcr,, taÞ binä näocr fæeltös. I wish I were (could be) rich.
The Dalcurian subjunctive can also translate as maybe or might/be:
- Di blösonj qve diöra, am sancoj, näocr¿ Your coat might be in the cupboard.
- Mæ, am alcabödänø, nø näocr¿ Maybe he's still in the pub?
Other subjuncive forms that can be rendered with näocr are:
- I suggested that Paul eat an apple.
- I am rather anxious that she discuss this with me soon.
There are actually 2 ways in which these can be equated. Using näocr:
- Binä, te Paul, gä'gesægr,, taÞ mæ näocr qonsömér ni apelj¿ I suggested that Paul eat an apple. Lit: I, to Paul, suggested that he maybe eat an apple.
- Binä disiri angræÞ,, taÞ nösa, sia näocr, máriÞ binöra, rödnspecér séÞa. I am rather anxious that she discuss this with me soon¿ lit: I'm very anxious, that soon she maybe, with me, discusses this.
Note: In written grammar, the subjunctive will often be completed with an upside down question mark.
Conditional
This form adds quas to the verb:
- quascr ask quascrquas would ask
- gä'ábraspélögr have played gä'ábraspélögrquas would have played
- Méla di danpörämös stæabetár,, nes binä görørquas. If it stopped raining then I would go out.
- Méla épø, máriÞ binöra, agöentr,, nes binä stödæérquas öraÞ. If I had time, I would study art.
In adition to these, colloquial Dalcurian often expresses verbs with the following moods:
- Causative-Indicates the cause of an action.
- Deductive-Indicate the speaker's assumption from a set of facts.
- Deliberative-Indicates the speaker's request for a command.
- Dubitative-Indicates an air of doubt in the speaker's statement.
However, these moods are highly colloquial and not likely to be used with a foreigner, and likewise a foreigner is only likely to use them if they have a very good command of Dalcurian.
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