Subjunctive

Ways to express the subjunctive mood

In English, this subjunctive mood is used to talk about hypothetical results of situations that have not or did not happened; wishes and wants for the future; and demands and requests that do not use the imperative form. While Mando'a does not have special verb forms or grammar rules for the subjunctive mood, the language still has ways of expressing these sentiments.

Some English words that are used with the subjunctive mood cannot be translated directly into Mando'a, so you'll need to do something different.

• Mando'a has no word for "would." Instead, ignore "would" and use the present tense for the verb that it modifies.. 

• The word for "have" or "has" is not used as a helper word to express mood. Instead, ignore those helper words and use the present tense for the verb that it modifies.

• Clauses that begin with "it is" must be reworded because the pronoun "it" must refer to a specific or general place or thing, or to a specific and described situation or circumstance.

For recommendations for how to translate specific uses of the subjunctive mood, see below.

Hypothetical or unconfirmed situation

Start the clause that describes the hypothetical or unconfirmed situation with meh (if). With the clause that describes the hypothetical result or effect of that situation, use one of ret'yc (possibly) or cuyla (probably) before or after the verb or at the beginning or end of the clause, or end the clause with a nu vaabi (but does not) or a nu cuyi (but is not). With ret'yc or cuyla, you may choose to include either an appropriate time frame or a past-tense prefix on the verb (not both) in the meh (if) clause to emphasize that the situation might have happened in the past. Choose whichever way is closest to the meaning you want to get across.

Examples: 

• If this had happened, then that would have happened. Meh ibic liniba, projor ibac liniba, a nu vaabi. (If this happens, then that happens, but does not).

• If the warrior were happy, they would not weep. Meh verd briikase, kaysh nu pir'ekulo, a nu cuyi. (If the warrior is happy, they do not weep, but is not.)

• If your plan had worked this morning, I would not be injured. Meh gar dajun ti bralov ibic vaar'tuur, cuyla ni nu cuyi shupur'yc. (If your plan is with success this morning, probably I am not injured.)

To ask that, to suggest that

Use tionir meg (to ask that) the clause that describes the hypothetical or unconfirmed situation. Follow meg by a clause that expresses the action that is being asked to happen.

Example: 

• The leader asks that everyone be silent. Alor tioni meg anade shev'la. (The leader asks that everyone is silent.)

To command that, to demand that, to order that

Use dinuir ke'gyce meg (to give the command that) in the first clause. Follow meg by a clause that expresses the action that is being asked to happen.

Example: 

• The leader demands that everyone be silent. Alor dinui ke'gyce meg anade shev'la. (The leader gives the order that everyone is silent.)

To wish that

Use vercopaanir meg (to wish that) in the first clause. Follow meg by a clause that expresses the action that is being asked to happen. If the speaker is doing the wishing, then the first clause can be replaced by vercopa (I wish), followed by a description of the hoped-for action.

Examples:

• We wish that you had struck better. Mhi vercopaani meg gar ru nyni jate'shya. (We wish that you struck better.)

• I wish I had sung better. Vercopa ni ru laariri jate'shya. (I wish I sang better.)