In this unit we will learn to construct imperative forms with positional roots.
Imperative forms of intransitive positional verbs take Set B person agreement marking; the corresponding imperative suffixes are -a in phrase medial position and –oq in phrase-final position. The required TAM marker is ch- (or k-).
The imperative base is the stative positional stem, formed by adding +Vrl to the root, unless the last consonant of the positional root is either r or l in which case the suffix is +Vn.
Imperative forms of transitive positional verbs take the suffix –Vb’a in which V is the root vowel.
Examples
–Vl
1. Q’oy pos. root: lying down
Q’oyi’(k) to lie down
Q’oyol lying down
Q’oyol le q’ab’arel. The drunk man is lying down.
Chatq’oyoloq! Lie down!
Chaq’oyob’a le ne’! Lie the baby down!
2. T’uy pos. root: sitting
T’uyi’(k) to sit
T’uyul seated
Oj t’uyul chi pa tem. We are already sitting on the bench.
T’uyula alaq! You all, sit down! (formal)
Chit’uyub’a le q’eb’al! (You all) set down the cooking pot!
3. Tak’ pos. root: standing tall
Tak’i’(k) to stand upright
Tak’al standing
Tak’al le ixoq chwach le q’atb’al tzij. The woman is standing in front of the city hall.
Chixtak’ala chanim! (You all) stand up at once!
Chatak’ab’a le qatat! Set father on his feet!
+Vn 4. K’ul pos. root: marry
K’uli’(k) to marry
K’ulan married
Oj k’ulan chik. We are already married.
Chatk’ulana ruk’ le al Ska’! Marry Francisca!
Xinkik’ulub’a le nutat nunan. My parents gave me away in marriage (married me off).
More examples:
Chatq’oyoloq! Lie down!
Chattak’aloq! Stand up!
Chattak’ala pa le tem! Stand up on the chair!
T’uyula la! Sit! (you, formal sing)
Chatt’uyuloq! Sit!
Chatt’uyula pa le ch’at! Sit on the bed!
| Sepi'(k) | sit kneeling |
| Xuki'(k) | kneeling on both knees |
| Ch’uki'(k) | sitting in a squatting position |
| Xeki'(k) | hanging/dangling from a nail |
| Nak’i'(k) | glued |
| Tani'(k) | to stop, to come to an end |
| Ch’oki'(k) | kneeling with one leg up |
Translate the following phrases into English:
- Chojk’ulanoq!
- Chinq’oyoloq!
- “Chojq’oyoloq,” xub’ij le qanan.
- Tak’ala la chuchi’ le ja!
- Chatt’uyula waral!
Answers
- Let’s get married!
- Let me lie down!
- “Lie down,” said our mother
- Stand at the door of the house!
- Sit here!
- Let them sit on the chair!
- Stand up! (you, formal)
- Let us lie in the bed!
- Sit!
- Let me stand up!
Answers
- Chet’uyula pa tem!
- Tak’ala la!
- Chojq’oyola pa le ch’at!
- Chatt’uyuloq
- Chinwa’lijoq!