Understanding the Subjunctive Mood in Armenian Grammar

Overview of the Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood is a fundamental aspect of Armenian grammar, and as such, it is essential for any student of the language to comprehend its usage and rules. This mood is used to express various degrees of unreality, such as desires, hopes, hypothetical situations, and other non-factual statements. In this article, we will delve into the intricacies of the subjunctive mood in Armenian grammar, exploring its formation, utilization, and common expressions.

Formation of the Subjunctive Mood

In Armenian, the formation of the subjunctive mood depends on the tense, verb, and conjugation group. Here are the most common ways to form the subjunctive mood in both Eastern and Western Armenian dialects:

Present Subjunctive: To form the present subjunctive, the verb stem is combined with a specific set of suffixes, depending on the person and number. For example, in Western Armenian, the suffix -ին (-in) is used for the first person singular, while in Eastern Armenian, the suffix -ամ (-am) is employed.

Past Subjunctive: The past subjunctive is created by adding the suffix -յա (-ya) or -էի (-ēi) to the verb stem in Western Armenian, and -եի (-ei) or -այի (-ayi) in Eastern Armenian. This is followed by the corresponding present subjunctive suffix.

Future Subjunctive: This form is used less frequently but can be created by adding the future marker -կ- (-k-) after the verb stem, followed by the present subjunctive suffix.

Uses of the Armenian Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood plays an essential role in Armenian grammar, encompassing several functions such as:

Expressing Wishes and Desires: The subjunctive is often used to convey wishes, desires, or preferences, as demonstrated in the following example:

Ես ուզում եմ, որ դուք գայդ տեղեկություն տայիք։ (Yes uzum em, vor duk gayd tegekoutyun tayik.)
“I wish that you would give me information.”

Imaginary or Hypothetical Situations: The subjunctive can also be employed to describe hypothetical scenarios or unreal conditions:

Եթէ գար, քանքա ֆուտբոլիստ էլ լինեյի։ (Etē gar, kank’a futbolist ēl lineyī.)
“If I were there, I would be playing soccer, too.”

Expressing Necessity or Obligation: In some cases, the subjunctive can be used to indicate necessity or obligation, typically with the addition of modal verbs:

Մենք պետք է, որ վաղ գնանք։ (Menk petk’ ē, vor vagh gnanq.)
“We should leave early.”

Polite Requests: The Armenian subjunctive can also be utilized for making polite requests or suggestions:

آլ նայիք, որ կարծիք ու վստահ ջնջին։ (Al nayik, vor kartsik u vstah jnjjin.)
“Please consider my opinion and trust.”

Common Expressions with Subjunctive Mood

The subjunctive mood can be found in various common expressions and idiomatic phrases in Armenian, such as:

Եթէ ժաման-չափ: (Etē zhaman-chap) – “In case;”
Եթէ վերջապես: (Etē verjapes) – “Finally;”
Հանգստյան ունենալու պատճառով: (Hangstyanner unenalulu patcharatchor) – “So that you can rest.”

Now equipped with substantial knowledge of the subjunctive mood in Armenian grammar, you are well on your way to mastering this important aspect of the Armenian language.