Aspect in commands: preverbed imperatives for completion (dats'ere!), bare stems for process/habit (ts'ere!), nu + present for prohibitions.
I can give one-off orders, standing advice, and gentle prohibitions with the right aspect.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
ეს წერილი დღესვე დაწერე!
Write this letter today (and finish it)!
წერე ყოველდღე - ენა ვარჯიშს ითხოვს.
Write every day - a language demands practice.
ნუ ჩქარობ - ხინკალი ცხელია!
Don't rush - the khinkali is hot!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
With a preverb, a command demands completion: დაწერე! (write it - and finish); without, it urges process or habit: წერე! (keep writing, write regularly). Prohibitions with ნუ lean processual: ნუ წერ! (don't be writing). Slavic speakers: this IS your perfective/imperfective imperative.
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises
Practice ExercisesPreverbed commands for standing advice (*dats'ere qoveldghe) and preverbed prohibitions after nu.
Preverb commands for ongoing advice or bare commands for single completed acts
Coach-vs-boss drills: habit advice (bare) vs task orders (preverbed).
ეს წერილი დღესვე დაწერე!
Write this letter today (and finish it)!
Preverb imperative dats'ere = complete the act: perfective 'napishi'.
წერე ყოველდღე - ენა ვარჯიშს ითხოვს.
Write every day - a language demands practice.
Bare-stem ts'ere = keep at it: the imperfective 'pishi' of coaches and teachers.
ნუ ჩქარობ - ხინკალი ცხელია!
Don't rush - the khinkali is hot!
nu + present stem bans the ongoing process: don't be rushing.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B2 course exercises