The wish particle netav with three subjunctive depths: possible future, unreal present, and past regret.
I can express hopes, daydreams, and regrets with netav.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
ნეტავ ხვალ მზე გამოვიდეს!
If only the sun would come out tomorrow!
ნეტავ ბებიას ხმა კიდევ ერთხელ მესმოდეს!
If only I could hear grandma's voice once more!
ნეტავ შარშან ქართული მესწავლა!
If only I had learned Georgian last year!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
ნეტავ opens a wish and demands a subjunctive: future-possible ნეტავ მოვიდეს! (may he come!), present-unreal ნეტავ აქ იყოს! (if only he were here), past-regret ნეტავ მცოდნოდა! (if only I had known). The deeper the regret, the deeper the subjunctive layer.
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesIndicative after netav (*netav mova) and using the future-wish form for past regrets.
Indicative after netav or wrong subjunctive layer for the time frame
Wish-ladder drills: future wish, present-unreal wish, past regret.
ნეტავ ხვალ მზე გამოვიდეს!
If only the sun would come out tomorrow!
netav + optative = a wish about the future.
ნეტავ ბებიას ხმა კიდევ ერთხელ მესმოდეს!
If only I could hear grandma's voice once more!
Present-unreal wishes take the imperfect subjunctive: mesmodes.
ნეტავ შარშან ქართული მესწავლა!
If only I had learned Georgian last year!
Past regrets use the pluperfect subjunctive: mests'avla pattern - recognize, don't build yet.
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Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises