Forming the optative from the aorist (davts'ero, ts'avide) and its three homes: unda, minda rom, and bare suggestions.
I can express obligation, wishes, and let's-suggestions using the optative.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
ხვალ ადრე უნდა ავდგე.
Tomorrow I have to get up early.
მინდა, რომ ქართულად კარგად ვილაპარაკო.
I want to speak Georgian well.
წავიდეთ სვანეთში ზაფხულში?
Shall we go to Svaneti in summer?
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
The optative is built from the aorist by swapping the final vowel for -ო/-ე: დავწერე → დავწერო, წავედი → წავიდე. It lives in three places: after უნდა (must: უნდა წავიდე - I have to go), after მინდა რომ (want that...), and alone as a suggestion (წავიდეთ! - let's go!).
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises
Practice ExercisesFuture indicative after unda (*unda ts'aval instead of unda ts'avide) - unda always wants the optative; and treating ts'avidet as past because it looks aorist-like.
Using the future indicative after unda/minda rom instead of the optative
Slot drills: unda ___ / minda rom ___ with optative-only answers.
ხვალ ადრე უნდა ავდგე.
Tomorrow I have to get up early.
unda + optative avdge - the everyday 'have to' construction.
მინდა, რომ ქართულად კარგად ვილაპარაკო.
I want to speak Georgian well.
After minda rom the verb goes optative: vilap'arak'o.
წავიდეთ სვანეთში ზაფხულში?
Shall we go to Svaneti in summer?
Bare optative 1st plural = a suggestion: ts'avidet 'let's go'.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in B1 course exercises