Clitic Placement: Imperative
Standard Albanian changes the position of object clitics (like 'it', 'me', 'him') depending on whether a command is positive or negative. In positive commands, the clitic attaches to the end or middle of the verb. In negative commands, it stays before the verb.
How It Works
In Standard Albanian, the placement of object clitics is strictly governed by the verb's mood and polarity. While clitics usually come before the verb in the indicative mood, the imperative mood triggers a shift. Note: In the examples below, hyphens are used for pedagogical clarity to show the clitic's position, but in standard writing, these are written as single words.
1. Affirmative Imperative (Singular)
In the 2nd person singular, the clitic is placed directly after the verb stem (enclisis).
Example: Tregoma! (Tell me it!) — analyzed as trego-ma.
2. Affirmative Imperative (Plural)
In the 2nd person plural, the clitic is inserted between the verb stem and the plural suffix -ni. This is known as mesoclisis and is the mandatory standard form.
Example: Hapeni! (Open it!) — analyzed as hap-e-ni.
3. Negative Imperative
When using the prohibitive particle mos, the clitic 'resets' to its proclitic position, appearing between mos and the verb.
Example: Mos e prek! (Don't touch it!)
4. Reflexive Clitics
The reflexive clitic u follows the same rules, moving to the end or middle in affirmative commands (e.g., Mblidhu!, Mblidhuni!).
Examples (5)
- Merre librin!
Take the book!
Word by Word: Take-it the book!
In the singular affirmative imperative, the accusative clitic 'e' (it) is attached to the end of the verb 'merr'.
- Hapeni dritaren!
Open the window!
Word by Word: Open-it-PL the window!
In the plural affirmative, the clitic 'e' is placed before the plural ending '-ni'.
- Mos e harro çelësin!
Don't forget the key!
Word by Word: Don't it forget the key!
Because the command is negative (using 'mos'), the clitic 'e' moves before the verb.
- Jepma dorën!
Give me your hand!
Word by Word: Give-me-it the hand!
When using a clitic cluster (ma = më + e), the entire cluster follows the verb in an affirmative command.
- Uluni, ju lutem!
Sit down, please!
Word by Word: Sit-REFL-PL, you I pray!
The reflexive clitic 'u' is placed between the stem 'ul' and the plural suffix 'ni'.
Common Mistakes
Placing the clitic before the verb in a positive command.
E shiko!Shikoje!Learners often carry over the word order from the indicative mood (E shikon - You look at it). In the imperative, the clitic must follow the verb. Note that when the verb ends in a vowel, a '-j-' is inserted before the clitic 'e'.
Keeping the clitic at the end in a negative command.
Mos merre!Mos e merr!The particle 'mos' requires the clitic to be placed before the verb. Post-verbal placement is only for affirmative commands.
Placing the clitic at the very end of a plural verb.
Hapni-e!Hapeni!In Standard Albanian, the clitic must come before the plural suffix '-ni', not after it.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand clitic placement in the imperative, you must first be able to conjugate verbs in the imperative mood and be familiar with the basic object clitics (like 'e' and 'i') that will be shifting position.
Related Patterns
- -niImperative Plural
This pattern explains the mesoclisis (middle-placement) required for plural commands.
Level 1 - mosProhibitive Negation 'Mos'
The use of 'mos' is what triggers the clitic to move back to the pre-verbal position.
Level 1 - ma / taClitic Clusters: 'Ma' and 'Ta'
Explains how combined dative and accusative clitics behave as a single unit when moved.
Level 2 - u + VerbReflexive Verbs with 'U'
Reflexive verbs use the clitic 'u', which follows these same placement rules in the imperative.
Level 1 - Clitic Placement: Subjunctive
Contrasts with the imperative, as clitics always precede the verb in the subjunctive mood.
Level 2
Practice Clitic Placement: Imperative in Bubblegum
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