le të + Verb

Third-Person Jussive Subjunctive

Level 5

The Jussive Subjunctive uses the construction le + të + subjunctive (present or perfect) to issue indirect commands, requests, or wishes to the first or third person.

How It Works

The Jussive is a periphrastic construction built using three components:
1. The particle le: This is an invariable particle in this construction and does not change for person or number (do not confuse it with the imperative of the verb lë).
2. The subjunctive marker të.
3. The verb in the present subjunctive (for current/future actions) or perfect subjunctive (for past actions or completed states).

Clitic Placement and Negation:
Pronominal clitics must be placed between the particle të and the verb. If negated using mos, the sequence is: le + të + mos + clitic + verb (e.g., Le të mos e bëjë ai.).

Clitic Mergers and Clusters:
When clitics follow të, specific mergers occur:

  • ta: të + e (him/it)
  • t'i: të + i (them)
  • t'u: të + u (to them / reflexive marker)

For clitic clusters, common elisions include t'ia (të + ia) and t'ua (të + ua). Other clusters like ma or na e follow të or mos.

Word Order:
In Standard Albanian, the subject typically follows the verb (e.g., Le të vijë ai.). Placing the subject between le and të is non-standard.

Usage and Scope:

  • 1st Person (Singular/Plural): Used for self-exhortation or suggestions. 'Le të shoh.' (Let me see); 'Le të shkojmë!' (Let's go!).
  • 3rd Person Commands/Permission: 'Le të hyjë.' (Let him/her enter.)
  • Wishes and Exhortations: Often functions like the optative. 'Le të rrojë Shqipëria!' (Long live Albania!).
  • Concession/Indifference: 'Le të thonë çfarë të duan.' (Let them say what they want.)
  • Past Reference (Perfect Subjunctive): 'Le të ketë shkuar.' (Let him have gone/He might as well have gone).

Examples (5)

  1. Le të hyjë brenda.

    Let him/her come inside.

    Word by Word: Let that (he/she) enters inside.

    A standard use of the jussive to grant permission to a third person.

  2. Le ta marrë ai librin.

    Let him take the book.

    Word by Word: Let that-it take he the-book.

    Demonstrates the clitic 'e' merging with 'të' to form 'ta' between 'le' and the verb.

  3. Le të mos harrojnë porosinë.

    Let them not forget the order.

    Word by Word: Let that not (they) forget the-order.

    Shows the placement of the negative particle 'mos' in a jussive construction.

  4. Le të jetë kjo një mësim për të gjithë.

    Let this be a lesson for everyone.

    Word by Word: Let that be this a lesson for all.

    Used here to express a wish or a concessive statement regarding a situation.

  5. Le të shkojnë ku të duan.

    Let them go wherever they want.

    Word by Word: Let that (they) go where that (they) want.

    Expresses indifference or concession toward the actions of others.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the plural imperative 'lini' when no one is being addressed.

    Different MeaningLini të shkojnë ata.
    Le të shkojnë ata.

    'Lini të shkojnë ata' is a good sentence if you are telling several people 'let them go'. To state the jussive in general ('Let them go'), use the invariable particle 'le', which does not change for person or number.

  • Placing the object clitic before the particle 'të'.

    Le e të marrë ai.
    Le ta marrë ai.

    Clitics must always come after 'të'. In this case, 'të + e' becomes 'ta'.

  • Using 'nuk' instead of 'mos' for negation.

    Le të nuk shkojë.
    Le të mos shkojë.

    In all subjunctive-based constructions, including the jussive, the prohibitive particle mos is required for negation.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

le të + VerbLevel 5Third-Person Jussive Subjunctive

Learn This First

The Third-Person Jussive Subjunctive ('le të') is a specialized use of the subjunctive mood. To learn it, a learner must already understand how to form the basic subjunctive, the permissive meaning of the particle 'le', and how to refer to third-party subjects using personal pronouns.

Words in This Pattern

le