Gentle Commands With -mi
-mi makes a command gentle: ehendumi “please listen for a minute”.
How It Works
The plain command ehendu “listen” sounds direct. With -mi it sounds kind and a little affectionate: ehendumi “please listen for a minute”.
This -mi is a stressed ending. It takes the stress itself, so the root carries no accent: ehendumi, eremi.
| Form | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Ehendumi. | Please listen for a minute. |
| Ejumína. | Will you come, please? (-mi plus -na) |
| Peguapymi. | Please sit down, all of you. |
Two other endings look the same. One makes things small (mitãmi “little child”), and one marks a past habit (ajapomi “I used to make”). The request ending is the one that follows a command form.
Examples (4)
- Ehendumi.
Please listen for a minute.
The stress moves to -mi, so hendu has no accent.
- Eremi jey.
Say it again, please.
Eremi is ere “say” plus -mi. Jey means “again”.
- Ejumína chendive.
Please come with me.
-mi and -na together make a very gentle request. Chendive is one word: che “me” plus ndive “with”.
- Peguapymi.
Please sit down, all of you.
Pe- asks several people. The stress is on mi.
Common Mistakes
Keeping the accent on the root.
Ehendúmi.Ehendumi.-mi is stressed, so the root loses its accent.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The ending -mi makes a command kinder, so commands come first.
Related Patterns
- -keFirm Commands with -ke
-ke makes a command firm, and -mi makes it kind.
Level 2 - -naPlease with -na
-na is another way to ask politely, and it can follow -mi.
Level 1 - Small: -mi / -ʼiSmall: -mi and -ʼi
The same sound -mi also makes things small.
Level 2 - Used To: -mi
A third -mi marks something that used to happen.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Gentle Commands With -mi in Bubblegum
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