għandu + imperfect

What Someone Should Do

Level 2

Choose the appropriate għand- form and an imperfect identifying the expected actor.

How It Works

The affirmative forms are għandi, għandek, għandu, għandha, għandna, għandkom, għandhom. Follow the appropriate form with an imperfect identifying the person expected to act. Thus għandek taqra means “you should read,” while għandna naqraw means “we should read.” The ending on għand- identifies the participant, not the object of the following verb.

Compare għandu ktieb, “he has a book,” with għandu jaqra l-ktieb, “he should read the book.” The action complement supports a modal interpretation. English “should” or “need to” conveys the force appropriate to the situation; the form does not encode a fixed ranking of obligation strength. Read the surrounding instruction or rule to determine that force. Expected-state and inference readings with għandu jkun receive separate treatment.

Examples (3)

  1. Għandek tikteb l-ittra illum.

    You should write the letter today.

    The action complement gives the person-marked form a modal reading.

  2. Rita għandha taqra l-istruzzjonijiet.

    Rita should read the instructions.

    Both predicates identify Rita.

  3. Għandna nistennew hawn.

    We should wait here.

    The modal and complement identify first-person plural participants.

How It Connects

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

għandu + imperfectLevel 2What Someone Should Do

Learn This First

Extend familiar possession-shaped forms to requirements and recommendations through an imperfect complement. Determine modal force from the instruction or situation, leaving expected-state inference for its separately scoped lesson.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.