Optative Sentence

According to meaning, the sentence is of five types: assertive, interrogative, imperative, optative, and exclamatory. We have already discussed the first three types of sentences--assertive, interrogative, and imperative sentences. And, from those lectures, you have come to know that each type of sentence is unique in its structure and function. So, an optative sentence is no exception. What the author is going to do today is that he is going to talk about the function of the optative sentence. That means he is going to make you understand what an optative sentence is and, then, he will introduce the structures one by one with sufficient examples. So, let’s start the chapter with the definition of the optative sentence.  

What is an optative sentence? We use an optative sentence when we want to express any blessing or curse or wish or prayer. So, when we want to express these things--blessings, curses, wishes, or prayers--we use optative sentences. Optative sentence follows certain structures. This chapter is going to introduce these structures one by one. 

The first structure is:

It is a very common and popular structure we generally use regularly. One thing I should tell here is that when I was a high school student, my teacher used to give me the examples I am going to give you right now. 

These are the very common examples of this structure and this structure is always used by us in our daily life. But the second structure is not very common. But it is one of the many types of structures of the optative sentence. What is the second structure of the optative sentence? 

The second structure is: 

So, you can see "may" is followed by a subject and then we use "be" and then v3 form of the verb. So, this is the second structure, a very uncommon one. But you can use it in your daily life. We hardly use this second structure. But lots of people use it. And, then, we can go to structure number three.  

Structure Number Three is:

These are the examples of structure number three. And we use structure number three when we want to introduce any negative thought or idea or expression. Now we can go to structure number four. But structure number four is not similar to the earlier one in response to the starting of the earlier ones.

We use structure number three when we want to express any negative thought or idea or negative expression: May + Subject + never / not + V1 form + remainder 

Structure Number Four is:

This meaning can be generated through structure number one. Instead of saying "May our president live long", we can say, "Long live our president. So, here, we have two structures but we can express the same meaning too. So, you should remember this thing. Then, you can go to structure number five.  

Structure Number Five is:

These are some expressions of structure number five. Besides  �those structures, we have some random expressions. And these expressions don't follow any structure we need to remember through our daily practice. For example: 

These are some examples that do not follow any structure. So, these are the optative sentences I have talked about today. While discussing optative sentences, I have introduced five structures and at the same time we have some random expressions too we need to remember. So, what I want is that you should go through these structures and try to bring your examples in your daily life. That will help you understand optative sentences better and you will be able to have better control over optative sentences within a very short period. Thank you very much for watching this lecture! Thank You! Take care! Bye! 

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