ELISA ENGLISH's Blog 英語園地

The differences among cohortative mood (勸告語氣), the imperative mood (祈使語氣) and the jussive mood (命令語氣).

A.  Cohortative (勸告語氣) is a volitive mood of the 1st person, a plural form of exhortation, used to express plea, wish, desire, and intent. 

For example:

1.  Let us pray

=> I am making a suggestion to us that we pray.

2.  Let us sit

=> I am suggesting that we sit.

3.  Let’s go (somewhere).

=> I am suggesting that we go (somewhere).

B.  Imperative (祈使語氣) is the volitive mood of the 2nd person, used to express commands, direct requests, and prohibitions.  

For example:

1.  (You) Do it now.

2.  (You) Let my people go.

=> I am commanding you to let my people go.

3.  (You) Let us go (free).

To avoid confusion, an uncontraction form of "let us" is used in forming the imperative mood; while “let’s” in the cohortative mood.

C.  Jussive (命令語氣) is is a volitive mood of the 2nd or 3rd person, used to express plea, wish, desire, and intent.

For example:

Do your homework now.
=> I want you to do your homework now.

Let them stay where they are.