o: Difference between revisions

{{tp|[[o]]}} is a [[:Category:Particles|particle]] in tokiToki ponaPona used to form [[Glossary#optative|optative]], [[Glossary#vocative|vocative]], and [[Glossary#imperative|imperative]] phrases and [[Glossary#sentence|sentences]].

== Uses of {{tp|o}} ==

{{tp|[[o]]}} can be followed by a verb, in which case the sentence is interpreted as a command. The [[Glossary#subject|subject]] of the sentence is ommited.

; {{tp|o kama!}} : Come!

; {{tp|o pakala ala e ijo mi!}} : Do not break my things!

{{tp|[[o]]}} can follow a [[Glossary#noun|noun]] to show that the speaker is addressing that person, place, or thing. The vocative phrase can go either at the start or the end of a sentence.

; {{tp|toki, jan ale o!}} : Hi, everybody!

; {{tp|soweli mi o, sina moku e lipu mi tan seme?}} : Doggo, why did you eat my homework?

{{tp|[[o]]}} can be used instead ofreplace {{tp|[[li]]}} to indicate that the speaker wishes or hopes for something, or believes that it's better for something to be the case. In many cases, it can be translated with "should" or with sentences starting with "may". In some cases it is used to express "must" or "have to", a meaning that is traditionally covered by {{tp|[[wile]]}}.

{{tp|[[o]]}} can be used with {{tp|[[mi]]}} and {{tp|[[sina]]}}, in which case it comes immediately after the [[Glossary#pronoun|pronoun]] and before the [[Glossary#predicate|predicate]].

; {{tp|mi <u>o</u> lape.}} : I <u>should</u> sleep. (i.e. It would be better if I go to sleep)

; {{tp|sijelo sina <u>o</u> kama pona.}}