Optative Sentences

 

Optative Sentences 

Optative sentences are sentences that express a wish, desire, prayer, or hope. They often start with May, Wish, or If only.

Optative sentences वे वाक्य होते हैं जो इच्छा, कामना, प्रार्थना या आशा व्यक्त करते हैं।

पहचान कैसे करें? (How to identify)

यदि वाक्य में

1. इच्छा / कामना हो

2. “काश”, “ईश्वर करे”, “भगवान करे” का भाव हो

👉 तो वह Optative Sentence होता है।

RULE 1: May + Subject + Base Verb (V¹)

Structure

May + S + V¹ + Object / Complement

Examples:

1. May you succeed.
   ईश्वर करे तुम सफल हो जाओ।

2. May he pass the exam.
   वह परीक्षा पास कर ले।

3. May she recover soon.
   वह जल्दी ठीक हो जाए।

RULE 2: May + Subject + be + Noun / Adjective

Use: For state, condition, or quality

Structure

May + Sub + be + N / Adj

Examples:

1. May you be happy.
   तुम खुश रहो।

2. May he be successful.
   वह सफल हो।

3. May her life be peaceful.
   उसका जीवन शांतिपूर्ण हो।

RULE 3: May + Subject + have / has + Noun

Use: For wishing possession or achievement

Structure

May + Sub. + have + N

Examples:

1. May you have a bright future.
   तुम्हारा भविष्य उज्ज्वल हो।

2. May he have good health.
   उसे अच्छा स्वास्थ्य मिले।

RULE 4: May + Subject + Auxiliary + Verb (Passive Voice)

Use: For passive wishes

Structure

May + Sub + be + V³

Examples:

1. May you be rewarded.
   तुम्हें इनाम मिले।

2. May he be forgiven.
   उसे माफ़ किया जाए।

 RULE 5: May + Subject + Never + Verb (Negative Wish / Curse)

Use: For negative wishes or curses

Structure

May + Sub. + never + V¹

Examples:

1. May he never fail in life.
   वह जीवन में कभी असफल न हो।

2. May you never suffer.
   तुम्हें कभी कष्ट न हो।

RULE 6: May + Subject + Not + Verb

Use:  For negative prayer

Structure

May + S + not + V¹

Examples:

1. May he not fall sick.
   वह बीमार न पड़े।

2. May she not lose her job.
   ह अपनी नौकरी न खोए।

RULE 7: May + Subject + Always / Forever + Verb

Use: For continuous or lifelong wishes

Examples:

1. May you always remain honest.
   तुम हमेशा ईमानदार बने रहो।

2. May they forever live in peace.
   वे सदा शांति से रहें।

RULE 8: Omission of “May” (Inverted / Short Optative)

Use: In poetry, slogans, prayers

Structure:

Subject + Verb (subjunctive sense)

Examples:

1. God bless you.
   भगवान तुम्हें आशीर्वाद दें।

2. Long live the king.
   राजा दीर्घायु हो।

(Full form: May God bless you, May the king live long)

OPTATIVE SENTENCES STARTING WITH

“May God …” / “God …”

These sentences express prayer, blessing, hope, or curse.

हिंदी भाव: ईश्वर करे / भगवान करे / भगवान…

RULE 1: May God + Base Verb (V¹)

Use: To express prayer or wish

Structure

May God + V¹ + Object / Complement

Examples:

1. May God bless you.
   ईश्वर करे भगवान तुम्हें आशीर्वाद दें।

2. May God help you.
   भगवान तुम्हारी मदद करें।

3. May God protect us.
   भगवान हमारी रक्षा करें।

RULE 2: May God + be + Adjective / Noun

Use:  To wish a state or condition

Structure

May God be + Adj / N

Examples:

1. May God be kind to you.
   भगवान तुम पर दयालु हों।

2. May God be your guide.
   भगवान तुम्हारे मार्गदर्शक हों।

RULE 3: May God + give / grant / forgive + Object

Use: For granting, giving, or forgiving

Examples:

1. May God give you strength.
   भगवान तुम्हें शक्ति दें।

2. May God grant you success.
   भगवान तुम्हें सफलता प्रदान करें।

3. May God forgive his sins.
   भगवान उसके पाप क्षमा करें।

RULE 4: May God + have / show / send + Noun

Use: For mercy, kindness, or blessings

Examples:

1. May God have mercy on you.
   भगवान तुम पर दया करें।

2. May God show you the right path.
   भगवान तुम्हें सही मार्ग दिखाएँ।

3. May God send peace to the world.
   भगवान संसार में शांति भेजें।

ULE 5: May God + not / never + Verb (Negative Optative)

Use: For negative prayer or protection

Examples:

1. May God not punish you.
   भगवान तुम्हें दंड न दें।

2. May God never let you fail.
   भगवान तुम्हें कभी असफल न होने दें।

RULE 6: God + Base Verb (WITHOUT “May”)

Use: In short, natural, spoken, or literary optative sentences

Structure

God + V¹ + Object

Examples:

1. God bless you.
   भगवान तुम्हें आशीर्वाद दें।

2. God help us.
   भगवान हमारी सहायता करें।

3. God save the nation.
   भगवान देश की रक्षा करें।

 (Full form = May God bless you)

Sentence Structures using “WISH”

1. Present Unreal Wish

(Wish about present situation which is NOT true)

Structure:

Subject + wish + Subject + past tense (V² / were)

Note: “were” is used for all subjects (I / he / she / it).

Examples:

1. I wish I knew English well.
   काश मुझे अंग्रेज़ी अच्छी तरह आती।

2. She wishes she were taller.
   काश वह लंबी होती।

3. We wish we had more time.
   काश हमारे पास ज़्यादा समय होता।

2. Past Regret (Unfulfilled Wish)

(Wish about past — regret)

Structure:

Subject + wish + Subject + had + V³

Examples:

1. I wish I had studied harder.
   काश मैंने ज़्यादा मेहनत से पढ़ाई की होती।

2. He wishes he had listened to his parents.
   काश उसने अपने माता-पिता की बात मानी होती।

3. Future Wish (Unlikely / Complaint / Hope)

Structure:

Subject + wish + Subject + would + V¹

Used when:

1. You are complaining

2. You want someone to change behavior

3. Situation is not in your control

Examples:

1. I wish you would stop talking.
   काश तुम बोलना बंद कर दो।

2. She wishes it would rain today.
   काश आज बारिश हो जाए।

4. Negative Sentences with “Wish”

Structure:

Subject + wish + Subject + did not / had not / would not

Examples:

1. I wish I did not waste time.
   काश मैं समय बर्बाद न करता।

2. He wishes he had not made that mistake.
   काश उसने वह गलती न की होती।

Meaning of “If only”

If only is used to express a strong wish, regret, or complaint.

Hindi meaning: काश / कितना अच्छा होता अगर

Sentence Structures of “If only”

1. Present wish (Unreal present situation)

Structure:

If only + Subject + Past Simple

Use when the situation is not true now.

Examples:

1. If only I knew English.
   काश मुझे अंग्रेज़ी आती।

2. If only she were here.
   काश वह यहाँ होती।

3. If only he had time.
   काश उसके पास समय होता।

Note: Were is used with all subjects (formal/grammar rule).

2. Past regret (Unreal past situation)

Structure:

If only + Subject + Had + V³

Use when you regret something in the past.

Examples:

1. If only I had worked harder.
   काश मैंने ज़्यादा मेहनत की होती।

2. If only she had told me the truth.
   काश उसने मुझे सच्चाई बताई होती।

3. If only we had reached earlier.
   काश हम पहले पहुँच गए होते।

3. Complaint / annoyance (present or future)

Structure:

If only + Subject + Would + V¹

Used when complaining about someone else’s behavior.

Examples:

1. If only he would listen to me.
   काश वह मेरी बात सुनता।

2. If only it would stop raining.
   काश बारिश रुक जाए।

3. If only they would understand me.
   काश वे मुझे समझें।