Here is a quick reference guide for command statements. These notes don’t go too in-depth into the rules, but shows a high-level summary in a table of different forms that these statements can take. Happy reviewing!

Transitive Verbs

English	Chamoru	Object	# People	Verb Transformation
Buy the coffee.	Fåhan i kafe.	Specific	Any number	None
Buy coffee. Buy (a/some) coffee.	Famåhan kafe.	Non-Specific	1 or 2	Fan- prefix
Buy something.	Famåhan.	Non-Specific, Implied	1 or 2	Fan- prefix
(All of you) buy coffee.	Fanmamåhan kafe.	Non-Specific	3+	Fan- + man- prefix
(All of you) buy something.	Fanmamåhan.	Non-Specific, Implied	3+	Fan- + man- prefix

Intransitive Verbs

English	Chamoru	Object	# People	Verb Transformation
Dance.	Baila.	None	1 or 2	None
(All of you) dance.	Fambaila.	None	3+	Fan- prefix

Notes

Object

I use the terms Specific Object and Non-Specific Object, but this is equivalent to Definite Object and Indefinite Object, which is used in the Donald Topping texts. A Specific or Definite Object includes things like “the coffee”, “this book” or “those clothes.” A Non-Specific or Indefinite Object would be “some coffee”, “a book”, “clothes” or even just “something.” Objects apply when using transitive verbs.

Intransitive verbs do not require objects because they just have the subject doing the action.

Number of People

This refers to the number of people you are directing the command to.

Verb Transformation

For transitive verbs, if we have a Specific Object, then we do not need to transform the verb. If we are referring to a Non-Specific object, the verb must be transformed by the fan- prefix. To make these statements refer to 3+ people, we must also transform it with the plural man- prefix.

For intransitive verbs we transform it with the fan- prefix if we are talking to 3 or more people. Otherwise we can just use the root form of the word.

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References

Topping, D. M., & Ogo, P. M. (1980). Spoken Chamorro with Grammatical Notes and Glossary (PALI Language Texts―Micronesia) (2nd ed.). University of Hawaii Press.

• Rules for Imperatives / Commands: pg. 206 – 207

Topping, D. M., & Dungca, B. C. (1980). Chamorro Reference Grammar (PALI Language Texts―Micronesia). University of Hawaii Press.

• Imperative / Command Mode: pg. 264