(2). When they express "wish," the Esperanto Imperative is also used.
Examples.--_Vi estu feliĉa!_ = May you be happy! _Via deziro efektiviĝu!_ = May your wish be realized! _Ĉielo vin benu!_ = May Heaven bless you! _Nenio difektu vian feliĉon!_ = May nothing mar your happiness! _Ĉia beno estu via!_ = May every blessing be yours!
In the above examples ellipsis takes place both in Esperanto and English, some such words as _mi deziras, ke ..._ = I wish that..., being omitted (par. 66 (_c_)). _Ke vi prosperu, estas mia fervora deziro!_ = That you may succeed, is my fervent desire! _Ke li vivu, estis mia ĉiutaga preĝo!_ = That he might live, was my daily prayer! _Mi mortu, se mi iom mensogas!_ = May I die, if I am lying at all!
(3). When they express "permission," some word denoting this must be used, or the imperative may be used, the verb expressing permission being omitted (par. 58 (_a_)). The English verb "can" is sometimes employed to express the permissive sense of "may"; in that case it is better to avoid the use of povi = _to be able_.
Examples.--_Ĉu vi (oni) permesas, ke mi parolu kun vi?_ = May (can) I speak to you? (lit., Do you permit that I speak to you?) _Ĉu oni permesas_, (or, _ĉu estas permesate_), _ke mi vidu la kastelon?_ = May (can) I see the castle? _Mi permesas, ke vi tion faru, se vi volas_, or, _Vi faru tion, se vi volas_ = You may (I permit that you) do that, if you like. _Se mi estus permesita tion diri_ (or, _se estus permesite_, or, _se oni permesus_, _ke mi tion diru_) = If I might (were permitted to) say so (that).
The above questions may be shortened thus:--_Ĉu mi parolu kun vi? Ĉu mi vidu la kastelon?_ in this sense. The ellipsis understood here might, however, equally well be _Ĉu_ (_vi volas_, _ĉu necesas_, _ĉu estas bone_, _ke_) _mi parolu? vidu la kastelon?_ = Shall I (Am I to) speak (see the castle)?
(4). When they express "possibility," some word showing that the action is more or less a matter of doubt must be used, as eble = _possibly_, kredeble = _probably_, etc.
Examples.--_Eble li venos_ = He _may_ come, _or_, Maybe (possibly) he will come. _Eble li tranĉos la fingron, se vi donos al li tranĉilon_ = He may (possibly he will) cut his finger, if you (will) give him a knife. _Eble li venus, se vi lin invitus_ = He might (possibly he would) come, if you invited (were to invite) him. _Se vi tien irus, eble_ (_kredeble_) _vi lin vidus_ = If you went (were to go) there, you might (possibly, probably would) see him.