The first thing we are going to do before delving into the meaning of the term optional is to know its etymological origin. In this case, it must be established that it derives from Latin, specifically from the word "optativus", which can be translated as "that allows one to choose" and that it is the result of the sum of these lexical components:
-The verb “optare”, which is synonymous with “choose” or “desire”.
-The suffix “-tive”, which is used to indicate “active or passive relationship”.
It is an adjective that allows the possibility of choosing or that depends on this action.
For example: “Between the ages of 16 and 18, voting is optional in our country,” “With the purchase of the computer, we offer you optional insurance at a promotional price for six months,” “As I advance with my career, “I would like to take an elective course to improve my knowledge.”
Among the words that can be used as synonyms for optional we find some such as optional, discretionary, voluntary, personal or even optional. On the contrary, among those that can act as antonyms we find obligatory or forced, for example.
Let's say a hotel offers optional bed and breakfast accommodation . This means that people who decide to stay at said establishment can pay an extra amount to access breakfast, although they also have the option of not contracting this additional service and paying a lower rate. In other cases, however, breakfast is included in the price and there is no way to rule it out.
Take the case of a recipe for making bread. This preparation includes some ingredients that are essential, such as water, flour, butter and yeast. But other optional options also appear, such as seeds to decorate. This means that if the seeds are not included, the bread will be fine anyway, since their inclusion is optional and depends on each person's taste.
The optional mood , on the other hand, is a grammatical mood that reflects the desire for what is meant by the verb to be verified. Sanskrit and Greek are two of the languages that use this specific mode.
It must be established, in addition to everything stated above, that in Greek the optional mood is used for several purposes. Specifically, among the most significant are the following:
-To be able to express a possibility.
-To come to indicate what a desire is.
-To express a value of reiteration or repetition.
The wishful prayer is also qualified as optional: one that states a wish.
In the same way, we cannot ignore that within the educational field the term optional that concerns us now is also used. Thus, for example, we usually talk about optional subjects.
Each student has to enroll in a certain number of subjects of that type. However, you can choose the ones you want to do by choosing them from a list that is offered to you. In this way, a student can choose Classical Culture as an elective over Economics, for example.