1. The imperative
Startblock Imperatives are used to express commands, requests, suggestions, directions, and instructions.
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2. The imperative
The imperative forms are based on the present-tense conjugation patterns of du, wir, ihr, and Sie.
Mach deine Hausaufgaben!
Do your homework!
Backen wir einen Kuchen!
Let’s bake a cake!
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3. The imperative
To form an informal singular command, drop the -st from the present-tense du form of the verb. As in English, omit the subject pronoun with the second-person imperative.
Antworte auf die Frage!
Answer the question!
Schreib deinen Eltern einen Brief.
Write your parents a letter.
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4. ACHTUNG The imperative
Verbs that contain a double s in the infinitive do not drop an s in the informal singular imperative.
Iss das Gemüse, Tanja!
Eat your vegetables, Tanja!
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5. The imperative
Verbs with an a to ä vowel change do not retain this change in the imperative. However, e to ie and e to i changes are retained in the imperative for du.
Fahr langsam!
Drive slowly!
Lies das Buch.
Read the book.
Nimm den Bleistift.
Take the pencil.
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6. The imperative
The informal plural ihr command is identical to the present-tense form, without the pronoun.
For formal commands, keep the subject Sie and invert the subject/verb word order of the present tense. Remember that the singular and plural forms are identical.
Esst das Gemüse, Kinder!
Eat the vegetables, kids!
Lernt für die Prüfung.
Study for the exam.
Probieren Sie den Kuchen!
Try the cake!
Geben Sie mir den Radiergummi.
Give me the eraser.
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7. In a negative command, nicht or kein follows the imperative form.
The first person plural command is equivalent to the English Let’s…. As with Sie, invert the subject/verb order of the present tense for wir.
In a negative command, nicht or kein follows the imperative form.
Essen wir den Kuchen.
Let’s eat the cake.
Gehen wir spazieren.
Let’s go for a walk.
Fahren Sie nicht so schnell!
Don’t drive so fast!
Arbeite nicht so langsam!
Don’t work so slowly!
Hör keine laute Musik!
Don't listen to loud music!
Macht kein Theater!
Don't make a fuss!
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8. The imperative
Use bitte to soften a command and make it polite. Bitte can be placed almost anywhere in a sentence, as long as it doesn’t separate the verb from the subject pronoun wir or Sie.
The modals können and wollen are often used instead of the imperative for polite requests.
Öffnen Sie bitte Ihren Rucksack.
Open your backpack, please.
Geh nach Hause, bitte.
Go home, please.
Können Sie mir helfen?
Can you help me?
Wollen wir gehen?
Shall we go?
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9. The verb sein has irregular imperative forms.
The imperative
The verb sein has irregular imperative forms.
Sei lieb!
Be good! (sing., inf.)
Seid diskret!
Be discreet! (pl., inf.)
Seien Sie mutig!
Be brave! (form.)
Seien wir realistisch.
Let’s be realistic.
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10. The imperative
Here are some common commands and instructions found on German labels, signs, and in everyday situations. Notice that in some cases, a command is conveyed without using the imperative.
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