The imperative mood is used for direct orders, requests, or instructions. In German, affirmative commands change based on the person addressed (du, ihr, Sie).
- For du (informal singular), drop the -st from the verb stem: machen → Mach! (Do [it]!)
- For ihr (informal plural), use the verb stem + -t: Macht! (Do [it]!, you all)
- For Sie (formal), use the infinitive + Sie: Machen Sie! (Do [it]!, formal)
The imperative mood is used for giving commands or making requests.
Affirmative commands are given in the forms du, ihr, and Sie.
Du (informal singular)
For most verbs, use only the verb stem (drop -en/-n and also the -st ending if it exists):
| Infinitive | Stem | Command | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| machen | mach- | Mach! | Mach deine Hausaufgaben! (Do your homework!) |
| spielen | spiel- | Spiel! | Spiel nicht! (Don't play!) |
Note: For some verbs, you might add -e for euphony (e.g., "Geh!" from "gehen", but "Geh'!" is also common).
- No subject pronoun is used with commands.
For 'du', use just the stem of the verb.
The correct 'du' command is 'Spiel!'.
Examples:
- Mach das Fenster zu! (Close the window!)
- Komm hierher! (Come here!)
- Sprich lauter! (Speak louder!)
Ihr (informal plural)
Add -t to the verb stem (like the present tense for ihr):
| Infinitive | Verb Stem | Command | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| machen | mach- | Macht! | Macht eure Hausaufgaben! |
| spielen | spiel- | Spielt! | Spielt draußen! |
- Use no pronoun after the verb.
'Ihr' commands use the stem plus -t.
The correct 'ihr' command is 'Macht!'
Examples:
- Hört zu! (Listen!)
- Fahrt langsam! (Drive slowly!)
- Seid vorsichtig! (Be careful!)
Sie (formal singular/plural)
Use the full infinitive + Sie. This form is the same for singular and plural:
| Infinitive | Command | Example |
|---|---|---|
| machen | Machen Sie! | Machen Sie die Übung! |
| sprechen | Sprechen Sie! | Sprechen Sie bitte langsamer! |
- Verb always precedes Sie.
For 'Sie', use the infinitive plus 'Sie'.
Correct 'Sie' commands are 'Arbeiten Sie!' and 'Kommen Sie!'.
Examples:
- Lesen Sie das! (Read this!)
- Kommen Sie bitte herein! (Please come in!)
- Füllen Sie das Formular aus! (Fill out the form!)
Summary
| Person | Form | Example (machen) |
|---|---|---|
| du | Verb stem | Mach! |
| ihr | Verb stem + -t | Macht! |
| Sie | Infinitive + Sie | Machen Sie! |
du, ihr, and Sie
du: verb stem; ihr: verb stem + -t; Sie: infinitive + Sie
du: Mach!; ihr: Macht!; Sie: Machen Sie!
Exercises
- Form imperative commands for "lesen" (to read) for du, ihr, Sie.
- Give the du- and ihr-commands for "fahren" (to drive).
- How would you tell a group of coworkers (formal) to "start" using an imperative form?
The German language uses tailored forms for affirmative commands, depending on whether you're speaking to one person, multiple people, or formally.
- "Du" forms use the verb stem alone.
- "Ihr" forms add "-t" to the stem.
- "Sie" commands use the infinitive plus "Sie."
For 'du', use the verb stem only.
Correct are 'Iss!' (du), 'Esst!' (ihr), and 'Essen Sie!' (Sie).
Use the infinitive plus 'Sie' for formal commands.