The Imperative
The Imperative
As in English, German imperative sentences or commands usually omit the subject: Do this! Do that!
When using the formal Sie form, however, the pronoun is used. It is the same as the indicative (3rd. person plural form), except for word order.
In all cases, the verb moves into the first position,the position usually occupied by the subject.
This is a whole "mood" of the verb which has only one tense, one person, and only three actual forms: second person singular, second person plural, and formal second person!
Singular:
- Komm doch rein!
- Zeig mir das Zimmer!
- Stell das Bett bitte an die Wand!
Plural:
- Kommt doch rein!
- Zeigt mir das Zimmer!
- Stellt das Bett an die Wand, bitte!
Formal:
- Kommen Sie doch rein!
The imperative singular is the indicative second person singular with the -st removed.
For weak verbs, of course, this will be the same as the stem of the infinitive.
Examples:
| stellen: du stell-st | stell |
| arbeiten: du arbeite-st | arbeite |
| klingeln: du klingel-st | klingel |
| baden: du bade-st | bade |
| kommen: du komm-st | komm |
| geben: du gib-st | gib |
| sehen: du sieh-st; | sieh |
| nehmen: du nimm-st | nimm |
The imperative plural is the same as the indicative second person plural.
Examples:
| stellen: ihr stell-t | stellt |
| arbeiten: ihr arbeite-t | arbeitet |
| klingeln: ihr klingel-t | klingelt |
| baden: ihr bade-t | badet |
| kommen: ihr komm-t | kommt |
| geben: ihr geb-t | gebt |
| sehen: ihr seh-t | seht |
| nehmen: ihr nehm-t | nehmt |
The formal second person imperative is just like the indicative, but with the order of pronoun and verb reversed.
**The imperative forms of "haben" and "sein" are irregular and you have to memorize them!
For "haben" use these forms:
Du hast keine Geduld -- Hab doch Geduld (patiience)!
Ihr habt keine Geduld -- Habt doch Geduld!
Sie haben keine Geduld -- Haben Siedoch Geduld!
For "sein" use these forms:
Du bist so laut (loud) -- Sei bitte leise (quiet)!
Ihr seid so laut -- Seid bitte leise!
Sie sind so laut -- Seien Sie bitte leise!
It is important to remember that you should use the imperative as little as possible and only if you are speaking with very good friends. In a foreign country, you are a guest and hardly ever in a position of giving others commands or orders. If you have to use the imperative always add 'bitte' (please). That makes it sound a little better.
There are, however, much nicer ways to ask someone to do something. One way is to add a "flavoring particle" to your demand, and turn it into a friendly request.