Imperatives by Edward Swick, M.A.
Because there are three forms of “you” in German, there are three forms of the commands: one for du, one for ihr, and one for Sie.
Commands with Du
Most second person singular commands (du) are formed by dropping the -en ending from an infinitive. This is the imperative that is used with family members, friends, or children.
Infinitive |
Imperative |
English |
kommen |
Komm! |
come |
singen |
Sing! |
sing |
fahren |
Fahr schneller! |
drive faster |
machen |
Mach schnell! |
hurry up |
spielen |
Spiel im Garten! |
play in the garden |
<B>Commands with Ihr</B></h2>
<p>The pronoun <B>ihr</B> is the informal plural of <B>du</B>. Its imperative form is usually identical to its present tense conjugation.</p>
<table frame="all" width="100%">
<h2>
<tgroup cols="3">
<colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="40%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/>
<colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="30%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/>
<colspec colname="col3" colnum="3" colwidth="30%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td><p><B>Infinitive</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Imperative</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>English</B></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>lachen</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Lacht nicht!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Don't laugh!</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>singen</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Singt!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Sing!</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>sprechen</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Sprecht Deutsch!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Speak German!</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>bleiben</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Bleibt zu Hause!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Stay at home!</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>besuchen</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Besucht Onkel Hans!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Visit Uncle Hans!</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
<title><B>Commands with</B> Sie</h2>
<p>The <B>Sie</B> form of the imperative is the formal form. In most cases, use the infinitive and place the pronoun <B>Sie</B> after it, and you will have the command form.</p>
<table frame="all" width="100%">
<h2>
<tgroup cols="3">
<colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="40%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/>
<colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="30%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/>
<colspec colname="col3" colnum="3" colwidth="30%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/><tbody>
<tr>
<td><p><B>Infinitive</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Imperative</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>English</B></p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>sich setzen</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Setzen Sie sich!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Sit down!</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>helfen</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Helfen Sie mir!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Help me!</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>verkaufen</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Verkaufen Sie den Wagen!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Sell the car!</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>aufhören</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Hören Sie auf!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Stop that!</p></td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td><p><B>sein</B></p></td>
<td><p><B>Seien Sie nicht böse!</B></p></td>
<td><p>Don't be angry!</p></td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</tgroup>
</table>
<div class="npsb">
<title> <B>Fact</B></h2>
<p>In public places where announcements are made, you will often hear an imperative given in the form of an infinitive. If you use this form with a person you're speaking with, it will sound a bit abrupt. It's used primarily to give information to large groups, for example: <B>Zurückbleiben!</B> (Stand back!) <B>Nicht Rauchen!</B> (No smoking!)</p>
</div>
<!--/gc-->
<div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/special-phrases-and-word-order.htm" title="Special Phrases and Word Order">Special Phrases and Word Order</a></li></ul></div></div>
<div id="coda">
<div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/imperatives.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Imperatives - German Phrases </a></li> <li><a href="http://german.about.com/od/grammar/a/Germanyou.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> German You - How to Say You in German </a></li> <li><a href="http://german.about.com/od/grammar/a/Siedu.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Sie und du - 'You' and 'thou' in German </a></li> <li><a href="http://german.about.com/od/grammar/a/Siedu_2.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Sie und du - Part 2 </a></li> <li><a href="http://german.about.com/library/anfang/blanfang02.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> German for Beginners: Lesson 2 - Personal Pronouns - du vs Sie </a></li> </ul></div>
<div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More Common German Expressions</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/espressions-with-es-gibt.htm">Espressions with Es Gibt</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/expressions-with-machen.htm">Expressions with Machen</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/expressions-with-gehen.htm">Expressions with Gehen</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/expressions-with-lassen.htm">Expressions with Lassen</a></li>
</ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/expressions-with-tun.htm">Expressions with Tun</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/the-modal-auxiliaries.htm">The Modal Auxiliaries</a></li>
<li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/special-phrases-and-word-order.htm">Special Phrases and Word Order</a></li>
<li class="btO">Imperatives</li>
</ul></ul></div>
</div>
<script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script>
</div>
<div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script>
<div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-german-phrase-book/"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/german-phrases/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-german-phrase-book/">THE EVERYTHING GERMAN PHRASE BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-german-phrase-book/">By Edward Swick, M.A.</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-german-phrase-book/">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div>
<div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">German Phrases Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/the-top-ten-german-phrases-you-should-know/">The Top 10 German Phrases You Should Know</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/introduction-to-german/">Introduction to German</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/german-grammar-basics/">German Grammar Basics</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/essential-german/">Essential German</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/meeting-people/">Meeting People</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/airports-and-hotels/">Airports and Hotels</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/taking-in-the-town/">Taking in the Town</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/time-for-dinner/">Time for Dinner</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/shopping-and-services/">Shopping and Services</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/activities-and-entertainment/">Activities and Entertainment</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/german-for-business/">German for Business</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/german-medical-phrases/">German Medical Phrases</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/in-your-community/">In Your Community</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/miscellaneous-german/">Miscellaneous German</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/">Common German Expressions</a></li>
</ul></div></div>
<script type="text/javascript">zCi();validateForms();</script>
<div id="abf" style="padding-right:0"><ol class="crumbtrail"><li class="home"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/">Home</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/">German Phrases</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/german-phrases/common-german-expressions/">Common German Expressions</a></li><li>Imperatives</li></ol></div>
<div id="aboutinfo" class="hlist"><div id="morefrom"><h6>Visit other About.com sites:</h6><ul><li><a href="http://caloriecount.about.com/" rel="nofollow">Calorie Count</a></li><li><a href="http://www.consumersearch.com/" rel="nofollow">ConsumerSearch</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.allexperts.com/" rel="nofollow">Allexperts.com</a></li></ul></div>
<ul id="siteinfo"><li><a href="http://spiderbites.about.com/sitemap.htm">SiteMap</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/hc.htm" rel="nofollow">Help</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm" rel="nofollow">Privacy Policy</a></li><li><a href="http://www.about.com/gi/pages/mprivacy.htm#adchoices" rel="nofollow">Your Ad Choices</a></li><li class="last"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/pform.htm" rel="nofollow">Contact Us</a></li></ul>
<ul id="companyinfo"><li class="last"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/ " rel="nofollow">Buy Books</a></li></ul><div id="disclaimer"><p>Netplaces.com, a part of <a href="http://www.nytco.com/">The New York Times Company</a>.</p><p>All rights reserved.</p></div></div></div>
<script type="text/javascript"><!--
zPxA[zPxC]=new Image();zPxA[zPxC++].src="http://b.scorecardresearch.com/p?c1=2&c2=6036459&c7=http%3a%2f%2fwww%2enetplaces%2ecom%2fgerman%2dphrases%2fcommon%2dgerman%2dexpressions%2fimperatives%2ehtm&c8=Imperatives&c9=&cv=2.0&cj=1";
adclose()
//-->
</script>
<script type="text/javascript">(function(){var po=document.createElement('script');po.type='text/javascript';po.async=true;po.src='https://apis.google.com/js/plusone.js';var s=document.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(po,s)})();</script>
</body></html>
