The Imperative (Imperativ / Befehlsform)¶
The imperative is the "command" or "request" form of a verb. It is used to tell someone to do something.
German has three main forms for commands, depending on who you are talking to.
1. du (Informal, Singular)¶
This is used to give a command to one person you know well (a friend, family member, child).
Rule: Take the du form of the present tense (e.g., du kommst, du spielst) and drop the -st.
| Infinitive | du form |
Imperative (Command) |
|---|---|---|
| kommen | du kommst | Komm! (Come!) |
| gehen | du gehst | Geh! (Go!) |
| spielen | du spielst | Spiel! (Play!) |
Exception 1: Stem-Changing Verbs¶
If the verb has a stem change from e -> i/ie (like geben -> gibst), the imperative keeps this change but still drops the -st.
| Infinitive | du form |
Imperative (Command) |
|---|---|---|
| geben | du gibst | Gib! (Give!) |
| sehen | du siehst | Sieh! (See!) |
| lesen | du liest | Lies! (Read!) |
If the stem change is a -> ä (like fahren -> fährst), the imperative does not take the umlaut.
| Infinitive | du form |
Imperative (Command) |
|---|---|---|
| fahren | du fährst | Fahr! (Drive!) |
| schlafen | du schläfst | Schlaf! (Sleep!) |
Exception 2: sein (to be)¶
The verb sein is completely irregular:
* Sei still! (Be quiet!)
* Sei vorsichtig! (Be careful!)
2. ihr (Informal, Plural)¶
This is used to give a command to two or more people you know well.
Rule: This is the easiest form. Just use the normal ihr present tense form, but drop the word "ihr".
| Infinitive | ihr form |
Imperative (Command) |
|---|---|---|
| kommen | ihr kommt | Kommt! (Come!) |
| gehen | ihr geht | Geht! (Go!) |
| sehen | ihr seht | Seht! (Look!) |
| fahren | ihr fahrt | Fahrt! (Drive!) |
sein is also regular here: ihr seid -> Seid still! (Be quiet!)
3. Sie (Formal, Singular or Plural)¶
This is used to give a polite command to one or more adults you do not know well.
Rule: Use the normal Sie present tense form, but invert the verb and pronoun.
| Infinitive | Sie form |
Imperative (Command) |
|---|---|---|
| kommen | Sie kommen | Kommen Sie! (Please come.) |
| gehen | Sie gehen | Gehen Sie! (Please go.) |
| sprechen | Sie sprechen | Sprechen Sie! (Please speak.) |
sein is also inverted: Sie sind -> Seien Sie still! (Please be quiet.)
Summary of Command Forms¶
| Who? | Form | Example (machen) |
Example (sein) |
|---|---|---|---|
du |
Stem (+ e or stem change) |
Mach! | Sei! |
ihr |
ihr form (no pronoun) |
Macht! | Seid! |
Sie |
Sie form (inverted) |
Machen Sie! | Seien Sie! |