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Imperativ (Befehle)
The Imperative is used to give commands, instructions, or requests. German has THREE imperative forms depending on who you're talking to: du (informal you), ihr (you plural/informal), and Sie (formal you). Good news: they're quite simple! Examples: 'Komm!' (Come! - to a friend), 'Kommt!' (Come! - to friends), 'Kommen Sie!' (Come! - formal).
THREE IMPERATIVE FORMS:
1. DU-form (informal singular): Use verb stem (usually), drop the -st ending - gehen → Geh! (Go!) - kommen → Komm! (Come!) - machen → Mach! (Do/Make!)
2. IHR-form (informal plural): Use the ihr-form as is (same as present tense) - gehen → Geht! (Go!) - kommen → Kommt! (Come!) - machen → Macht! (Do/Make!)
3. SIE-form (formal): Use infinitive + Sie (verb first, then Sie) - gehen → Gehen Sie! (Go!) - kommen → Kommen Sie! (Come!) - machen → Machen Sie! (Do/Make!)
KEY: Du-form is simplest. Ihr-form = present tense. Sie-form = inversion with infinitive.
Take the verb stem (remove -en from infinitive). For most verbs, also drop -e ending.
Examples:
Use the ihr-form of the present tense. Super easy - it's exactly the same!
Examples:
Use the infinitive form + 'Sie'. Think: verb-first (inversion) + Sie. Most polite form!
Examples:
Just like in normal sentences, the prefix separates and goes to the END.
Examples:
Add 'bitte' (please) to make any command more polite! Can go at beginning or end.
Examples:
🇩🇪 Komm mit!
🇬🇧 Come along! / Come with me!
💡 Du-imperative with separable verb: mit-kommen → Komm mit!
Context: Casual invitation to a friend
🇩🇪 Gehen Sie bitte!
🇬🇧 Please go! / Please leave!
💡 Sie-imperative + bitte for politeness
Context: Polite but firm request (formal)
🇩🇪 Macht die Tür zu!
🇬🇧 Close the door! (you all)
💡 Ihr-imperative with separable verb: zu-machen → Macht...zu!
Context: Instruction to a group
🇩🇪 Iss dein Gemüse!
🇬🇧 Eat your vegetables!
💡 Du-imperative with vowel change: essen → iss (irregular)
Context: Parent to child - classic command!
🇩🇪 Warten Sie hier!
🇬🇧 Wait here! (formal)
💡 Sie-imperative: infinitive + Sie
Context: Formal instruction (e.g., at a doctor's office)
🇩🇪 Sei nicht traurig!
🇬🇧 Don't be sad!
💡 Du-imperative of 'sein' (irregular: Sei!) + negation 'nicht'
Context: Comforting a friend
🇩🇪 Bitte ruf mich an!
🇬🇧 Please call me!
💡 Du-imperative with separable verb + bitte: an-rufen → Ruf...an!
Context: Polite request to friend
🇩🇪 Steht früh auf!
🇬🇧 Get up early! (you all)
💡 Ihr-imperative with separable verb: auf-stehen → Steht...auf!
Context: Instruction to family members/friends
🇩🇪 Geh nach Hause!
🇬🇧 Go home!
💡 Du-imperative: gehen → Geh!
Context: Telling someone to leave
For du-imperative, DROP the -st ending and usually the -e: du kommst → Komm!, du gehst → Geh! Just drop and go!
Ihr-form imperative is EXACTLY like the present tense ihr-form. No thinking needed! ihr kommt → Kommt!
Sie-form: Take infinitive, flip word order, add Sie. gehen → Gehen Sie! Like asking a question but it's a command!
Just like in English 'please', adding 'bitte' makes ANY command polite. 'Komm!' (harsh) vs 'Komm bitte!' (nice).
German commands usually end with exclamation marks! Komm! Geht! Warten Sie! Shows it's a command, not a question or statement.
Adding pronouns (du, ihr) to imperatives
'Komm du!' sounds odd/emphatic. Just say 'Komm!' The pronoun is IMPLIED, not stated (except for Sie-form).
Forgetting 'Sie' in formal imperatives
'Gehen!' alone is incomplete for formal. Correct: 'Gehen Sie!' The 'Sie' is REQUIRED in formal imperatives.
Wrong verb form for du-imperative
'Kommst!' is wrong. Correct: 'Komm!' Remove the -st ending. It's the STEM, not the conjugated form!
Forgetting to separate separable verbs
'Mitkomm!' is wrong. Correct: 'Komm mit!' The prefix still separates and goes to the end!
Using infinitive for du/ihr forms
'Kommen!' (alone) is not du-imperative. Use 'Komm!' (du) or 'Kommt!' (ihr). Infinitive is only for Sie-form with 'Sie' after!
Mach bitte das Fenster auf!
Please open the window!
📚 Du-imperative (Mach) + bitte + object + separable prefix (auf) at end
Kommt schnell!
Come quickly! (you all)
📚 Ihr-imperative (Kommt) + adverb (schnell)
Nehmen Sie Platz!
Please take a seat! (formal)
📚 Sie-imperative: nehmen + Sie + Platz (object)
Sei still!
Be quiet!
📚 Du-imperative of sein (irregular: Sei) + adjective (still)
Helft mir bitte!
Please help me! (you all)
📚 Ihr-imperative (Helft) + mir (Dativ) + bitte
Geben Sie mir das Buch!
Give me the book! (formal)
📚 Sie-imperative (Geben Sie) + mir (Dativ) + das Buch (Akkusativ)
Hör auf!
Stop it!
📚 Du-imperative + separable verb: auf-hören → Hör...auf!