🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

How to Form German Imperative Commands?

The imperative mood in German gives orders, instructions and polite requests. You form it by removing the infinitive ending and adjusting for the person being addressed (du = informal singular, ihr = informal plural, Sie = formal).

Short answer

German imperatives drop the infinitive ending -n: du schreibst → Schreib! (write!), ihr schreibt → Schreibt! Sie schreiben → Schreiben Sie! Vowel changes (e → i) also apply in du commands.

Forming the Imperative

1
Start with infinitive
schreiben
↓
2
Remove -en ending
schreib-
↓
3
Add to du form
Schreib! (informal singular)
↓
4
Add to ihr form
Schreibt! (informal plural)
↓
5
Add to Sie form
Schreiben Sie! (formal)

Step-by-step worked examples

Form du imperative: machen (to make)

Infinitive: machen
Remove -en: mach
du form: Mach! (Make!)

Form Sie imperative: sprechen (to speak)

Infinitive: sprechen
Sie = you use the Sie form of present
Sie form: Sprechen Sie! (Please speak!)

Form du imperative with vowel change: sehen (to see)

Infinitive: sehen (e→i change)
du form: Sieh! (See!) [e→i in stem]

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.Du imperative of 'gehen' (go)?

Correct answer: C. Drop -en, add nothing for du: geh + Geh!

Q2.Ihr imperative of 'laufen' (run)?

Correct answer: B. ihr uses present form: ihr lauft → Lauft!

Q3.Sie imperative of 'essen' (eat)?

Correct answer: C. Formal uses Sie form: Essen Sie!

Q4.What vowel change in 'geben'?

Correct answer: B. sehen: Sieh!; geben: Gib! (e→i).

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Common mistakes

✗

Using infinitive as imperative: 'Schreiben!' for informal du. — Correct: Drop -en for du: Schreib! (not Schreiben!).

✗

Forgetting vowel changes in du imperatives. — Correct: sehen → Sieh!; geben → Gib! (e becomes i).

✗

Mixing Sie and du forms: 'Schreib Sie!' — Correct: Sie form is Schreiben Sie! (no vowel change).

✗

Adding umlaut where there is none: 'Läuf!' for laufen. — Correct: laufen → Lauf! (no umlaut, just drop -en).

FAQ

What is the imperative in German?

The mood used to give orders, commands and instructions (du, ihr, Sie forms).

How do you form the du imperative?

Drop -en from the infinitive: machen → Mach! Apply e→i changes: sehen → Sieh!

How is the Sie imperative formed?

Use the present Sie form and add Sie: Sie schreiben → Schreiben Sie!

What are vowel changes in imperatives?

In du imperatives, e→i (sehen → Sieh!) and a→ä (halten → Halt!).