🎓 Prepared by students from Boğaziçi University

What is the German Imperative (du Form)?

The German imperative (du form) is how you give informal commands to one person you know well. It's one of the most direct and practical verb forms in German.

Short answer

The German imperative (du form) is the command verb without the pronoun 'du': Komm! (Come!), Iss! (Eat!), Schreib! (Write!). Regular verbs drop the '-en' ending and add '-e' (optional).

How to Form the du Imperative

1
1. Start with the infinitive
kommen, essen, schreiben
↓
2
2. Remove -en
komm, ess, schreib
↓
3
3. Add -e (optional for regular)
komme (formal), komm (casual)
↓
4
4. Result: du imperative
Komm! Komme! Ess! Schreib!

Step-by-step worked examples

Give the du imperative for 'machen' (to make).

Infinitive: machen
Remove -en: mach
Add -e (optional): mache
Answer: Mach! or Mache! (Do it!)

Command 'Schreib einen Brief!' — what's the infinitive?

Imperative: Schreib
Add -en → schreiben (infinitive)
So the command 'Schreib!' means Write!

Form du imperative for 'sprechen' (to speak).

Infinitive: sprechen
Remove -en: sprech
Add -e: spreche
Answer: Sprich! (the 'e' changes to 'i' — strong verb) or Sprecht for plural

Flashcards

Quick quiz

Q1.Form du imperative from 'schlafen' (to sleep).

Correct answer: B. Remove -en from 'schlafen' → schlaf, and you get 'Schlaf!' (the -e is optional and often dropped casually).

Q2.Which is the correct du imperative for 'geben' (to give)?

Correct answer: A. 'Geben' is a strong verb: e→i in du form. So 'Gib!' is correct.

Q3.What's the main difference between du and Sie imperative?

Correct answer: B. du = casual, family/friends; Sie = formal, strangers/elders.

Q4.'Lies das Buch!' (Read the book!) — which form?

Correct answer: B. 'Lies' is du form (from 'lesen'). It's directed at one person informally.

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Common mistakes

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Using du form with strangers or elders. — Correct: Use du with friends and family; use Sie (formal) with people you don't know well.

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Adding -st to the imperative: 'Kommst!' — Correct: The imperative never adds -st. Just 'Komm!' or 'Komme!'

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Forgetting vowel changes in strong verbs. — Correct: Strong verbs: e→i (essen→iss), a→ä (fahren→fahr), au→äu (laufen→lauf).

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Including the pronoun: 'Du komm!' — Correct: Drop 'du' in commands: just 'Komm!' Not 'Du komm!'

FAQ

What is the du imperative?

It's the informal command verb form for one person you know: Komm! (Come!), Iss! (Eat!), Schreib! (Write!)

How do you form du imperative from the infinitive?

Remove the -en ending. For regular verbs, you can optionally add -e, but it's often dropped: kommen → Komm(e)!

When do strong verbs change their vowel in the imperative?

Always. If 'du' form changes (e→i, a→ä), the imperative changes the same way: essen → Iss!, fahren → Fahr!

Can you use 'du' with everyone?

No — use du with friends, family, children. Use Sie (formal) with strangers, elders, and in formal settings.