What is the Imperative?
The imperative is used to give commands, instructions or requests.
In German there are three imperative forms, depending on who you are addressing:
| Form | Used for | Example |
|---|---|---|
| du form | one friend/family member | Komm! |
| ihr form | several friends | Kommt! |
| Sie form | formal (polite) | Kommen Sie! |
Forming the Imperative
1. du form (singular informal)
Remove -st from the du present tense form:
| Verb | du present | Imperative |
|---|---|---|
| kommen | kommst | Komm! |
| gehen | gehst | Geh! |
| machen | machst | Mach! |
| lernen | lernst | Lern! |
An -e may optionally be added: Lerne!, Mache! — both are correct. With verbs ending in -d, -t, or consonant clusters, -e is required: Öffne die Tür!
Strong verbs with e → i / ie change keep the change:
| Verb | Imperative |
|---|---|
| lesen | Lies! |
| sprechen | Sprich! |
| nehmen | Nimm! |
2. ihr form (plural informal)
Use the ihr present tense form as-is (no pronoun):
| Verb | ihr present | Imperative |
|---|---|---|
| kommen | kommt | Kommt! |
| gehen | geht | Geht! |
| machen | macht | Macht! |
3. Sie form (formal)
Use the Sie present tense form but place Sie after the verb:
| Verb | Sie present | Imperative |
|---|---|---|
| kommen | kommen | Kommen Sie! |
| warten | warten | Warten Sie! |
| sprechen | sprechen | Sprechen Sie! |
Irregular Imperative: sein (to be)
| Form | Imperative |
|---|---|
| du | Sei ruhig! (Be quiet!) |
| ihr | Seid ruhig! |
| Sie | Seien Sie ruhig! |
Softening Commands
Add bitte (please) to make a command polite:
- Mach die Tür zu, bitte! (Close the door, please.)
- Bitte sprechen Sie langsamer. (Please speak more slowly.)
Classroom commands
- Öffnet eure Bücher auf Seite 12! (Open your books to page 12! — ihr)
- Schreib deinen Namen auf! (Write down your name! — du)
- Bitte sprechen Sie lauter! (Please speak louder! — Sie)
Real world: safety signs and public notices
German public signs rely entirely on the imperative: „Nicht rauchen!" (No smoking!) „Vorsicht, Stufe!" (Watch out, step!) „Bitte anschnallen." (Please fasten your seatbelt.) „Einfahrt freihalten!" (Keep entrance clear!) — you see these commands everywhere in Germany, Austria and Switzerland.
Real world: recipes and instruction manuals
Recipes in German use the Sie imperative (formal/general instructions): „Heizen Sie den Backofen auf 200 Grad vor." (Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.) „Fügen Sie das Mehl hinzu und rühren Sie kräftig." (Add the flour and stir vigorously.) Separable verbs split as expected: vorheizen → Heizen Sie … vor.
In real-life German, the Sie imperative is the most commonly seen written form (recipes, instructions, signs). The du form appears in songs, stories, and messages between friends. Knowing both lets you read and write naturally in all contexts.
Practice Problems
Form the 'du' imperative of 'kommen' (to come).
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Your teacher says 'Read the text!' using formal 'Sie'. What is the command?
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What is the 'ihr' imperative of 'machen' (to do/make)?