German Imperative Explained: Commands and Requests
Introduction: What Is the German Imperative?
The German imperative is the verb mood used to give commands, make requests, offer suggestions, or provide instructions. When you tell someone to do something—whether politely asking a colleague to pass the salt or urgently warning a child to stop—you're using the imperative. Understanding the German imperative explained in full will help you communicate more directly and naturally in everyday situations.
Unlike English, which has just one imperative form, German has multiple forms depending on who you're addressing. You'll need different conjugations for speaking to one friend informally, multiple friends, or someone formally. This makes German imperative conjugation slightly more complex but entirely logical once you understand the system.
Formation: How to Form the German Imperative
To learn German imperative formation, you must first understand the three main forms based on the pronoun you would use when addressing someone:
| Form | Who You're Addressing | Based On |
|---|---|---|
| du (informal singular) | One friend, family member, child | du-form minus -st ending |
| ihr (informal plural) | Multiple friends, family members | Same as ihr-form |
| Sie (formal) | Strangers, professionals, elders | Same as Sie-form + Sie after verb |
Regular Verb Conjugation: "machen" (to do/make)
| Form | Imperative | English |
|---|---|---|
| du | Mach! | Do! / Make! |
| ihr | Macht! | Do! / Make! (you all) |
| Sie | Machen Sie! | Do! / Make! (formal) |
Key Formation Rules
- du-form: Take the infinitive, remove -en, and drop the -st ending you would normally add. For most verbs, this means just using the stem: kommen → Komm!
- ihr-form: Identical to the present tense ihr-conjugation: kommen → Kommt!
- Sie-form: Use the infinitive form and place "Sie" after the verb: kommen → Kommen Sie!
Stem-Changing Verbs (e → i/ie)
Verbs that change their stem vowel from e to i or ie in the du-form also change in the du-imperative:
| Infinitive | du-Imperative | ihr-Imperative | Sie-Imperative |
|---|---|---|---|
| geben (to give) | Gib! | Gebt! | Geben Sie! |
| lesen (to read) | Lies! | Lest! | Lesen Sie! |
| nehmen (to take) | Nimm! | Nehmt! | Nehmen Sie! |
| sehen (to see) | Sieh! | Seht! | Sehen Sie! |
Stem-Changing Verbs (a → ä) — No Change!
Verbs that change a → ä in the present tense do NOT change in the imperative:
| Infinitive | du-present | du-Imperative |
|---|---|---|
| fahren (to drive) | du fährst | Fahr! (not "Fähr!") |
| schlafen (to sleep) | du schläfst | Schlaf! (not "Schläf!") |
Irregular Verbs: sein, haben, werden
| Verb | du | ihr | Sie |
|---|---|---|---|
| sein (to be) | Sei! | Seid! | Seien Sie! |
| haben (to have) | Hab! | Habt! | Haben Sie! |
| werden (to become) | Werde! | Werdet! | Werden Sie! |
Usage: How to Use Imperative in German
Knowing how to use imperative in German goes beyond just conjugation—context and tone matter significantly. Here are the main situations where you'll encounter or use the imperative:
1. Direct Commands and Instructions
The most straightforward use is giving orders or instructions:
- Öffne das Fenster! — Open the window!
- Unterschreiben Sie hier. — Sign here. (formal)
2. Requests (Often Softened)
Germans often soften imperatives with words like bitte (please), doch, or mal:
- Komm bitte her! — Please come here!
- Schau mal! — Look! / Have a look!
- Setz dich doch! — Do sit down!
3. Advice and Suggestions
The imperative can offer friendly advice:
- Trink viel Wasser! — Drink lots of water!
- Vergiss nicht, Sonnencreme mitzunehmen! — Don't forget to bring sunscreen!
4. Warnings and Urgency
For urgent situations, the imperative is direct and immediate:
- Pass auf! — Watch out!
- Halt! — Stop!
5. Recipes, Manuals, and Formal Instructions
Written instructions often use the Sie-form or infinitive constructions:
- Rühren Sie die Mischung um. — Stir the mixture.
- Drücken Sie den Knopf. — Press the button.
Examples: German Imperative Examples in Context
Here are practical German imperative examples showing all three forms in realistic situations:
| Situation | German | English |
|---|---|---|
| Asking a friend to wait | Warte kurz! | Wait a moment! |
| Telling children to be quiet | Seid ruhig! | Be quiet! (plural) |
| Politely asking a stranger | Entschuldigen Sie bitte! | Excuse me, please! |
| Encouraging a friend | Hab keine Angst! | Don't be afraid! |
| Warning someone | Fass das nicht an! | Don't touch that! |
| Offering something | Nimm dir noch etwas! | Help yourself to more! |
| Doctor's advice | Nehmen Sie diese Tabletten dreimal täglich. | Take these pills three times daily. |
| Parent to child | Iss dein Gemüse! | Eat your vegetables! |
Negative Commands
To form negative imperatives, simply add nicht (not) or kein (no/none):
- Geh nicht weg! — Don't go away!
- Macht keinen Lärm! — Don't make noise!
- Vergessen Sie nicht Ihren Ausweis! — Don't forget your ID!
Common Mistakes: What Learners Often Get Wrong
When you learn German imperative forms, watch out for these frequent errors:
1. Using the Wrong Stem Vowel
Mistake: Applying the ä-umlaut change to imperatives.
- ❌ Fähr langsamer!
- ✓ Fahr langsamer! — Drive more slowly!
Remember: The a → ä change does NOT apply to imperatives, but the e → i/ie change DOES.
2. Forgetting "Sie" in Formal Commands
Mistake: Omitting the pronoun in the formal imperative.
- ❌ Kommen bitte herein!
- ✓ Kommen Sie bitte herein! — Please come in!
The Sie-form always requires the pronoun after the verb.
3. Adding "-e" When Not Needed
Mistake: Adding an unnecessary -e ending to du-imperatives of stem-changing verbs.
- ❌ Gebe mir das Buch!
- ✓ Gib mir das Buch! — Give me the book!
Stem-changing verbs (e → i/ie) never take the optional -e in the du-imperative.
4. Using "du" or "ihr" in the Command
Mistake: Including the pronoun in informal imperatives (like English "you").
- ❌ Du komm her!
- ✓ Komm her! — Come here!
Unlike the Sie-form, du and ihr imperatives do NOT include the pronoun (except for emphasis or contrast).
5. Confusing ihr-Form with Sie-Form
Mistake: Mixing up informal plural (ihr) and formal (Sie) conjugations.
- ❌ Kommt Sie bitte! (mixing forms)
- ✓ Kommen Sie bitte! (formal) or Kommt bitte! (informal plural)
Choose one form based on your relationship with the listener(s).
6. Forgetting Separable Prefixes
Mistake: Keeping separable verbs together.
- ❌ Aufstehen!
- ✓ Steh auf! — Get up!
Separable prefixes go to the end of the sentence in imperatives, just like in main clauses.