{"id":93081,"date":"2023-04-07T23:06:45","date_gmt":"2023-04-08T03:06:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/learn\/german-imperative\/"},"modified":"2025-02-24T04:06:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-24T09:06:47","slug":"german-imperative","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.fluentu.com\/blog\/german\/german-imperative\/","title":{"rendered":"Guide to the German Imperative"},"content":{"rendered":"

German imperative is one of those grammar forms<\/a> that will come in handy when you least expect it. You never know when you might need to give instructions or tell someone to mind their own business.\u00a0<\/p>\n

We’ll help you with how to build German imperative sentences, know when to use them, and understand the exceptions.<\/p>\n

[fluentu-toc skip=4]<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

How to Build Your German Imperative Phrases<\/h2>\n

To get the whole picture, we’ll need to look at four forms. Fortunately, they all tend to follow relatively simple rules. Let’s take the verb geben<\/em>\u00a0(to give).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
Pronoun<\/th>Present Tense<\/strong><\/th>Imperative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
du <\/a>\n <\/strong><\/em>
\nsecond person singular<\/td>		 Du gibst mir das Buch. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> Gib mir das Buch! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ihr <\/a>\n <\/strong><\/em>
\nsecond person plural (Informal)<\/td>		 Ihr gebt mir das Buch. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> Gebt mir das Buch! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sie <\/a>\n <\/strong><\/em>
\nsecond person singular and plural (formal)<\/td>		 Sie geben mir das Buch. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> Geben Sie mir das Buch! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
wir <\/a>\n <\/strong><\/em>
\nfirst person plural<\/td>		 Wir geben das Buch. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> Geben wir das Buch! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Second Person Singular (Informal) \u2014 du<\/em><\/h3>\n

For du<\/em> (you), the imperative is usually formed by taking the stem of the verb in the present tense and dropping the “st.”<\/p>\n

Du gibst<\/strong> mir das Buch. <\/em>(You give<\/strong> me the book.)<\/p>\n

Gib<\/strong> mir das Buch! <\/em>(Give<\/strong> me the book!)<\/p>\n

Second Person Plural (Informal) \u2014 ihr<\/em><\/h3>\n

When addressing a group of people informally, the imperative form stays the same as the present tense. You just drop the ihr<\/em> (you).<\/p>\n

Ihr gebt<\/strong> mir das Buch.<\/em>\u00a0(You (all) give<\/strong> me the book.)<\/p>\n

Gebt<\/strong> mir das Buch! <\/em>(Give<\/strong> me the book!)<\/p>\n

Second Person Singular and Plural (Formal) \u2014 Sie<\/em><\/h3>\n

In the same way, when addressing an individual or group formally, once again you use the present tense form. However, the personal pronoun Sie<\/em> (you) now comes after the verb.<\/p>\n

Sie geben<\/strong> mir das Buch. <\/em>(You give<\/strong> me the book.)<\/p>\n

Geben<\/strong> Sie mir das Buch! <\/em>(Give<\/strong> me the book!)<\/p>\n

First Person Plural \u2014 wir<\/em><\/h3>\n

This one you’d use when addressing a group that includes yourself. It behaves exactly like the formal version of second person singular\/plural, so wir<\/em> (we) comes after the infinitive form of the verb.<\/p>\n

Wir geben <\/strong>das Buch. <\/em>(We give<\/strong> the book.)<\/p>\n

Geben<\/strong> wir das Buch! <\/em>(Let’s give<\/strong> the book!)<\/p>\n

Note: You can also use the verb lassen<\/em>\u00a0(to let, or to leave) to give an imperative direction to a collective “we.”<\/p>\n

In this case, it works just like the du<\/em> form that we looked at already, coupled with the infinitive version of the particular action verb. Because the subject (we) in this case is accusative, wir<\/em> becomes uns, <\/em>giving us:<\/p>\n

Lass<\/strong> uns lesen<\/strong>!<\/em> (Let’s read!)<\/p>\n

Lass<\/strong> uns gehen<\/strong>!<\/em> (Let’s go!)<\/p>\n

Exceptions in the German Imperative<\/h2>\n

Verbs Ending in -s, -z, -x <\/em>or -\u00df<\/em><\/h3>\n

For these, only the -t<\/strong><\/em> is removed from the present tense form (not the whole -st<\/strong><\/em>), like this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t
Present Simple<\/strong><\/th>Imperative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Du sitzt. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> Sitz! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Here you can see the translations:<\/p>\n

Du sitzt.<\/strong><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>(You sit<\/strong>.)<\/p>\n

Sitz<\/strong>! <\/em>(Sit<\/strong> down!)<\/p>\n

Special Cases: haben, sein <\/em>and werden<\/em><\/h3>\n

These three commonly used verbs behave irregularly and deserve a closer look here, as follows:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t
Verb<\/th>Present Simple<\/strong> <\/th>Imperative<\/strong><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
haben<\/em><\/strong> (to have)<\/td> Du hast kein Angst. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> Hab kein Angst! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
sein<\/em><\/strong> (to be)<\/td> Du bist ruhig. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> Sei ruhig! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
werden<\/em><\/strong> (to become)<\/td> Du wirst b\u00f6se. <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td> Werde nicht b\u00f6se! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Here they are along with the translations:<\/p>\n

haben<\/em><\/strong> (to have)<\/h4>\n

Du hast<\/strong> kein Angst. <\/em>(You’re not afraid. Literally \u2014 you have<\/strong> no fear.)<\/p>\n

Hab<\/strong> kein Angst!<\/em>\u00a0(Don’t be afraid! Literally \u2014 have<\/strong> no fear!)<\/p>\n

sein<\/em><\/strong> (to be)<\/h4>\n

Du bist<\/strong> ruhig.<\/em> (You are<\/strong> calm.)<\/p>\n

Sei<\/strong> ruhig! <\/em>(Calm down! Literally \u2014 be<\/strong> calm!)<\/p>\n

werden<\/em><\/strong> (to become)<\/h4>\n

Du wirst<\/strong> b\u00f6se. <\/em>(You get<\/strong> angry.)<\/p>\n

Werde<\/strong> nicht b\u00f6se!<\/em>\u00a0(Don’t get<\/strong> angry!)<\/p>\n

Public Notices or Requests<\/h3>\n

These tend to be given in the infinitive form instead of the imperative, for example:<\/p>\n

Bitte nicht rauchen. <\/em>(Please don’t smoke.)<\/p>\n

An Extra -e<\/em><\/h3>\n

Not so much an exception as a variation, you might see an extra -e<\/em><\/strong> added to the end of the imperative form for du<\/em> at times.<\/p>\n

This used to be the way the form was written, and is still valid in written German, though these days no longer spoken.<\/p>\n

When to Use the German Imperative<\/h2>\n

So when do you actually use it? There are all kinds of circumstances that call for a direction, command or instruction. Here are a few examples:<\/p>\n

Offering Encouragement<\/h3>\n

What should you say if you want to urge a colleague or friend to do something? You could say:<\/p>\n

Du solltest <\/strong>das machen. <\/em>(You should do it.)<\/p>\n

But how much easier (and more direct) to simply say:<\/p>\n

Mach <\/strong>das!<\/em> (Do it!)<\/p>\n

Giving Instructions<\/h3>\n

For longer explanations or lists, the imperative form really comes into its own.<\/p>\n

Let’s imagine that a friend is taking care of your apartment while you’re out of town for a few days. You have a few simple instructions for her. Here’s what your list might look like in the imperative:<\/p>\n

Geie\u00df<\/strong> die Pflanze alle zwei Tage.<\/em> (Water the plants every two days.)<\/p>\n

Hol <\/strong>die Post jeden Tag ab.<\/strong><\/em> (Collect the mail daily.)<\/p>\n

Iss <\/strong>irgendwas aus dem K\u00fchlschrank.<\/em> (Eat anything you want from the fridge.)<\/p>\n

Ruf <\/strong>mich an, <\/strong>wenn du etwas brauchst.<\/em> (Call me if you need anything.)<\/p>\n

Note: For separable verbs (above abholen<\/em> and anrufen<\/em>) the verb prefix travels to the end of the phrase.<\/p>\n

Responding to Rude Behavior or Aggression<\/h3>\n

These are probably the most satisfying opportunities you’ll have to apply the imperative\u2014or conversely the most frustrating if you don’t know how to use it.<\/p>\n

Chances are you won’t be so concerned about being polite in certain situations, but you’ll certainly want to make yourself clear!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
German<\/th>English<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Hau ab! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Get lost!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Sei still! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Be quiet!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Lass mich alleine! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Leave me alone!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Mach das nicht! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Don't do that!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Pass auf! <\/a>\n <\/em><\/td>Watch out!<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n

Depending on the circumstances, you can also say halt’s Maul, <\/em>meaning “shut your mouth” for a little more emphasis!<\/p>\n

You can see these different usages of the imperative in action on FluentU.<\/p>\n

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