LESSON 26

IMPERATIVE / IMPERATIV

OBJECTIVE

 Introduction to imperative
 Classification of imperative into three categories
 Construction of imperative sentences with different forms of verb categories

SUMMARY

In this session, the focus is on a special form of sentence construction called imperative. This seesion
is divided into different segments. In each segment, we would deal with the concept of imperative,
its use in different contexts and how verbs from different categories are used to make imperative
sentence. Also, for each individual aspect of imperative, examples and exercises are provided in the
lesson to demonstrate the concepts in a better manner.

TEXT

In this lesson, we are going to focus on ‘Imperative’. Imperative is a form of sentence construction
which is basically used in three broad contexts in German. These contexts are Bitte (request),
Aufforderung (command, order) and Ratschlag (advice). Imperative is used predominantly with the
2nd person pronouns ‘du, ihr & Sie’. Depending on the use of any of these pronouns, the verb
endings also changes accordingly. Imperative sentences are constructed with different kinds of
verbs. We know that in German that verbs can be either regelmäβig (regular) or unregelmäβig
(irregular). While making imperative sentences, certain irregular verbs undergo change in their form.
Also, verbs like ‘haben’ and ‘sein’ also have a change in their form while making imperative
sentences.
1. Imperative with regelmäβige Verben (regular verbs)

machen
Du Mach die Fenster zu!
Ihr Macht die Fenster zu!
Sie Machen Sie die Fenster zu!

We know that with personal pronoun ‘du’ the conjugation of the verbs is done with the ending ‘-st’.
However, in imperative this ending is removed. Also, the pronoun ‘du’ is not mentioned in the
sentence. For the imperative with pronoun ‘ihr’, the ending of the conjugated verb is retained.
However, here also the pronoun ‘ihr’ is not mentioned. While making an imperative sentence with

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pronoun ‘Sie’, the ending ‘-en’, which corresponds with the pronoun ‘Sie’ is retained as well as the
pronoun is also mentioned in the sentence. As you can see, the exclamation mark at the end of each
sentence given above is common. This is a very important aspect of the imperative.

2. Imperative with unregelmäβige Verben (irregular verbs)

Vowel Change – e i

lesen essen nehmen

Du Lies das Buch! Iss langsam! Nimm es!
Ihr Lest das Buch! Esst langsam! Nehmt es!
Sie Lesen Sie das Buch! Essen Sie langsam! Nehmen Sie es!

In the above given table of imperative sentences with irregular verbs, there is a change of vowel
taking place in the conjugated form of the verbs. We know that certain irregular verbs have a vowel
change from ‘e’ to ‘i’ Here also, the same pattern of verb conjugation happens along with the
removal of endings for the imperative verbs in ‘du’. The endings of the verb are retained only for
pronouns ‘ihr’ and ‘Sie’.

3. Imperative with unregelmäβige Verben (irregular verbs)

Vowel Change – a ä

laufen fahren schlafen

Du Lauf langam! Fahr schnell! Schlaf gut!
Ihr Lauft langsam! Fahrt schnell! Schlaft gut!
Sie Laufen Sie langsam! Fahren Sie schnell! Schalfen Sie gut!

In the above given table, imperative form of certain irregular verbs is demonstrated, where the
vowel change takes place from ‘a’ to ‘ä’. The above given three verbs change their form when they
are conjugated with 2nd person informal pronoun ‘du’. However, here, the vowel change is not
explicit. In the imperative sentences with ‘du’, there is no Umlaut for the letter ‘a’ for the three
verbs, which is a cue for the learner/reader that these verbs are imperative verbs. Apart from these
aspects, the imperative sentences here follow the same rules like those for previous examples.

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4. Imperative with ‘haben’ and ‘sein’

haben sein
Du Hab Geduld! Sei ruhig!
Ihr Habt Geduld! Seid ruhig!
Sie Haben Sie Geduld! Seien Sie ruhig!

In the above given table, imperative sentences with ‘haben’ and ‘sein’ are given. Like the previous
example mentioned above, the ending of the verb ‘haben’ changes in imperative with the three
personal pronouns in 2nd person. In the case of imperative sentences with verb ‘sein’, there is a new
verb form in the conjugated pattern for the pronouns ‘du’ and ‘Sie’. We know that ‘sein’ is
conjugated as ‘seid’ with ‘ihr’. However, with the other pronouns, the conjugation of ‘sein’ does not
follow the usual pattern. For the imperative sentence in ‘sein’ with pronoun ‘du’ the verb form is
‘sei’ and for ‘Sie’ it is ‘seien’.

It is important to remember that not all verbs can be used to make imperative sentences. Imperative
sentences also differ in various forms, when they are used in official and formal contexts. If the
imperative form appears to be extremely direct and rude to you, you may add a ‘Bitte’ either at the
beginning or at the end of the imperative sentence, which modifies the sentence into a more polite
form.

CASE STUDY – This lesson does not require any case study.

FAQs

Q: Are imperative sentences only possible with 2nd person pronouns?

A: No, sometimes imperative sentences can be also constructed with 1st person plural pronouns like
‘wir’.

Q: Can imperative be made with all the verbs?

A: No, not all the verbs can be made into imperative. There are some exceptions to this aspect.

Q: Are imperative sentences dependent on case, gender and number of the noun?
A: No. imperative sentences do not depend on case, gender and number of the noun. These
sentences are only used in present tense.

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ASSIGNMENT

Please make varous sentences each with ‘du, ihr & Sie’ in Imperative with verbs ‘haben, nehmen,
geben, bringen, sein, trinken, gehen, hören, singen, sprechen, laufen, nehmen, finden’. You can
also use other verbs of your choice. Wherever necessary, the sentences should have an Akkusativ
(noun or pronoun)

QUIZ - Choose the correct response from the given options.

1. The imperative verb form of ‘spielen’ with ‘ihr’ would be:

a) spielt
b) spieltet
c) spielte
d) spielten

2. Geh jetzt ins Bett! – this imperative form corresponds to the pronoun
a) er
b) es
c) ich
d) du

3. Komm schnell! - this imperative form corresponds to the pronoun

a) wir
b) ihr
c) Sie
d) du

4. die Hausaufgabe machen – For this sentence, the correct imperative with pronoun ‘du’ would
be:
a) Mach die Hausaufgabe!
b) Machst die Hausaufgabe!
c) Machest die Hausaufgabe!
d) Macht die Hausaufgabe!

5. die Grammatik lernen - For this sentence, the correct imperative with pronoun ‘Sie’ would be:
a) Lernt Sie die Grammatik!
b) Lernen Sie die Grammatik!
c) Lern Sie die Grammatik!
d) Lernst Sie die Grammatik!

6. die Tür zumachen - For this sentence, the correct imperative with pronoun ‘ihr’ would be:
a) Machen Sie die Tür zu!
b) Machst du die Tür zu!
c) Macht ihr die Tür zu!
d) Macht die Tür zu!

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7. nicht traurig sein - For this sentence, the correct imperative with pronoun ‘du’ would be:
a) Seid nett!
b) Seien Sie nett!
c) Seist Sie nett!
d) Sei nett!

8. leise sprechen - For this sentence, the correct imperative with pronoun ‘ihr’ would be:
a) Sprecht ihr leise!
b) Sprechen ihr leise!
c) Sprecht leise!
d) Spricht leise!

9. den Pullover tragen - For this sentence, the correct imperative with pronoun ‘du’ would be:
a) Tragst du den Pullover!
b) Träg den Pullover!
c) Trag den Pullover!
d) Trägst du den Pullover!

10. den Text lesen - For this sentence, the correct imperative with pronoun ‘ihr’ would be:
a) Lest den Text!
b) Liest den Text!
c) Lesest den Text!
d) Leset den Text!

TUTORIALS
https://deutsch.lingolia.com/en/grammar/verbs/imperative/exercises
https://www.dw.com/en/lesson-89-imperative-1-imperativ-1/a-4297723
https://learngerman.dw.com/en/nico-is-learning-german-the-imperative-formal/l-37595076/e-
37597794

LINKS
https://learngerman.dw.com/en/instructions/gr-38996377
https://learngerman.dw.com/en/imperative-informal/gr-38303090
https://www.dw.com/downloads/36252487/informeller-imperativen.pdf
https://learngerman.dw.com/en/the-formal-imperative/gr-38303092
https://www.dw.com/downloads/36252488/formeller-imperativen.pdf

REFERENCES
Funk, H. Studio d. A1, Cornelsen, Berlin / Goyal Saab, Delhi

GLOSSARY
zumachen – to close, to shut
vorlesen – to read aloud

leise sein – to be silent

ungeduldig sein – to be impatient
wieder – once again
ruhig – silent
langsam – slow
langsamer - slowly

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die Bitte, -n – request
die Aufforderung, -en – command, order
die Geduld – patience
die Angst – fear

der Ratschlag – advice

der Urlaub – vacation