Irregular Imperatives

Level 3

Reci, dođi, pomozi, uzmi, jedi, pij and daj are everyday imperatives to learn as they are.

How It Works

Most imperatives come from the present stem: čitaj, radi, piši. Some verbs take a different shape, so learn these as a small list.

Verbtivi
rećirecirecite
doćidođidođite
pomoćipomozipomozite
uzetiuzmiuzmite
jestijedijedite
pitipijpijte
datidajdajte

Some consonants change: k becomes c in reci and g becomes z in pomozi.

Use ti for friends and family, and vi for a stranger or more than one person. Add molim te or molim vas to be polite.

To forbid something, use nemoj with an infinitive, as in Nemoj ići.

Examples (5)

  1. Reci mi, molim te.

    Tell me, please.

    Reci is the ti form of reći.

  2. Dođi sutra u šest.

    Come tomorrow at six.

    Dođi is the ti form of doći.

  3. Pomozi mi s torbom.

    Help me with the bag.

    Pomozi has the z, not the g.

  4. Jedi dok je toplo.

    Eat while it is warm.

    Jedi is the ti form of jesti.

  5. Pijte vodu.

    Drink water.

    Pijte is the vi form.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the regular ending to an irregular verb.

    Dođaj sutra.
    Dođi sutra.

    Doći has its own imperative dođi.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Irregular ImperativesLevel 3

Learn This First

Some commands are irregular.

Words in This Pattern

rećidoćipomoćiuzetijestipitidati