да + Verb (Command)
Commands with Да
Да си дойдеш рано! (Make sure you come home early!) Да не забравиш! (Don't forget!) It sounds firmer and more personal than a plain imperative.
How It Works
1. Form. да + present tense, with the ending for the person addressed:
- ти: Да си дойдеш рано!
- вие: Да не закъснеете утре!
Do not combine да with an imperative form such as дойди; see the imperative.
2. When people use it. Parents, teachers and friends use it for reminders, conditions and warnings: Да ми се обадиш, като пристигнеш! (Be sure to call me when you arrive!) It stresses that the speaker expects this to happen. Tone of voice decides whether it sounds caring or strict.
3. Warnings with да не. The plain negative imperative normally takes an imperfective verb: Не забравяй! With да не you can use the perfective: Да не забравиш! (Don't forget!), Да не паднеш! (Don't fall!). See aspect in commands and недей да. The fixed phrase Да не си посмял! means "Don't you dare!"
4. Third person. Да + third person gives an order about someone else: Да влезе следващият! (Let the next one come in!) Нека is the milder way to suggest or allow: Нека влезе. (Let him come in.)
5. Reported orders. The same да-clause appears when you pass on an instruction: Мама каза да си дойда рано. See reported commands with да.
Examples (6)
- Да си дойдеш рано!
Make sure you come home early!
- Да не забравиш да купиш хляб!
Don't forget to buy bread!
да не + perfective: a warning.
- Да ми се обадиш, като пристигнеш!
Be sure to call me when you arrive!
- Да не закъснеете утре!
Don't be late tomorrow!
Addressed to several people, or politely to one.
- Да влезе следващият!
Next one, come in!
Third person: an order about someone else.
- Да не си посмял да го пипнеш!
Don't you dare touch it!
Common Mistakes
Putting an imperative form after да.
Да дойди рано!Да дойдеш рано!After да, use the normal present form (дойдеш), not the imperative дойди.
Using the wrong person ending for the person you address.
Ти да не забрави!Ти да не забравиш!Speaking to ти, the verb needs the second-person ending -ш: забравиш.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Commands with да combine imperatives and да.
Related Patterns
- The Imperative
The plain imperative that да-commands replace or reinforce.
Level 2 - недей да + VerbDon't with Недей Да
Another way to tell someone not to do something.
Level 2 - некаLet with Нека
A milder "let" for suggestions and permission.
Level 3 - Verb of Telling + да + VerbReported Commands with Да
The same да-clause in reported orders.
Level 4 - да + Perfective VerbPerfective Verbs After Да
Why the verb after да is usually perfective.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice да + Verb (Command) in Bubblegum
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