Aspect in Commands
Choose the aspect of a command by what you want: one finished action takes a perfective verb (Затвори вратата!), a habit or an ongoing action takes an imperfective one (Затваряй вратата след себе си!).
How It Works
1. Positive commands. Both aspects form an imperative, with different meanings:
- Perfective: one specific, complete action. Затвори вратата! (Close the door!) Кажи ми истината! (Tell me the truth!) Седни! (Sit down!)
- Imperfective: a repeated action, a general rule, or an action already expected. Винаги затваряй вратата! (Always close the door!) Пиши ми често! (Write to me often!)
- Imperfective as an invitation: it can sound warm and encouraging. Заповядайте, влизайте! (Please, come in!) Яж, яж! (Go on, eat!)
2. Negative commands use the imperfective. In standard Bulgarian, perfective verbs do not form negative commands:
- Не отваряй прозореца! (Don't open the window!), not *Не отвори
- Не казвай на никого! (Don't tell anyone!), not *Не кажи
- Недей да плачеш! (Don't cry!), see недей да
3. Warnings: да не + perfective. To warn someone about something they might do by accident, use да не with a perfective verb, often after внимавай:
- Внимавай да не паднеш! (Be careful not to fall!)
- Да не забравиш ключовете! (Don't forget the keys!)
Tip: learn each verb as a pair so you can switch: затварям/затворя, казвам/кажа, отварям/отворя (see perfective and imperfective aspect).
Examples (6)
- Затвори вратата, моля.
Close the door, please.
Perfective: one complete action.
- Винаги затваряй вратата след себе си!
Always close the door behind you!
Imperfective: a habit.
- Не отваряй прозореца, студено е.
Don't open the window, it's cold.
A negative command uses the imperfective отваряй.
- Внимавай да не паднеш!
Be careful not to fall!
A warning: да не plus the perfective паднеш.
- Заповядайте, влизайте!
Please, come in!
The imperfective sounds like a friendly invitation.
- Да не забравиш ключовете!
Don't forget the keys!
Common Mistakes
Using a perfective verb in a negative command.
Не отвори прозореца!Не отваряй прозореца!Negative commands with не use the imperfective verb. Отвори is fine alone, but after не you need отваряй.
Using a perfective command for a repeated action.
Всяка вечер затвори прозорците!Всяка вечер затваряй прозорците!Всяка вечер describes a habit, so the command must be imperfective.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Aspect in commands combines the imperative with aspect.
Related Patterns
- недей да + VerbDon't with Недей Да
Another way to give a negative command, also with the imperfective.
Level 2 - Irregular Imperatives
Irregular imperatives such as ела and влез are perfective; their imperfective partners идвай and влизай are regular.
Level 2 - Aspect Pairs Formed With a Suffix
Most command pairs, like затварям/затворя, differ by a suffix.
Level 2 - да + Verb (Command)Commands with Да
Commands with да, which also use да не in the negative.
Level 4
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice Aspect in Commands in Bubblegum
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