Singular Command
ma tulen → Tule! (Come!) · ma istun → Istu! (Sit!) · ma loen → Loe! (Read!)
How It Works
How to form it
Take the I-form and drop -n:
- tulema – tulen → Tule! (Come!)
- istuma – istun → Istu! (Sit!)
- lugema – loen → Loe! (Read!)
- rääkima – räägin → Räägi! (Speak!)
- ootama – ootan → Oota! (Wait!)
- tegema – teen → Tee! (Do!)
- olema – olen → Ole! (Be!)
Because the command uses the present stem, it keeps any stem change the verb has.
One irregular verb
minema (to go) has the present lähen, but its command is Mine! (Go!).
Being polite
A bare command can sound abrupt, so add palun: Istu, palun! To be even softer, use ole hea. To one person you call teie, use the plural form: see imperative plural (-ge/-ke).
Saying don't
Put ära before the same form: Ära tule! (Don't come!) See ära and ärge.
Objects after a command
A whole object after a command is in the nominative, not the genitive: Ava aken! (Open the window!) Võta see raamat! For some amount, use the partitive as usual: Anna mulle vett. See total object in the nominative.
Examples (6)
- Tule siia!
Come here!
Word by Word: come to-here
- Istu, palun!
Sit down, please!
Word by Word: sit, please
- Ava aken, palun.
Open the window, please.
Word by Word: open window, please
The whole object aken stays in the nominative after a command.
- Räägi aeglasemalt!
Speak more slowly!
Word by Word: speak more-slowly
rääkima has the present räägin, so the command is räägi.
- Mine koju!
Go home!
Word by Word: go home(ILL)
- Ole ettevaatlik!
Be careful!
Word by Word: be careful
Common Mistakes
Building the command of minema from lähen.
Lähe koju!Mine koju!minema is irregular: its present is lähen, but the command is mine.
Keeping the -n of the I-form.
Tulen siia!Tule siia!Tulen means “I am coming”. For a command, drop the -n.
Putting a whole object in the genitive after a command.
Ava akna!Ava aken!After a command, a whole object is nominative: aken, not akna.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The singular command is the bare present stem.
Related Patterns
- Plural and Polite Command (-ge/-ke)Plural and Polite Command
The form for several people or polite teie.
Level 1 - ära / ärgeNegative Commands
How to make a negative command.
Level 2 - ole heaAsking Nicely (Ole Hea)
A softer way to ask someone to do something.
Level 3 - sina / teieFamiliar Sina and Polite Teie
Decides whether you use the singular or the plural command.
Level 1 - Whole Object in the Nominative
Explains why objects of commands are nominative.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Singular Command in Bubblegum
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