Command Form (du)

Level 1

The imperative (du-form) is how you give orders or make requests to one person you know well. It is usually the verb stem without the -st ending or the pronoun du.

How It Works

The imperative is essential for daily life in Germany. Here are the specific rules for forming it:

  • Basic Rule: Drop the -st and the du. If the verb stem ends in -s, -z, -x, or -ß, you only drop the -t (e.g., Sitz! from sitzen).
  • Vowel Changes: If a verb has an e to i or e to ie change, keep that change (Lies!, Gib!). Note: You cannot add an -e ending to these verbs. If it has an a to ä change, drop the umlaut (Fahr!, Lauf!).
  • The -e Ending: Add an -e if the stem ends in -d or -t (Warte!), -ig (Entschuldige!), or certain consonant clusters (Atme!). For verbs ending in -eln, the -e is required (Lächle!). For verbs ending in -ern (Feier!) or other verbs, the -e is optional and sounds more formal.
  • Separable Verbs: For separable verbs, the prefix moves to the end of the sentence (Räum dein Zimmer auf!).
  • Irregulars: Key irregulars are sein (Sei!), haben (Hab!), and werden (Werde!).

To sound more polite, add mal or bitte.

Examples (5)

  1. Mach bitte die Tür zu!

    Please close the door!

    Word by Word: Make please the door to!

    From 'du machst'. Note how 'zu' (the prefix) moves to the end, just like in a normal sentence.

  2. Gib mir das Buch!

    Give me the book!

    Word by Word: Give me the book!

    From 'du gibst'. The e→i stem change is kept, but the -st is dropped.

  3. Fahr nicht so schnell!

    Don't drive so fast!

    Word by Word: Drive not so fast!

    From 'du fährst'. The umlaut (ä) is removed in the imperative form.

  4. Warte einen Moment!

    Wait a moment!

    Word by Word: Wait a moment!

    Because the stem ends in -t, the -e ending is mandatory for pronunciation.

  5. Sei leise!

    Be quiet!

    Word by Word: Be quiet!

    The verb 'sein' is irregular in the imperative form.

Common Mistakes

  • Including the pronoun 'du' in the command.

    Du komm her!
    Komm her!

    Unlike the present tense, the imperative 'du' form normally drops the pronoun.

  • Keeping the umlaut on 'a' stem-changing verbs.

    Fähr langsamer!
    Fahr langsamer!

    Verbs that change 'a' to 'ä' in the present tense lose the umlaut in the imperative.

  • Using the infinitive instead of the stem-changed form.

    Helf mir!
    Hilf mir!

    For e→i verbs, you must use the changed stem (Hilf) rather than the infinitive stem (Helf).

How It Connects

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

Command Form (du)Level 1

Learn This First

To form the informal singular command (du), you need to know how to conjugate regular verbs in the present tense, specifically the 'du' form, as the imperative is built by dropping the '-st' ending. Additionally, you must be aware of stem-changing verbs, as those involving 'e' changing to 'i' or 'ie' carry that change over into the command form.