Commands to One Friend
To tell one friend to do something, use the verb stem and no du: Komm! (Come!), Kuck! (Look!), Hëllef mir! (Help me!).
How It Works
Building the command
Drop -en from the infinitive and put the verb first:
- kucken → Kuck!
- kommen → Komm!
- hëllefen → Hëllef!
- drénken → Drénk!
No vowel change
Many verbs change their vowel in the du form (see present stem vowel changes), but the command keeps the infinitive vowel: huelen → Huel!, iessen → Iess!, fueren → Fuer!, kafen → Kaf!, schlofen → Schlof!
Spelling of the last consonant
A final w is written f (see w becomes f): bleiwen → Bleif!, schreiwen → Schreif!. A final d is written t: waarden → Waart!
Irregular commands
- sinn → Sief! (Sief roueg! Be quiet!)
- goen → Géi!
- stoen → Stéi!
- ginn → Gëff!
- gesinn → Geséi!
Separable verbs
The prefix goes to the end: zoumaachen → Maach d'Dier zou! See separable verbs.
Negative and polite commands
Net comes after the verb and after a short object: Sief net esou pessimistesch! Maach dat net! Add wannechgelift to soften a request: Géi wannechgelift bei de Bäcker!
To speak to several people or to someone you call Dir, use the dir command: Kommt!
Examples (6)
- Komm eran, d'Dier ass op!
Come in, the door is open!
Word by Word: Come in, the door is open!
- Maach d'Dier zou!
Close the door!
Word by Word: Make the door shut!
The separable prefix zou goes to the end.
- Hëllef mir, wannechgelift!
Help me, please!
Word by Word: Help me, please!
- Sief net esou pessimistesch!
Don't be so pessimistic!
Word by Word: Be not so pessimistic!
Sinn has the irregular command sief.
- Géi wannechgelift bei de Bäcker!
Please go to the baker's!
Word by Word: Go please to the baker!
Goen has the irregular command géi.
- Huel däi Mantel mat!
Take your coat with you!
Word by Word: Take your coat along!
Huel keeps the vowel of huelen, although the du form is du hëls.
Common Mistakes
Using the vowel of the du form.
Kënn eran!Komm eran!The command keeps the infinitive vowel: kommen gives Komm!, and huelen gives Huel!, not Hël!
Adding the du ending -s.
Kucks!Kuck!The du command has no ending. Kucks is the statement form: du kucks.
Leaving a separable prefix at the front.
Zoumaach d'Dier!Maach d'Dier zou!In a command, the prefix of a separable verb goes to the end of the clause.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Before Commands to One Friend, learn Present Tense Endings.
Related Patterns
- Commands to Several People or Politely
The command form for several people or for polite Dir.
Level 1 - Vowel Changes in Forms With du and hienVowel Changes in the Du and Hien Forms
The du command does not use these changed vowels.
Level 1 - Separable Verbs
Separable prefixes move to the end in commands too.
Level 2 - merci / wannechgeliftThank You and Please
Wannechgelift makes a command sound like a friendly request.
Level 1 - w Becomes fW Becomes F: Du Schreifs
Explains commands such as Bleif! and Schreif!
Level 2 - loosst eisLet's: Loosst Eis
Loosst eis makes a suggestion that includes the speaker.
Level 2
Practice Commands to One Friend in Bubblegum
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