Second-Person Singular Imperative

Level 2Sounds Like nakazovij sposíb 2 osobi odnini

The 2nd-person singular imperative is used to tell someone you know well (informal ти) to do something. It is formed from the present-tense stem and takes endings like -и, -й, or a soft sign -ь.

How It Works

To form the imperative, start with the 3rd-person plural present/future form (e.g., пишуть). Remove the ending to find the stem.

1. Ending -и: Used if the stress falls on the ending in the 1st-person singular (пишу -> пиши) or if the stem ends in a consonant cluster (стукни).
Stem Mutations: Stems ending in velars change before -и: г -> ж (бігти -> біжи) and к -> ч (пекти -> печи).

2. Ending -й: Used if the stem ends in a vowel (читай).

3. Null Ending / Soft Sign -ь: Used if the stem ends in a consonant and the stress is on the root. Add -ь for softenable consonants (сядь, стань) or use a hard consonant for labials and post-alveolars (повір, ріж).

First-Person Plural ('Let's'): Formed by adding -мо to the singular imperative stem (читаймо) or -імо if the singular ends in -и (пишімо, ходімо).

Third-Person Commands: Use the particles хай or нехай followed by the 3rd-person singular or plural present/future form (e.g., хай він знає - 'let him know').

Reflexive Verbs: Add -ся after a consonant or -ь (смійся) and -ся or -сь after a vowel (дивися/дивись).

Examples (6)

Скажи мені правду.
Tell me the truth.
Word by Word: Tell to-me truth.
Uses the perfective verb 'сказати' to request a specific result.
Не хвилюйся, усе буде добре.
Don't worry, everything will be fine.
Word by Word: Not worry-self, all will-be well.
A negative command using the imperfective aspect and the reflexive suffix -ся.
Сядь, будь ласка, і послухай.
Sit down, please, and listen.
Word by Word: Sit, please, and listen.
Combines a soft-sign ending (сядь) and a -й ending (послухай) for a polite request.
Біжи швидше додому!
Run home faster!
Word by Word: Run faster home!
Demonstrates the consonant mutation г -> ж (бігти -> біжи) and the -и ending.
Хай він прочитає цей лист.
Let him read this letter.
Word by Word: Let he reads this letter.
Shows the third-person imperative construction using the particle 'хай'.
Ходімо разом у кіно.
Let's go to the cinema together.
Word by Word: Let's-go together in cinema.
An example of the first-person plural imperative ('let's') using the -імо ending.

Common Mistakes

Using the infinitive stem instead of the present stem.
Писай лист.
Пиши лист.
The imperative must be formed from the present stem (пиш-), not the infinitive (писа-).
Using the singular imperative with a person you should address formally.
Пане професоре, читай це.
Пане професоре, читайте це.
When addressing a superior or stranger, you must use the plural/polite imperative.
Using 'давай' + infinitive (a Russian calque) for "Let's..." commands.
Давай читати.
Читаймо.
Standard Ukrainian uses the first-person plural imperative (ending in -мо) rather than the 'давай' construction, which is considered a Russianism.

How It Connects

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

Second-Person Singular ImperativeLevel 2

Learn This First

To form the singular imperative, you need to know who you are addressing (the informal 'ти') and how to find the verb stem, which is most easily identified through the third-person plural present tense form.