A1 · GRAMMAR
Imperative Mood (Imperativ)
You use the imperative mood to ask someone to do something: a request, instruction, or suggestion. In German, there are three forms: **du** (informal singular), **ihr** (informal plural), and **Sie** (formal). If you add 'bitte', the command becomes a polite request.
In this lesson
1. Sie (formal)
Verb + Sie.
Warten Sie bitte hier.
Please wait here.
2. du
From the du-form, -st and du are dropped.
Komm bitte!
Please come!
3. ihr
The ihr-form, ihr is dropped.
Kommt rein!
Come in!
4. Irregulars
e → i change remains (Sprich! Nimm!), but a → ä change does not occur (Fahr!). sein → Sei!
5. Separable Verbs
The prefix goes to the end.
Ruf mich an!
Call me!
💡 bitte is added to almost every command and softens the tone. Germans often turn a command into a request this way in everyday language.