A2.39 - Teamwork

Word order in the imperative

Woordvolgorde in gebiedende wijs

De gebiedende wijs gebruikt de volgorde werkwoord, onderwerp, rest, met voorbeelden als Ga zitten, Doe het raam open.

(The imperative uses the order verb, subject, rest, with examples like Ga zitten, Doe het raam open.)

What you are doing: giving an instruction (imperative)

In Dutch, an instruction usually has a very simple shape:

1st position 2nd position Rest
Verb (subject) everything else
  • Stuur het verslag vandaag.
  • Werk samen.
  • Ga even naar binnen.

Key idea: Dutch imperative = verb first. Not “You + verb”.

Subject: when it disappears (jij/je) and when it must be there (u/jullie)

Who you address What Dutch normally does Example
jij / je (informal, 1 person) Subject is usually omitted Stuur me het bestand.
u (formal, 1 person) Subject is required in 2nd position Stuur u me het bestand.
jullie (plural) Subject is required in 2nd position Stuur jullie me het bestand.
  • Jij stuur me het bestand. (sounds like a normal statement, not an instruction)
  • Stuur me u het bestand. (wrong position: u must be directly after the verb)

Negative instructions: where “niet” and “geen” go

In negative imperatives, you keep verb first, and you put niet/geen early:

Verb + (subject) + niet/geen + rest

Use Pattern Example
niet = “not” (negates an action/adverb) Verb + (subject) + niet + rest Praat (jij) niet door elkaar.
geen = “no / not any” (negates a noun) Verb + (subject) + geen + noun + rest Neem (jij) geen koffie mee.
  • Niet praat door elkaar. → wrong: don’t start with niet
  • Neem koffie niet mee. → unnatural: niet should come earlier

The verb form: no -t in the imperative (also with u)

In the imperative, you use the stem (the basic form without -t):

  • werken → Werk!
  • sturen → Stuur!
  • maken → Maak!

Important for polite instructions:

  • Stuur u me de planning. (imperative: stuur)
  • Stuurt u me de planning. (this is not the imperative form)

Self-check: a quick 3-step test before you submit an answer

  1. Verb first? If not, fix that first.
  2. Who is the listener?
    • jij/je: subject usually not written
    • u/jullie: subject must be in position 2
  3. Negative?
    • Action/adverb → use niet early
    • Noun (“any coffee / any mistakes”) → use geen

Goal: short, clear, professional instructions that sound natural in a workplace context.

  1. Negative: Verb + (subject) + niet/geen + rest.
  2. With 'u' and 'jullie': the subject in 2nd position is mandatory.
1e plaats (1st position)
Werkwoord (Verb)		2e plaats (2nd position)
Onderwerp (subject)		3e plaats (3rd position)
Rest (rest)
Werk (Work)-samen! (together!)
Gaat (Go)u (you (formal))naar binnen! (inside!)
Helpen (Help)jullie (you (plural))mij! (me!)

Exceptions!

  1. There is often no subject in affirmative sentences with 'jij'.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. ___ op tijd naar het overleg, alsjeblieft.

___ to the meeting on time, please.

2. ___ even naar binnen, we beginnen nu.

___ inside for a moment, we are starting now.

3. ___ mij met de communicatie in het team?

___ me with the communication in the team?

4. ___ fout in het verslag.

___ mistake in the report.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite the sentences as commands (imperative). Use the correct word order. For negative sentences: verb + (subject) + not/no + the rest. For formal commands, put 'u' or 'jullie' in second position.

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Show/Hide translation Show/Hide hints
  1. Je moet het raam open doen.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Doe het raam open.
    (Open the window.)
  2. Je mag niet te laat komen.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Kom niet te laat.
    (Don't be late.)
  3. U moet dit formulier invullen.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Vult u dit formulier in.
    (Fill in this form.)
  4. U mag hier niet roken.
    ⇒ ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Rookt u hier niet.
    (Don't smoke here.)

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Kato De Paepe

Business and languages

KdG University of Applied Sciences and Arts Antwerp

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 07/05/2026 23:21