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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to form the German Imperativ for commands and requests with forms like "Hol" (fetch), "Geht" (go), and polite "Gehen Sie" (please go). Master negations using "Bitte nicht" and irregular vowel changes like "Sieh" (look).
  1. The verb is at the beginning of the sentence.
  2. Negations: „Nicht + infinitive!“ or „Bitte nicht...!“
Person (Person)Form (Form)Beispiel (Example)
Du (informell) (You (informal))Verbstamm (verb stem)Hol den Partner ab!
Ihr (plural) (You (plural))Verbstamm + -t (Verb stem + -t)Geht heute Abend feiern!
Sie (formell) (You (formal))Infinitiv + „Sie“ (Infinitive + "Sie")Gehen Sie bitte ins Theater!
Allgemein / neutral (general / neutral)Infinitiv (oft mit „nicht“) (Infinitive (often with "nicht"))Bitte nicht ohne Einladung kommen!

Exceptions!

  1. Some verbs have a vowel change in the imperative (du siehst → sieh!).

Exercise 1: Der Imperativ

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Kommen, Tanz, Geh, anrufen, Erzählen, Erzähl, Erzählt, Kommt

1. Du, Gehen:
... bitte nicht allein in den Club!
(Please don't go to the club alone!)
2. Sie, Anrufen:
... Sie bitte püntklich.
(Please be punctual.)
3. Allgemein, Anrufen:
Bitte nicht einfach ....
(Please do not just call.)
4. Sie, Erzählen:
... Sie bitte mehr!
(Please tell me more!)
5. Du, Tanzen:
... nicht allein!
(Don't dance alone!)
6. Du, Erzählen:
... mir alles!
(Tell me everything!)
7. Ihr, Kommen:
... bitte pünktlich zur Veranstaltung!
(Please come to the event on time!)
8. Ihr, Erzählen:
... uns den Plan!
(Tell us the plan!)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ___ den Partner um 19 Uhr ab!

(___ your partner at 7 pm!)

2. ___ heute Abend feiern!

(___ partying tonight!)

3. ___ Sie bitte ins Theater!

(___ please to the theater!)

4. Bitte nicht ___ Einladung kommen!

(Please do not come ___ an invitation!)

5. ___ mal, das ist der Plan für Freitag!

(___, this is the plan for Friday!)

6. Bitte nicht ___ spät kommen!

(Please do not come ___ late!)

Understanding the German Imperative

This lesson introduces the imperative mood in German, essential for giving commands, making requests, or offering instructions. You'll learn how to form imperative sentences depending on whom you are addressing: informal singular, informal plural, formal, or general/neutral commands.

Forms of the Imperative

  • You, singular informal (Du): Use just the verb stem. For example, "Hol den Partner ab!" means "Pick up the partner!".
  • You, plural informal (Ihr): Add -t to the verb stem. Example: "Geht heute Abend feiern!" – "Go out partying tonight!"
  • You, formal (Sie): Use the infinitive form followed by "Sie." For instance, "Gehen Sie bitte ins Theater!" translates as "Please go to the theater!"
  • General or neutral commands: Use the infinitive form, often with "nicht" (not) to form negatives, e.g., "Bitte nicht ohne Einladung kommen!" meaning "Please do not come without an invitation!"

Key Grammar Points

In imperative sentences, the verb is always at the beginning. For negative commands, "nicht" is placed before the verb or phrase, for example, "Nicht sprechen!" (Don't speak!). Some verbs also have vowel changes in the imperative, such as "du siehst" changing to "Sih!"

Useful Phrases to Practice

  • Hol den Partner um 19 Uhr ab! (Pick up the partner at 7 p.m.)
  • Geht heute Abend feiern! (Go out partying tonight!)
  • Gehen Sie bitte ins Theater! (Please go to the theater!)
  • Bitte nicht ohne Einladung kommen! (Please don’t come without an invitation!)

Differences Between English and German Imperatives

In English, imperative forms are usually simple verb bases, with no changes for person or number, e.g., "Go!" or "Don't go!" In German, however, the imperative differs depending on whether the address is informal singular, informal plural, or formal, and the verb endings change accordingly. For example:

  • English "Go!" corresponds to Hol! for singular informal, Geht! for plural informal, and Gehen Sie! for formal.
  • The placement of "nicht" for negation usually comes after the verb in English negative imperatives, but in German, it's placed before or after the infinitive form in neutral commands.

Learning these distinctions and practicing the common phrases will help build confidence in using the imperative mood naturally in German conversations.

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Sophie Schmidt

International Administration Management

Würzburger Dolmetscherschule

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 12:30