VerbsA2
Imperativ (alle Formen)
Complete imperative forms for du, ihr, and Sie
Learning Goal
Can give commands in all registers: du, ihr, and Sie
Exam Skills:WritingSpeaking
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Komm bitte herein!
Please come in!
Nehmt eure Bücher!
Take your books! (plural)
Lesen Sie bitte den Text.
Please read the text. (formal)
Sei nicht so laut!
Don't be so loud!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
German has three imperative forms for the three 'you' pronouns.
| du | ihr | Sie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| machen | Mach! | Macht! | Machen Sie! |
| kommen | Komm! | Kommt! | Kommen Sie! |
| nehmen | Nimm! | Nehmt! | Nehmen Sie! |
| lesen | Lies! | Lest! | Lesen Sie! |
| sein | Sei! | Seid! | Seien Sie! |
du-Form: e→i/ie changes kept: nimm, lies. But a→ä NOT kept: fahr! (not fähr!).
ihr-Form: Same as normal ihr-form without pronoun.
Sie-Form: Inverted: Kommen Sie!
Separable verbs: prefix at end: Steh auf!
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises
Practice Exercises
- Keeping umlaut: ✗ Fähr! → ✓ Fahr!.
- Unnecessary -e: Modern: Komm! Only -d/-t/-ig stems need -e: Warte!
- Sein is irregular: ✗ Bist ruhig! → ✓ Sei ruhig!
Common Error Patterns
Incorrect verb ending for the subject
Review verb conjugation tables and practice matching endings to pronouns
Forgot stem vowel change in irregular verbs
Practice stem-changing verbs (e→i, e→ie, a→ä) with flashcards
Verb placed in wrong position
Remember: V2 in main clauses, verb-final in subordinate clauses
Komm bitte herein!
Please come in!
Du-form: kommen → Komm!
Nehmt eure Bücher!
Take your books! (plural)
Ihr-form: nehmen → Nehmt!
Lesen Sie bitte den Text.
Please read the text. (formal)
Sie-form: Lesen + Sie.
Sei nicht so laut!
Don't be so loud!
Sein imperative: Sei! (irregular).
Steh bitte auf!
Please stand up!
Separable: auf at the end.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises
Frequently asked questions
- When is Imperativ (alle Formen) used?
- German has three imperative forms for the three 'you' pronouns.
- How is Imperativ (alle Formen) formed?
- du-Form: e→i/ie changes kept: nimm, lies . But a→ä NOT kept: fahr! (not fähr!).
- What are common mistakes with Imperativ (alle Formen)?
- Keeping umlaut: ✗ Fähr! → ✓ Fahr! . Unnecessary -e: Modern: Komm! Only -d/-t/-ig stems need -e: Warte! Sein is irregular: ✗ Bist ruhig! → ✓ Sei ruhig!