VerbsA1
Imperativ (du-Form)
Informal commands: Geh! Nimm! Lies!
Learning Goal
Can give informal commands to friends and family
Exam Skills:WritingSpeaking
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Komm schnell!
Come quickly!
Lies das Buch!
Read the book!
Steh bitte auf!
Please stand up!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Der informelle Imperativ (du-Form) wird für Aufforderungen an Freunde, Familie und Kinder verwendet.
Bildung: Verbstamm ohne -st und ohne du:
| Infinitiv | du-Form | Imperativ |
|---|---|---|
| kommen | du kommst | Komm! |
| gehen | du gehst | Geh! |
| warten | du wartest | Warte! |
| machen | du machst | Mach! |
Stammvokalwechsel e→i/ie: Die Änderung bleibt: Nimm! (nehmen), Lies! (lesen), Sprich! (sprechen).
Aber a→ä fällt weg: Fahr! (fahren, nicht Fähr), Schlaf! (schlafen).
Trennbare Verben: Steh auf! Mach das Licht an! Ruf mich an!
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Practice Exercises
Learners include du or add umlaut for a→ä verbs: Fähr! is wrong — it's Fahr! Only e→i/ie changes are kept.
🇬🇧 English speakers: English speakers may include the pronoun: 'Komm du!' instead of 'Komm!' — the du-imperative drops the pronoun entirely.
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 schnell!
Come quickly!
Regular verb: stem komm without du or ending -st.
Lies das Buch!
Read the book!
lesen: e → ie change is kept in the imperative: Lies!
Steh bitte auf!
Please stand up!
Separable verb aufstehen: Steh...auf! Prefix goes to the end.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises
Put it into practice
Try a free exercise from the courseFrequently asked questions
- When is Imperativ (du-Form) used?
- Der informelle Imperativ (du-Form) wird für Aufforderungen an Freunde, Familie und Kinder verwendet.
- How is Imperativ (du-Form) formed?
- Stammvokalwechsel e→i/ie: Die Änderung bleibt: Nimm! (nehmen), Lies! (lesen), Sprich! (sprechen). Aber a→ä fällt weg: Fahr! (fahren, nicht Fähr ), Schlaf! (schlafen).
- What are common mistakes with Imperativ (du-Form)?
- Learners include du or add umlaut for a→ä verbs: Fähr! is wrong — it's Fahr! Only e→i/ie changes are kept. 🇬🇧 English speakers: English speakers may include the pronoun: 'Komm du!' instead of 'Komm!' — the du-imperative drops the pronoun entirely. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian speakers may use the infinitive as a command (common in Russian for blunt orders) instead of the German imperative stem form. 🇨🇿 Czech speakers: Czech speakers handle informal imperatives well since Czech also drops the pronoun, but may add Czech-style endings like -ej instead of German forms.