Imperative mood
Giving commands and instructions in informal and formal registers.
Give simple commands in informal and formal registers. Apply consonant assimilation rules for -s/-sz/-z stems.
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Gyere ide!
Come here!
Olvass hangosan!
Read aloud!
Menjen jobbra!
Turn right! (formal)
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
Imperative Mood
Add -j to the stem. For informal (te) and formal (ön/maga) use:
| Infinitive | Informal (te) | Formal (ön) |
|---|---|---|
| menni (go) | menj! | menjen! |
| jönni (come) | gyere! (irregular) | jöjjön! |
| olvasni (read) | olvass! | olvasson! |
| hozni (bring) | hozz! | hozzon! |
Consonant assimilation: stems ending in -s, -sz, -z double the consonant: olvas+j → olvass, hoz+j → hozz.
Forgetting consonant doubling: 'olvasj' is wrong — it must be 'olvass'. Using the informal gyere in formal contexts — use jöjjön instead.
Common Error Patterns
Failing to double consonant in imperative for -s/-sz/-z stems
Using informal imperative in formal situation or vice versa
Gyere ide!
Come here!
Gyere is the irregular imperative of jönni (to come).
Olvass hangosan!
Read aloud!
Olvas+j → olvass: -s stem doubles the s before -j.
Menjen jobbra!
Turn right! (formal)
Formal imperative uses -jon/-jen/-jön suffix on the verb stem.
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A1 course exercises