The imperative: commands fused with þú as -ðu/-du/-tu (komdu, farðu), plural -ið, negation with ekki.
I can give simple instructions and warnings (Komdu hingað! Ekki gleyma vegabréfinu!).
Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?
Komdu með mér í sund!
Come to the pool with me!
Farðu varlega á veginum!
Take care on the road!
Ekki gleyma sundfötunum!
Don't forget your swimsuit!
Komið inn, krakkar!
Come inside, kids!
Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?
To tell one person to do something, Icelandic very often fuses the verb with the pronoun þú as an ending -ðu / -du / -tu:
| verb | command (þú) | meaning |
|---|---|---|
| koma | komdu! | come! |
| fara | farðu! | go! |
| gera | gerðu! | do! |
| bíða | bíddu! | wait! |
| hætta | hættu! | stop! |
To a group (þið) the ending is -ið: komið! farið! gerið! For a negative command, add ekki: Ekki fara! or Farðu ekki! (Don't go!). To be polite, soften with gjörðu svo vel (here you are / please) - also written gerðu svo vel, the same phrase - or a question instead.
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises
Practice ExercisesSaying the verb and þú as two separate words when the fused form is normal (komdu, not *kom þú in everyday speech). - Forgetting the plural -ið for a group (farið!, not farðu! to several people). - Putting ekki in the wrong place; both Ekki fara! and Farðu ekki! work, but not *Fara ekki þú.
Komdu með mér í sund!
Come to the pool with me!
komdu = koma + þú fused; sundlaug (pool) culture is central in Iceland.
Farðu varlega á veginum!
Take care on the road!
farðu = fara + þú (go carefully = take care); useful for Iceland's weather-prone roads.
Ekki gleyma sundfötunum!
Don't forget your swimsuit!
Negative command: ekki + infinitive gleyma.
Komið inn, krakkar!
Come inside, kids!
Plural imperative to a group: komið (-ið ending).
Practice in course
Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises