German grammar: Imperativ

What this grammar point covers

The German 'Imperativ' is the command or imperative form. It is used to give orders, instructions, or advice directly to one or more people.

When to use it

Use the German Imperativ to tell someone what to do, give directions, make suggestions, or offer advice. It is common in recipes, instructions, or when speaking directly to someone.

Key forms

• du-Form: Geh!
• ihr-Form: Geht!
• Sie-Form: Gehen Sie!

Examples

Tips

• For 'du', the verb usually drops the ending '-st' and sometimes the '-e' (e.g., 'Komm!').
• For 'Sie', always use the verb + 'Sie' (e.g., 'Gehen Sie!').
• Don't forget to use the correct form depending on if you are speaking to one person (du), several people (ihr), or politely (Sie).

Exceptions and edge cases

• Some verbs are irregular in the 'du' form (e.g., 'Sei ruhig!' from 'sein').
• For verbs ending in '-eln' or '-ern', the endings may change (e.g., 'Sammle!' from 'sammeln').