German imperative sentences are used to give commands, instructions, or make requests in a direct and concise manner. They are an essential part of everyday communication, allowing speakers to express their desires or urge someone to perform a specific action. In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of imperative sentences in German, including their formation, usage, and various examples to illustrate their application in real-life situations.
Formation of Imperative Sentences
Imperative sentences in German are relatively straightforward to form. They are usually constructed using the verb in the imperative form, while the subject pronoun is often omitted. The verb takes the second position in the sentence, and if the subject pronoun is included, it typically comes after the verb. It is worth noting that the imperative form does not vary based on the subject pronoun, as it remains the same for singular and plural subjects.
Informal and Formal Imperative
In German, there are two types of imperative forms: informal (du) and formal (Sie). The informal imperative is used when addressing friends, family members, or individuals with whom you have a close relationship. On the other hand, the formal imperative is employed in more formal or polite situations when addressing strangers, superiors, or individuals who deserve respect. The formal imperative also requires the pronoun “Sie” to be included in the sentence.
Examples of Informal Imperative Sentences:
Komm bitte hierher! (Come here, please!)
Hör auf zu reden! (Stop talking!)
Iss dein Gemüse auf! (Finish your vegetables!)
Schreib mir eine Nachricht! (Write me a message!)
Geh zur Bank und hole Geld ab! (Go to the bank and withdraw money!)
Examples of Formal Imperative Sentences:
Kommen Sie bitte hierher! (Please come here!)
Hören Sie auf zu rauchen! (Stop smoking!)
Essen Sie Ihr Essen auf! (Finish your meal!)
Schreiben Sie mir einen Brief! (Write me a letter!)
Gehen Sie zur Post und schicken Sie den Brief! (Go to the post office and send the letter!)
Negative Imperative Sentences
To form negative imperative sentences in German, the word “nicht” is usually added before the verb in the imperative form. It is important to note that the subject pronoun can be included or omitted, depending on the context and emphasis desired. Here are some examples of negative imperative sentences:
Geh nicht alleine nach Hause! (Don’t go home alone!)
Rauche nicht in diesem Raum! (Don’t smoke in this room!)
Vergiss nicht, mich anzurufen! (Don’t forget to call me!)
Sei nicht so laut! (Don’t be so loud!)
Iss das nicht! (Don’t eat that!)
Using Reflexive Pronouns
When the subject of an imperative sentence is the same as the object, reflexive pronouns are used. These pronouns indicate that the subject is performing the action on itself. Here are some examples:
Wasch dich! (Wash yourself!)
Leg dich hin und ruh dich aus! (Lie down and rest!)
Zieh dich warm an! (Dress warmly!)
Schneid dir die Haare! (Cut your hair!)
Setz dich hin! (Sit down!)
Softening the Imperative
In some situations, imperative sentences can sound harsh or too direct. To soften the command, it is common to add adverbs or phrases to convey politeness. Some examples include:
Kannst du bitte das Fenster schließen? (Can you please close the window?)
Würdest du so nett sein, mir zu helfen? (Would you be so kind to help me?)
Könntest du mir bitte den Stift geben? (Could you please give me the pen?)
Sei doch so lieb und bring mir ein Glas Wasser! (Please be so kind and bring me a glass of water.)
Using Imperative with Modal Verbs
Imperative sentences can also be formed by combining modal verbs with the infinitive form of the main verb. This construction is used to express suggestions or recommendations. Here are a few examples:
Du solltest mehr Sport treiben. (You should do more sports.)
Ihr könntet früher ankommen. (You could arrive earlier.)
Man sollte öfter lachen. (One should laugh more often.)
Wir dürfen nicht vergessen, die Rechnung zu bezahlen. (We mustn’t forget to pay the bill.)
In conclusion, imperative sentences play a crucial role in German communication, enabling speakers to convey commands, instructions, or requests effectively. By understanding their formation and appropriate usage, learners can confidently interact in various social and professional contexts. Whether in informal or formal situations, with negative or reflexive forms, or when softening the imperative, mastering this aspect of German grammar is essential for effective communication in the language.
Quick quiz
Exercise 1:
Choose the correct informal imperative form for the given sentence:
“__ bitte leise!”
a) Sei
b) Sind
c) Seid
d) Seien
Answer: a) Sei
Explanation: The correct informal imperative form for the sentence is “Sei bitte leise!” which translates to “Please be quiet!”
Exercise 2:
Select the appropriate formal imperative form for the following sentence:
“__ Sie sich setzen, bitte.”
a) Setze
b) Setzen
c) Setzt
d) Setzen Sie
Answer: d) Setzen Sie
Explanation: The correct formal imperative form for the sentence is “Setzen Sie sich, bitte,” which means “Please have a seat.”
Exercise 3:
Fill in the blank with the negative informal imperative form:
“__ nicht so laut!”
a) Sei
b) Seid
c) Seien
d) Seist
Answer: a) Sei
Explanation: The negative informal imperative form is “Sei nicht so laut!” which translates to “Don’t be so loud!”
Exercise 4:
Choose the suitable reflexive pronoun for the sentence:
“_ dich gut auf das Examen vor!”
a) Wasche
b) Ruh
c) Zieh
d) Bereite
Answer: d) Bereite
Explanation: The correct reflexive pronoun for the sentence is “Bereite dich gut auf das Examen vor!” which means “Prepare yourself well for the exam!”
Exercise 5:
Select the softened form of the imperative sentence:
“__ bitte vorsichtig!”
a) Sei
b) Seid
c) Seien
d) Seid doch bitte
Answer: d) Seid doch bitte
Explanation: The softened form of the imperative sentence is “Seid doch bitte vorsichtig!” which translates to “Please be careful!”
Exercise 6:
Fill in the blank with the appropriate modal verb construction:
“__ mehr Zeit für dich nehmen.”
a) Soll
b) Könnte
c) Darfst
d) Musst
Answer: a) Soll
Explanation: The correct modal verb construction for the sentence is “Du solltest mehr Zeit für dich nehmen,” which means “You should take more time for yourself.”
Exercise 7:
Choose the correct informal imperative form for the sentence:
“__ den Hund füttern!”
a) Geh
b) Geht
c) Gehen
d) Gehe
Answer: a) Geh
Explanation: The correct informal imperative form for the sentence is “Geh den Hund füttern!” which translates to “Go feed the dog!”
Exercise 8:
Select the appropriate formal imperative form for the following sentence:
“__ Sie mir bitte helfen.”
a) Hilfst
b) Helfen
c) Helft
d) Helfen Sie
Answer: d) Helfen Sie
Explanation: The correct formal imperative form for the sentence is “Helfen Sie mir bitte,” which means “Please help me.”
Exercise 9:
Fill in the blank with the negative informal imperative form:
“__ das nicht!”
a) Vergiss
b) Vergesst
c) Vergessen
d) Vergiss nicht
Answer: d) Vergiss nicht
Explanation: The negative informal imperative form is “Vergiss das nicht!” which translates to “Don’t forget that!”
Exercise 10:
Choose the suitable reflexive pronoun for the sentence:
“_ warm anziehen!”
a) Wasch
b) Leg
c) Zieh
d) Setz
Answer: c) Zieh
Explanation: The correct reflexive pronoun for the sentence is “Zieh dich warm an!” which means “Dress warmly!”
Originally posted 2023-07-19 04:30:28.