German LettersGrammar AppendixImperativesby Eugene R. Moutoux |
| Familiar Singular Commands:
For most verbs, the imperative singular (familiar form) consists of the
stem of the verb plus an optional final e.
Examples: Komm(e)! Sing(e)! Mach(e)! If the verb stem ends in d or t, a final e is required. Examples: Arbeite! Rede! Verbs with a present-tense vowel change from e to i or from e to ie use the changed vowel in forming the familiar singular imperative. Final e may not be added. Examples: Gib! Sprich! Lies! Sieh! Verbs with a present-tense vowel change from a to ä, au to äu, or o to ö do not use the changed vowel in the imperative form. Examples: Fahr(e)! Lauf(e)! Stoß(e)! Sein has a special familiar singular imperative: Sei!Familiar Plural Commands: All verbs use the verb form of the 2nd person plural, present tense, as the familiar plural imperative. Examples: Kommt! Arbeitet! Gebt! Fahrt! Seid! Formal Commands: With the exception of sein, all verbs use the inverted form of the 2nd person formal form, present tense, as the formal imperative (singular and plural). Examples: Singen Sie! Sehen Sie! Laufen Sie! The formal imperative of sein is Seien Sie!. |