German Imperative: How to Give Commands in German (3 Forms Explained)

The German imperative (der Imperativ) is one of the most practical grammar topics you will encounter as a learner. Whether you are following a recipe, reading instructions, or simply asking someone to pass the salt, you need the imperative. The good news? Once you understand the three main forms, giving commands and making requests in German becomes surprisingly straightforward.

In this guide, we break down all three imperative forms, cover the important irregular verbs, explain how separable verbs work in commands, and show you how to soften your tone so you sound polite rather than bossy.

What Are the Three Forms of the German Imperative?

German has three imperative forms because German has three ways to say "you." Each form matches a different level of formality and number of people you are addressing:

1. du-Form (informal singular) -- used with one friend, family member, or child
2. ihr-Form (informal plural) -- used with two or more people you know well
3. Sie-Form (formal singular and plural) -- used with strangers, in professional settings, or to show respect

There is also a wir-Form ("let's..."), but the three forms above are the ones you will use most and the ones tested at the A2 level.

How Do You Form the Imperative in German?

Let us walk through each form step by step, using the verb machen (to do/make) as our main example.

The du-Form (Informal Singular)

To form the du-imperative:

1. Take the verb stem (remove the -en ending): mach-
2. Optionally add -e (both mach! and mache! are correct, though dropping the -e is more common in spoken German)

Important rule for stem-changing verbs: Verbs that change e to i or e to ie in the du-present tense keep that change in the imperative. However, verbs that change a to ä do not take the umlaut in the imperative.

• lesen (du liest) → Lies! (Read!)
• geben (du gibst) → Gib! (Give!)
• sprechen (du sprichst) → Sprich! (Speak!)
• fahren (du fährst) → Fahr! (Drive!) -- no umlaut!
• schlafen (du schläfst) → Schlaf! (Sleep!) -- no umlaut!

This is a key point that trips up many learners, so practice it with our verb conjugation quizzes until it feels automatic.

The ihr-Form (Informal Plural)

The ihr-imperative is the easiest form. It is identical to the regular ihr-present tense conjugation, just without the pronoun:

That is it. No exceptions, no special rules. If you already know the German present tense conjugation, you already know this form.

The Sie-Form (Formal)

The formal imperative uses the infinitive form of the verb, followed by Sie. The pronoun is always included and always capitalized:

This form is straightforward: infinitive + Sie. You will hear it constantly in shops, offices, and formal situations.

Irregular Imperatives You Must Know

A few very common German verbs have irregular imperative forms. Since these verbs appear everywhere in daily conversation, memorizing them is essential.

sein (to be)

Note that the Sie-form uses seien, not sein -- this is the only verb where the formal imperative differs from the infinitive.

haben (to have)

werden (to become)

If you want to reinforce these irregular forms through active practice, try our Type Rush game where you can build speed and accuracy with German verb forms.

Separable Verbs in the Imperative

German separable verbs (trennbare Verben) split apart in the imperative, just as they do in regular present tense sentences. The prefix moves to the end:

• aufstehen (to get up): Steh auf! / Steht auf! / Stehen Sie auf!
• aufmachen (to open): Mach auf! / Macht auf! / Machen Sie auf!
• mitkommen (to come along): Komm mit! / Kommt mit! / Kommen Sie mit!
• anfangen (to begin): Fang an! / Fangt an! / Fangen Sie an!
• zuhören (to listen): Hör zu! / Hört zu! / Hören Sie zu!

If you find separable verbs tricky, you are not alone. Our detailed guide on German grammar for beginners covers separable verbs in depth, and the grammar quizzes give you plenty of practice.

How to Soften Commands in German

Barking orders with just the imperative can sound harsh in German, just as it does in English. Native speakers almost always add softening words called Abtönungspartikel (modal particles). Here are the most important ones:

bitte (please)

The most universal softener. It can go in multiple positions:

• Komm bitte her! (Please come here!)
• Bitte setzen Sie sich! (Please sit down!)

mal (just, quickly)

Makes a request sound casual and low-pressure:

• Schau mal! (Just look! / Look at this!)
• Warte mal! (Just wait a moment!)
• Sag mal, ... (Tell me, ...)

doch (come on, go ahead)

Adds gentle encouragement:

• Komm doch mit! (Come along, why don't you!)
• Setz dich doch! (Go ahead and sit down!)
• Probier doch mal! (Go on, give it a try!)

Combining particles

German speakers frequently stack these for an even friendlier tone:

• Komm doch mal vorbei! (Why don't you drop by sometime!)
• Mach dir doch bitte keine Sorgen! (Please don't worry!)

Using these particles correctly is what separates textbook German from natural-sounding German. Practice using them with the Speech Champion to refine your spoken delivery.

What Are 10 Examples of Imperatives in German?

Here are twelve common German imperative sentences you will encounter in everyday life, grouped by situation:

At Home

1. Mach die Tür zu! -- Close the door!
2. Räum dein Zimmer auf! -- Clean up your room!
3. Iss dein Gemüse! -- Eat your vegetables!

At School or Work

1. Öffnen Sie bitte das Buch! -- Please open the book!
2. Schreibt die Antworten auf! -- Write down the answers!
3. Lest den Text auf Seite 5! -- Read the text on page 5!

On the Street

1. Geh geradeaus! -- Go straight ahead!
2. Fahren Sie links! -- Drive left! (formal)
3. Pass auf! -- Watch out!

Among Friends

1. Komm mit! -- Come along!
2. Erzähl mal! -- Tell me about it!
3. Hab Spaß! -- Have fun!

Notice how separable verbs, stem changes, and softening particles all appear naturally in these everyday sentences. The more you encounter them, the more intuitive they become.

Quick Reference: Imperative Formation at a Glance

Practice Makes Perfect

The German imperative is one of those grammar topics that clicks quickly once you start using it actively. Here is how to make it stick:

• Play Type Rush to drill verb forms at speed and build muscle memory for imperative conjugations.
• Test yourself with our verb conjugation quizzes to check your understanding of regular and irregular forms.
• Review the foundations in our German verb conjugation guide if you need a refresher on present tense forms, since the imperative builds directly on them.
• Practice speaking with Speech Champion to work on your pronunciation and intonation when giving commands.

The imperative may seem like a small piece of German grammar, but it unlocks a huge range of everyday communication. From politely asking for directions (Entschuldigung, sagen Sie mir bitte, wo der Bahnhof ist!) to cheering on a friend (Gib nicht auf! -- Don't give up!), you will use it every day.

Ready to put your imperative skills to the test? Take our grammar quiz and see how well you know your German commands.

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Keep learning: German verb conjugation guide · German present tense conjugation · German grammar for beginners · German greetings guide