der Imperativ Nicht Vergessen! (Don’t forget) The Imperative mood is used to express commands, orders or instructions. In order to form the imperative, you must know two things. What you want done. Who you want to do it. Nicht Vergessen! (Don’t forget) There are three words for you in German. ‘du’ - for one person you know well/informally ‘ihr’ - for more than one person you know well/informally ‘Sie’ – for one or more people you treat more formally

gehen = du gehst = Geh! / Go! geben = du gibst = Gib! / Give! The "du" form of the imperative is formed by dropping the final "-en" of the infinitive and adding "-e" to the end of the word. This "-e" ending is usually dropped in spoken and written German. gehen = du gehst = Geh! / Go! geben = du gibst = Gib! / Give! schlafen = du schläfst = Schlaf! / Sleep! If there is an umlaut, remove it. halten (to stop) schauen (to look) machen (to do) schreiben (to write) Halt! Schau! Mach! Schreib!

warten = wart = Warte! / Wait! binden = bind = Binde! / Tie! If the stem of the verb ends in a t, d, ig, m, or n preceded by an additional consonant, then the imperative form will retain the “e”. warten = wart = Warte! / Wait! binden = bind = Binde! / Tie! atmen = atm = Atme! / Breath! antworten (to answer) öffnen (to open) Antworte! Öffne!

lesen = liest = Lies! / Read! sehen = siehst = Sieh! / See! Irregular or Strong verbs that change the stem vowel to "-i-" or "-ie-" retain that change in the "du"-imperative. Here you may not add an "-e": lesen = liest = Lies! / Read! sehen = siehst = Sieh! / See! vergessen = vergisst = Vergiss! / Forget! helfen (to help) versprechen (to promise) essen (to eat) treffen (to meet) Hilf! Versprich! Iss! Triff!

sein, wissen und werden sein = bist = Sei! / Be! Unlike other verbs, sein, wissen und werden do not change. sein = bist = Sei! / Be! wissen = weißt = Wisse! / Know! werden = wirst = Werde! / Become! Sei gut! Werde mutig! Wisse die Wahrheit! Be good! Become Courageous! Know the truth!

der Imperativ Nicht Vergessen! (Don’t forget) The Imperative mood is used to express commands, orders or instructions. In order to form the imperative, you must know two things. What you want done. Who you want to do it. Nicht Vergessen! (Don’t forget) There are three words for you in German. ‘du’ - for one person you know well/informally ‘ihr’ - for more than one person you know well/informally ‘Sie’ – for one or more people you treat more formally

gehen = ihr geht = Geht! / You all go! To make the ‘ihr’ form: Simply take the ‘ihr ’ form of the present tense verb and drop the “ihr” gehen = ihr geht = Geht! / You all go! geben = ihr gebt = Gebt! / You all give! schlafen = ihr schlaft = Schlaft! / You all Sleep! helfen (to help) versprechen (to promise) halten (to stop) schauen (to look) Helft! Verspecht! Haltet! Schaut!

trinken = Sie trinken = Trinken Sie! / You drink! To make the ‘Sie” form, simply take the ‘Sie’ form of the verb. You must add the subject, Sie. Add an exclamation mark! This is the formal You command. trinken = Sie trinken = Trinken Sie! / You drink! geben = Sie geben = Geben Sie! / You give! schlafen = Sie schlafen = Schlafen Sie! / You sleep! arbeiten (to work) bauen (to build) sagen (to say) versuchen (to try) Arbeiten Sie! Bauen Sie! Sagen Sie! Versuchen Sie!

trinken = Wir trinken = Trinken wir! / Let’s drink! There is also a "wir" form of the imperative which equates to "Let's do something" rather than being an order. Simply take the ‘Wir’ form of the verb. You must add the subject, Wir. Then, add an exclamation mark! trinken = Wir trinken = Trinken wir! / Let’s drink! geben = Wir geben = Geben wir! / Let’s give! schlafen = Wir schlafen = Schlafen wir! / Let’s sleep! gehen (to go) fahren (to drive) fliegen (to fly) spazieren (to walk) Gehen wir! Fahren wir! Fliegen wir! Spazieren wir!