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Imperative sentence |
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Imperative sentences are used to express commands, orders, requests, advice, etc.
FeaturesImperative sentences have the following features:
| Verb position |
The finite verb comes first. |
| Verb form |
The finite verb is in the imperative. |
| Intonation |
The voice falls at the end of the sentence. |
| Punctuation mark |
Exclamation mark |
Examples:
Iss einen Apfel!
Setzt euch!
Haben Sie Geduld! (see below polite form)
Polite form and 1st person plural
An imperative sentence is always addressed to one or more people, i.e. to a 2nd person (du, ihr). The verb is in the imperative mood and comes first in the sentence:
Sei vorsichtig!
Seid vorsichtig!
When the person who is spoken to is addressed with Sie (polite form), the verb is in the subjunctive I. It also comes first, but it has to be followed by Sie:
Seien Sie vorsichtig!
Bleiben Sie hier!
Unlike other languages, German does not have an imperative form in the 1st person plural (cf. French Allons!, Spanish Vamos!, Italian Andiamo!). When a command is addressed to a group of people including the speaker, one usually takes one of the following constructions:
1st person plural, subjunctive I + wir:
Seien wir vorsichtig!
Gehen wir!
Lasst uns + present infinitive:
Lasst uns vorsichtig sein!
Lasst uns gehen!
Other means of expression
Command in the form of a question
A command or a request can be expressed in the form of a question. A question is more polite, less abrupt than a direct request in the imperative:
Kommst du bitte mal hierher?
Würdest du bitte kommen?
Könnten Sie mir bitte helfen?
(See also, Polite requests and statements).
Infinitive clause (without zu)
Infinitive clauses are often used to express commands, requests, etc.
Nicht hinauslehnen!
Bitte beim Verlassen des Raumes Licht löschen.
Die Nudeln abgießen, mit der Sauce mischen und sofort servieren.
müssen and sollen
Du musst kommen!
Du sollst nicht stehlen!
(See also Modal verbs, sollen and müssen)
Command in the form of a declarative sentence
A command can be expressed in the form of a declarative sentence in the present or the future I.
Du kommst jetzt!
Du wirst sofort kommen!
Sie verlassen sofort den Raum!
Passive without subject
Es wird nicht mehr geredet!
Nun wird geschlafen!
Jetzt wird das Zimmer aufgeräumt!
(See werden-passive as a command)
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