The imperative (commands)
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Question
der Imperativ
Answer
the imperative — the command form («do this!»)
Question
machen → du-Befehl
Answer
Mach! (do! — the verb stem, verb first, no subject)
Question
gehen → du-Befehl
Answer
Geh! (go!)
Question
machen → ihr-Befehl
Answer
Macht! (do! — to several friends, = present ihr-form)
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machen → Sie-Befehl
Answer
Machen Sie! (do! — formal, infinitive + Sie, verb first)
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machen → wir-Befehl
Answer
Machen wir! (let's do! — infinitive + wir)
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nehmen → du-Befehl
Answer
Nimm! (take! — e→i stem change, no -e)
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geben → du-Befehl
Answer
Gib! (give! — e→i stem change)
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lesen → du-Befehl
Answer
Lies! (read! — e→ie stem change)
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sein → du-/Sie-Befehl
Answer
Sei! / Seien Sie! (be!)
Question
How is the du-command formed?
Answer
From the verb stem, verb first, no subject (Mach! Geh!). e→i/e→ie verbs keep the change and take no -e: Gib! Nimm! Lies!
Question
How do you form the Sie- and wir-commands?
Answer
Infinitive + Sie / + wir with the verb first: Machen Sie! Gehen wir! (the pronoun stays).
Question
What happens to separable verbs in a command?
Answer
The prefix jumps to the end: «Steh früh auf!», «Mach die Tür zu!».
Question
What is a common imperative error in German?
Answer
Leaving the subject in (Du komm!), forgetting the e→i change (Nehm! for Nimm!), or using a bare infinitive as a command.
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Topic 3.3 hub
Future, conditional & mood
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German B exam skills
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