The imperative in German is used for giving orders. There are two different forms of the imperative in German (depends on how many person you are addressing).
The imperative – addressing more than one person
This form has also two different forms in German (addressing formally and informally).
For addressing informally you take the “du”-form (for person with whom you are quite familiar – children, family or close friends).
- This imperative is formed by using the stem of the verb (regular verbs) + add ending -t. The stem is the form of the infinitive without -en or -n.
- The imperative is formed by using the stem + add -et (for verbs ending in d, t, consonant + m or consonant + n).
For addressing formally you take the “Sie”-form (for person you don´t know).
- This imperative is formed by using the inifintive (The formal imperative does not differentiate between the singular and
plural form).
- The formal imperative must include the personal pronoun “Sie”.
- The personal pronoun “Sie” comes after the verb (so you recognize that this is an imperative)
Example:
English: Wait
Translation: to wait -> warten
German (informal): Wartet (stem is ending in “t” -> you add “-et”)
German (formal): Warten Sie.
Note:
Separable verbs as “anfangen” (Englisch: to beginn) split off the prefix and the prefix is placed at the end of the clause.
FURTHER INFORMATION
