Command Forms auf Deutsch

There are two main types of commands in German: Formal and Familiar, with the familiar form having both a singular form and a plural form.

Formal Command - Imperative Form

Formal commands will include the formal you - Sie - in the sentence.

When you address one OR several people in a formal manner, you must use this form. The verb always takes the infinitive or -en ending of the Sie form, and the pronoun Sie is always placed immediately after the verb, exactly as in an interrogative sentence. Note that this is different from the English command form, which has understood you as the subject (but does not use the word you).

Probieren Sie den Kuchen!
- Taste the cake!
Nehmen Sie noch ein Glass Tee!
- Take one more cup of tee!
Kaufen Sie den Orangensaft!
- Buy the orange juice!
Essen Sie den Apfel!
- Eat the apple!
Nehmen Sie noch ein Glass Wasser!
- Take another glass of water!

Familiar Command - Singular

When you are on a du basis with someone, the familiar singular command is used. This command is formed by removing the -st ending from the present tense of the du form, which leaves just the basic stem. The personal pronoun is not used -- just the verb itself.

Trink den Tee!
- Drink the tea!
Probier den Kuchen!
- Taste the cake!
Kauf den Orangensaft!
- Buy the orange juice!
*Iss den Apfel!
- Eat the apple!
*Nimm noch ein Glass Wasser!
- Take another glass of water!

Note: verbs that end in a -t or -d, or a consonant cluster like -fn, retain the additional -e- that was added to facilitate pronunciation:

Antworte!
- Answer!
Öffne!
- Open!

You may also see an -e ending on other verbs in the command form, especially in conversational German, but it's optional and technically should only be added to verbs with a -t, -d or consonant cluster ending.

*Note on stem-changing verbs: verbs that have a vowel change from e > i or e > ie retain this change in the familiar singular command.

Iss!
- Eat!
Nimm!
- Take!

However, verbs whose stem vowel changes from a > ä do not retain this change in the imperative.

Fahr!
- Drive!
Lauf!
- Run!

Familiar Command - Plural

When you address several persons with whom you are on a du basis, the familiar plural (ihr) command is used. This command has exactly the same form as the ihr conjugation, but the personal pronoun is dropped. So, essentially, you just drop en from the infinitive verb and add "t."

Trinkt den Tee!
- Drink the tea!
Probiert den Kuchen!
- Taste the cake!
Kauft den Orangensaft!
- Buy the orange juice!
Esst den Apfel!
- Eat the apple!
Nehmt noch ein Glass Wasser!
- Take another glass of water!

This is the easiest of the command forms, since it is exactly the same as the conjugated ihr-form, just without the pronoun!

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