Imperatives: How to Phrase Orders and Requests in German | Super Easy German 180

Summary

This video tutorial explains how to form and use the imperative in German, a key aspect of spoken language for giving commands, making requests, and issuing invitations. The speaker covers various forms of the imperative, including singular and plural, informal and formal versions, with practical examples. Special attention is given to irregular verb forms, such as 'essen' (to eat), and rules for adding 'e' to verbs ending in -t, -d, -m, or -n. The tutorial also discusses the use of modal particles like 'mal' to make commands sound more polite. Viewers are encouraged to practice using these forms through interactive exercises.

Takeaways

• 😀 Imperative forms in German are used to give commands, make requests, or issue directives.
• 😀 The imperative form is derived from the verb stem, dropping the regular conjugation endings.
• 😀 Informal singular imperative forms (e.g., 'Komm!') differ from the regular verb conjugation.
• 😀 The informal plural imperative (e.g., 'Kommt!') is similar to the normal conjugated verb form for 'you all'.
• 😀 Formal imperatives (e.g., 'Kommen Sie!') are identical in both singular and plural forms but are more polite.
• 😀 The particle 'mal' is often used in spoken language to soften the tone of an imperative, making it more polite (e.g., 'Komm mal!').
• 😀 Some verbs have irregular imperative forms, such as 'essen' ('iss!' instead of 'du isst').
• 😀 Verbs ending in '-t', '-d', '-m', or '-n' often require an added 'e' in the imperative form for smoother pronunciation (e.g., 'Arbeite!').
• 😀 Irregular imperatives also include verbs like 'sein' (e.g., 'Sei vorsichtig!') and 'haben' (e.g., 'Hab keine Angst!').
• 😀 The imperative is frequently used in everyday spoken German, especially for commands and instructions.
• 😀 Learning and practicing imperative forms can be enhanced with interactive exercises in language learning apps, such as Easy German.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the German imperative form?

The imperative form in German is used to express requests, commands, and suggestions, urging someone to do something specific.

How does the imperative differ from the normal conjugation of verbs in German?

In the imperative, the verb is used in its base form (the verb stem), while in regular conjugation, the verb changes according to the subject pronoun (e.g., 'du gehst' vs. 'geh weg').

Can you give an example of an imperative form in German?

'Komm mal!' is an example of the imperative form in German, meaning 'Come here!' where 'komm' is the verb stem of 'kommen'.

How do you form the imperative for a singular informal subject in German?

For a singular informal subject, the verb stem is used without any additional endings. For example, 'geh' (from 'gehen') means 'go'.

How do you form the imperative for a plural informal subject in German?

For a plural informal subject, the imperative form is identical to the second-person plural conjugation of the verb. For example, 'geht' (from 'gehen') means 'go' in the plural form.

What is the difference between the informal and formal imperative forms in German?

In the informal imperative, you use the verb stem directly (e.g., 'geh weg'). In the formal imperative, you invert the subject and verb (e.g., 'Gehen Sie weg').

What role does the word 'mal' play in an imperative sentence?

'Mal' is a modal particle used to soften the tone of an imperative, making it sound more polite and friendly. For example, 'Komm mal!' sounds less harsh than just 'Komm!'

Are there irregular verbs in the imperative form?

Yes, some verbs in the imperative form are irregular. For example, 'essen' becomes 'iss' (not 'esse') in the second person singular, and 'sehen' becomes 'sieh'.

What happens when an imperative verb ends in 't', 'd', or 'm'?

When an imperative verb ends in 't', 'd', or 'm', an 'e' is added to the verb for smoother pronunciation. For example, 'arbeite' (from 'arbeiten').

What is a special example of an irregular verb in the imperative form?

An example is the verb 'sein' (to be). In the imperative, it becomes 'sei' (singular) and 'seid' (plural), which differs from its regular conjugation ('ich bin', 'du bist').