The German Imperative: How to Give Commands (A1 Guide)
Do you want to tell someone “Go!” or “Listen!” in German? You need the Imperativ (the imperative). It is the form we use for commands, rules, and quick requests.
For A1 learners, we will focus on the two most important forms: talking to one friend (du) and talking to two or more friends (ihr).
1. Talking to One Friend (du)
When you speak to one person you know well (like a friend, a child, or a family member), follow this easy rule:
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Take the normal verb (like gehen – to go).
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Remove the -en.
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Do not use the word “du”.
| Infinitive Verb | Imperativ (du) | English Meaning |
| gehen (to go) | Geh! | Go! |
| machen (to do/make) | Mach! | Do it! / Make! |
| trinken (to drink) | Trink! | Drink! |
A1 Example: “Geh nach Hause!” (Go home!)
2. Talking to More Friends (ihr)
When you speak to a group of friends, the rule is even easier. It is just the normal ihr-form of the verb, but you drop the word “ihr”.
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Take the normal verb.
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Add a -t to the stem.
| Infinitive Verb | Imperativ (ihr) | English Meaning |
| gehen (to go) | Geht! | Go! (plural) |
| machen (to do/make) | Macht! | Do it! (plural) |
| trinken (to drink) | Trinkt! | Drink! (plural) |
A1 Example: “Geht nach Hause!” (Go home, everyone!)
Special Verb: “sein” (to be)
The verb sein is special and irregular. It is very important for daily life, so it is best to just memorize these two forms:
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Sei pünktlich! = Be on time! (to one friend)
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Seid pünktlich! = Be on time! (to a group of friends)
Grammar Check: Short & Simple
| Type | German Example | English Translation |
| Singular (du) | Lern Deutsch! | Study German! |
| Plural (ihr) | Lernt Deutsch! | Study German! (all of you) |
Important Cultural Note!
In Germany, the Imperativ can sound very direct or a bit bossy. If you want to be extra polite to your friends, just add the word bitte (please).
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Example: “Trink bitte dein Wasser.” (Please drink your water.)