Imperativ (Commands and Requests)

Du-form: drop 'du', usually drop the -st ending

For the informal singular imperative (speaking to one person you address as 'du'), take the du-form of the present tense and remove the personal pronoun 'du' along with the -st ending. The result is usually just the bare verb stem. An optional -e ending can be added for verbs whose stem ends in -d, -t, -ig, or a consonant cluster (e.g. arbeite!, rede!, öffne!), but it is often omitted in spoken German.

Ihr-form: identical to the present tense ihr-form, no pronoun

For the informal plural imperative (speaking to a group you address as 'ihr'), simply use the present tense ihr-form and drop the pronoun 'ihr'. The verb form itself does not change, making this the easiest imperative to remember.

Sie-form: infinitive + Sie, verb first

For the formal imperative (addressing one or more people as 'Sie'), use the infinitive of the verb followed by the pronoun 'Sie'. Unlike the du and ihr forms, the pronoun 'Sie' is always kept in the formal imperative. The verb comes first, then 'Sie'. This form is identical to a polite question without a question mark.

Irregular du-forms: stem-vowel changing verbs

Verbs with a stem-vowel change from e→i or e→ie in the present tense carry that same change into the du-imperative. These forms are irregular and must be memorised. Importantly, do NOT add the optional -e ending to these verbs — 'Lese!' and 'Giebe!' are wrong. Verbs with the a→ä change (fahren, schlafen) do NOT carry the umlaut into the imperative: Fahr!, not Fähr!

Sein (to be) has a completely irregular imperative

The verb 'sein' (to be) has unique imperative forms that bear no resemblance to the present tense conjugations. These forms must simply be learnt. Bitte (please) is commonly added to soften any imperative and make it more polite.