Imperative
A1 Gebiedende wijs 20 / 48
In short
To give a command, instruction or invitation, use the bare verb stem (the same form as ik): Kom! (Come!), Wacht even! (Wait a moment!). There is no subject pronoun. Make it negative with niet (Niet doen!), polite with u (Komt u binnen), and friendlier with the little words even / maar / eens.
The rule
The imperative is the easiest verb form in Dutch: it is just the stem, used with no subject.
- The stem = infinitive minus -en, with normal spelling rules: keep long vowels (maken -> maak), simplify a doubled consonant (zitten -> zit), devoice the final consonant (lezen -> lees, geven -> geef).
- It is identical to the ik-form: if you can say ik kom, the command is Kom!
- One stem covers both “you” (singular jij) and “you all” (plural jullie) - the form never changes.
Particles to soften it. A bare stem can sound blunt, so Dutch adds an unstressed particle:
| Particle | Effect | Example |
|---|---|---|
| even | ”(just) for a sec”, lightens it | Wacht even. (Wait a sec.) |
| maar | reassuring “go ahead” | Doe het maar. (Go ahead and do it.) |
| eens | inviting “why don’t you…” | Kom eens hier. (Come here a moment.) |
Negative command. Put niet after the verb, or use the bare infinitive on signs/notices:
- Doe dat niet! (Don’t do that!) - Niet doen! (Don’t!) - Niet roken. (No smoking.)
Polite / formal with u. Two options:
- stem + -t + u: Komt u binnen. (Do come in.) - Gaat u zitten. (Please sit down.)
- or just the stem + alstublieft: Kom binnen, alstublieft.
laten we… = let’s… Includes yourself in the suggestion: Laten we beginnen. (Let’s begin.)
Forms & patterns
From infinitive to command
| Infinitive | Stem (= command) | Command |
|---|---|---|
| komen | kom | Kom! (Come!) |
| wachten | wacht | Wacht! (Wait!) |
| werken | werk | Werk! (Work!) |
| maken | maak | Maak je huiswerk. (Do your homework.) |
| lezen | lees | Lees dit. (Read this.) |
| geven | geef | Geef het mij. (Give it to me.) |
Separable verbs - the prefix goes to the end:
| Infinitive | Command |
|---|---|
| opstaan | Sta op! (Stand up! / Get up!) |
| meekomen | Kom mee! (Come along!) |
| doorgaan | Ga door! (Carry on!) |
Irregular: zijn & hebben
| Verb | Command | Example |
|---|---|---|
| zijn | wees | Wees voorzichtig! (Be careful!) |
| hebben | heb | Heb geduld. (Be patient. / Have patience.) |
Examples
| Nederlands | English |
|---|---|
| Kom hier! | Come here! |
| Wacht even, alsjeblieft. | Wait a moment, please. |
| Ga zitten. | Sit down. / Take a seat. |
| Doe het maar. | Go ahead and do it. |
| Kom eens hier. | Come here a sec. |
| Niet roken in de trein. | No smoking on the train. |
| Laten we gaan! | Let’s go! |
| Komt u binnen. | Do come in. (formal) |
Common mistakes
- Kom jij hier! -> Kom hier! - the imperative has no subject pronoun (drop jij/je).
- Komen hier! -> Kom hier! - use the stem, not the infinitive, for a direct command.
- Staan op! / Op staan! -> Sta op! - separable verb = stem + particle at the end.
- Lez dit / Mak je huiswerk -> Lees dit / Maak je huiswerk - spelling rules still apply (devoice z -> s, keep the long vowel aa).
- Niet doe dat! -> Doe dat niet! - in a direct command niet comes after the verb (the bare Niet doen! is for signs/short orders).
- Laat we gaan! -> Laten we gaan! - the fixed form is laten we, not laat we.
Tips
- Know the ik-form, know the command: ik wacht -> Wacht!, ik geef -> Geef!
- A bare command can sound bossy. Add even / maar / eens (or alstublieft) to sound friendly: Wacht even is far nicer than a sharp Wacht!
- Use alsjeblieft with je-commands and alstublieft with the polite u-form.
- For separable verbs, always send the prefix to the end: opletten -> Let op! (Watch out!).
- Laten we… = “let’s…”; Niet…! + infinitive = a quick “don’t…” (Niet vergeten! = Don’t forget!).