Imperative
- The imperative is also referred to as the 'command' form, because
you use it when you want to 'order' one (singular) or more (plural)
persons to do something.
- To form the imperative you need to know two forms of the
present/future tense of the verb: the first person singular and third
person plural.
- The stem for the imperative will be the same as the stem for the
third person plural, and the accent will be on the same syllable as
in the first person singular.
- If the stem in the third person
plural ends in a vowel, to form the imperative you add the ending
-й for the singular (when you command one person), and the ending
-йте when you command more than one person.
- The accent will be on the same syllable as in the first person
singular:
Present tense |
Imperative |
1st singular | 3rd plural | 2nd singular | 2nd plural |
читА-ю | читА-ют | читА-й | читА-йте |
слУша-ю | слУша-ют | слУша-й | слУша-йте |
- If the stem ends in a consonant, then you need to look at the
accent of the first person singular before you form the imperative.
- If the stem ends in a consonant and the accent is on the ending of
the first person singular form, you add the ending -и for the
singular form and -ите for the plural:
Present tense | Imperative |
1st singular | 3rd plural | 2nd singular | 2nd plural |
говор-Ю | говор-Ят | говор-И | говор-Ите |
спрош-У | спрОс-ят | спрос-И | спрос-Ите |
- If the stem ends in a consonant and the accent is on the stem of
the first person singular form, you add the ending -ь for the
singular form and -ьте for the plural:
Present tense | Imperative |
1st singular | 3rd plural | 2nd singular | 2nd plural |
готОв-лю | готОв-ят | готОв-ь | готОв-ьте |
отвЕч-у | отвЕт-ят | отвЕт-ь | отвЕт-ьте |
- If the stem ends in a consonant cluster we use the endings -и, -ите
(unaccented), instead of the expected -ь, -ьте :
Present tense | Imperative |
1st singular | 3rd plural | 2nd singular | 2nd plural |
пОмн-ю | пОмн-ят | пОмн-и | пОмн-ите |
- The imperative of some verbs is irregular, and you simply have to
memorize it:
Present tense | Imperative |
1st singular | 3rd plural | 2nd singular | 2nd plural |
поед-у | поед-ут | поезжа-й | поезжа-йте |
- To form the imperative of reflexive verbs you follow the same
rules. Add the reflexive particle after you have formed the
imperative:
Present tense | Imperative |
1st singular | 3rd plural | 2nd singular | 2nd plural |
купа-юсь | купа-ются | купа-йся> | купа-йтесь |
The imperative and aspect
- You would normally use the perfective form of a verb if your
'command' stresses the completion of the action, and the
imperfective form if the command stresses the actual activity:
Приготовьте обед в 2 часа! Have supper ready by 2!
Emphasis on having supper cooked by 2.
Готовьте обед! Cook supper!
Emphasis on what needs to be done.
- If you command someone not to do something, you would normally use
the imperfective aspect:
Не читайте эту газету! Don't read this newspaper!
Не говорите мне об этом! Don't talk to me about it!
Не приходите к нам! Don't come to our place!
- Russian does not have a third person imperative. Instead, Russian
uses the word пусть (let) and the verb in the present or
perfective future tense.
Пусть Олег проготовить обед. Let Oleg cook lunch!
Пусть Нина напишет письмо. Let Nina write a letter!
- Russian also has a first person plural imperative construction,
which is equivalent to the English "let's". You would use it when
you want to suggest to someone that you do something together.
- If the verb is imperfective, you use the word давай (singular) or
давайте (plural) and the verb in the infinitive:
Давайте играть в шахматы. Let's play chess!
Давайте смотреть телевизор. Let's watch television!
- If the verb is perfective, you use the first person plural form of
the verb without a subject, with or without the word давай:
Пойдём в парк. Let's go to the park!
Давай поможем маме. Let's help mom!
Exercises: 0123