Introduction: Giving Instructions

The imperative mood is used when you want to tell someone to do something ë giving a command, an instruction, a request, or advice. In English, we often just use the base form of the verb (e.g., "Look!", "Wait!", "Be quiet!"). Dutch has a specific, simple way to form the imperative.

Forming the Imperative (Gebiedende Wijs)

The standard way to form the imperative, used for speaking to one person (jij) or informally to a group (jullie), is very straightforward:

Use the verb stem.

The verb stem is the form of the verb you use with ik in the present tense. It's essentially the infinitive minus the -en ending, with spelling adjustments if necessary (like doubling vowels or changing v to f / z to s).

Steps:

1. Take the infinitive (the dictionary form, usually ending in -en).
2. Remove the -en ending.
3. Make any necessary spelling adjustments to get the ik form.
4. This ik form is your imperative!

Examples:

Infinitive	Stem (ik form)	Imperative (Command)	Translation
komen	ik kom	Kom!	Come!
wachten	ik wacht	Wacht!	Wait!
kijken	ik kijk	Kijk!	Look!
luisteren	ik luister	Luister!	Listen!
maken	ik maak	Maak!	Make! / Do!
lezen	ik lees	Lees!	Read!
geven	ik geef	Geef!	Give!
zitten	ik zit	Zit!	Sit!
stoppen	ik stop	Stop!	Stop!

Important: Do not add a -t to the stem for the imperative, even though you would for the jij form in a regular statement.

• Statement: Jij wacht. (You wait.)
• Command: Wacht! (Wait!)

Using the Imperative in Sentences

You often use the imperative on its own, but you can add objects or other information after it.

• Kom hier! (Come here!)
• Wacht op mij! (Wait for me!)
• Kijk naar de foto! (Look at the photo!)
• Luister goed! (Listen well! / Listen carefully!)
• Maak je huiswerk! (Do your homework!)
• Lees de tekst! (Read the text!)
• Geef mij het boek! (Give me the book!)

Polite / Formal Imperative (u form)

When addressing someone formally (u), you can use the infinitive form as a command, which sounds more polite. Sometimes u is added after the verb stem + t.

• Komt u binnen! (Come inside! - formal)
• Gaat u zitten! (Sit down! - formal)
• Using the simple stem (Kom!, Zit!) is often acceptable even in formal situations if the context is clear, but using the -t u form or the infinitive is more explicitly polite.

A1 Focus: For A1 level, mastering the standard imperative (verb stem) is the main priority.

Negative Commands

To tell someone not to do something, you typically add niet after the imperative verb, or use a phrase like Niet doen! (Don't do it!).

• Wacht niet! (Don't wait!)
• Kijk niet! (Don't look!)
• Niet roken! (No smoking! / Don't smoke!) - Here niet comes first for emphasis.

Giving basic commands in Dutch is simple: just use the verb stem (the ik form). Remember not to add a subject pronoun (jij, jullie). Use it to give instructions, make requests, and tell people what to do (or not to do using niet).