Imperative Mood: Commands, Advice, Invitations

When do we use it?

We use the verb in the imperative form when we want to give an order or make a request. In English, the "you" form of the verb is used without the pronoun "you". For example, "Listen to me! Don't smoke!"

How to form the imperative?

Singular Form "You" = ты (informal, singular)

In Russian, the second person imperative is formed from the third person plural present tense stem. Both imperfective and perfective verbs form imperatives.

• If the present tense stem of the verb ends in a vowel, the Imperative is formed by adding -й to the stem:

  Infinitive: Imperfective, Perfective	3 person plural stem	Imperative (imperfective)	Imperative (perfective)	Translation
  Читать, прочитать	Чита, прочита	Читай!	Прочитай!	Read!
  Слушать, послушать	Слуша, послуша	Слушай!	Послушай	Listen!
  Думать, подумать	Дума, подума	Думай!	Подумай!	Think!
  Играть, поиграть	Игра, поигра	Играй!	Поиграй!	Play!
  Работать, поработать	Работа, поработа	Работай!	Поработай!	Work!
  Гулять, погулять	Гуля, погуля	Гуляй!	Погуляй!	Go for a walk!
  Делать, сделать	Дела, сдела	Делай!	Сделай!	Do! Make!
  Болеть, заболеть	Боле, заболе	Болей!	Заболей!	Get sick!
  Петь, спеть	По, спо	Пой!	Спой!	Sing!

• If the present tense stem of the verb ends in a consonant and the stress falls on the ending when the verb is conjugated, the Imperative is formed by adding -и to the stem:

  Infinitive: Imperfective, Perfective	3 person plural stem	Imperative (imperfective)	Imperative (perfective)	Translation
  Смотреть, посмотреть	Смотр, посмотр	Смотри!	Посмотри!	Look!
  Говорить, сказать	Говор, скаж	Говори!	Скажи!	Tell!
  Любить, полюбить	Люб, полюб	Люби!	Полюби!	Love!
  Дарить, подарить	Дар, подар	Дари!	Подари!	Give (a present)!
  Курить, закурить	Кур, закур	Кури!	Закури!	Smoke!
  Писать, написать	Пиш, напиш	Пиши!	Напиши!	Write!

• If the present tense stem of the verb ends in a consonant, and the stress falls on the stem when the verb is conjugated, the imperative is formed by adding –ь to the stem:

  Infinitive: Imperfective, Perfective	3 person plural stem	Imperative (imperfective)	Imperative (perfective)	Translation
  Резать, порезать	Реж, пореж	Режь!	Порежь!	Cut!
  Готовить, приготовить	Готов, приготов	Готовь!	Приготовь!	Cook! Organize!
  Плавить, расплавить	Плав, расплав	Плавь!	Расплавь!	Melt!
  Сыпать, насыпать	Сып, насып	Сыпь!	Насыпь!	Pour!
  Сесть, присесть	Сяд, присяд	Сядь!	Присядь!	Sit down!
  Ставить, поставить	Став, постав	Ставь!	Поставь!	Put (something) down!

Plural Form "You" = вы (plural or formal)

In Russian, the plural imperative is formed by adding the ending -те to the singular form of imperfective or perfective imperative. The choice of the verb depends on the meaning. "Вы"" form of the imperative is the plural polite form that is used to address the individual with greater respect due to the age or social status, or used as a plural from when talking to more than one person.

Reflexive Verbs in the Imperative Mood: Verbs with the particle –ся

The imperative form of the reflexive verbs with the particle –ся, are formed in accordance with the general rule of the imperative formation. The reflexive particle is added to the imperative at the end of the imperative. Following the general rule of the reflexive verbs conjugation:

• -ся is added after a consonant and -ь
• -сь is added after a vowel

Plural Form "You" = вы (plural or formal) with Reflexive verbs

Exceptions: Remember

Negative Commands: Saying "Don’t do this!"

Imperfective imperatives are used for most negative commands.

Perfective Negative Imperatives convey the idea of a warning against doing something one wouldn’t want to do.

Не болейте! - Don’t get sick! (I advise you not to get sick / I wish you good health)

Не заболейте! - Don’t you get sick! (I suspect you will get sick, and I warn you not to do that)

Invitations: "Let us do it!" / "Let's do it!"

• Saying "Let us do it!"

  In English, invitations to do something together are expressed in the command statements, like Let us or Let’s + action verb. For example: Let’s watch a movie! Let’s do homework now.

  In Russian, Let us... or Let’s is expressed with Давай... when you invite one person to do something or Давайте... then you invite more than one person or being polite, using a formal way of address.

  For general and non specific invitations to do something on regular basis or often use the following formula:

  Давай(те) + Imperfective Imperative

  Invitation to do something regular	Translation
  Давай(те) говорить по-русски чаще!	Let’s speak Russian more often.
  Давай(те) смотреть русские фильмы вместе!	Let’s watch Russian movies together.

  The perfective future "мы" form is used after Давайте:

  Давай(те) + Perfective Future "мы" - from

  Invitation to do something together once	Translation
  Давай(те) поговорим об этом сейчас!	Let’s talk about it now!
  Давай(те) посмотрим этот фильм сегодня!	Let’s watch this film tonight.

  NB! Note that with specific invitations, the word Давай(те) can be omitted, without affecting the meaning. The intonation of yes or no question should be applied to those sentences.

  Invitation to do something together once	Translation
  Поговорим сейчас?	Let’s talk now! / Shall we talk now?
  Посмотрим этот фильм?	Let’s watch a movie! / Shall we watch a movie?

• Saying "Let’s go."

  Invitations with going can be expressed in the following way. Remember that going on foot or by vehicle, including public transport should be indicated by using the appropriate verb.

  Invitation to go on foot or via vehicle	Translation
  Давай(те) пойдем в парк.	Let’s go to the park (on foot).
  Давай(те) поедем на дачу.	Let’s go (by a vehicle) to datcha (country house).

• Saying "Come visit us."

  To invite someone over as a guest, use a set expression "в гости" that translates "for a visit". The noun гость (m.) means guest.

  Invitation to visit somebody	Translation
  Приходи(те) к нам в гости!	Come to our place for a visit!
  Приезжай(те) к нам в гости летом!	Come and visit us in summer!

• Adding "да" to the imperative expresses impatience:

  Command: Singular and Plural Forms	Translation
  Да уходи(те) же!	Go away (this minute)!
  Да говори(те), в чём дело!	Come on, say what's the matter!

• Adding -ка to the imperative perfective helps to express the immediate decisions:

  Command: Singular and Plural Forms	Translation
  Поставь(те)-ка это сюда.	How about putting it here?
  Пойдём(те)-ка на пляж.	Why don't we go to the beach?

Other common invitations, commands and requests: