Imperative Mood in Russian

The imperative mood is used to give orders, make requests, or offer suggestions. It is one of the most commonly used moods in conversation, as it allows speakers to express commands, advice, or even polite requests. In Russian, the imperative mood is formed by modifying the verb and is often context-dependent in terms of politeness, formality, and number.
In this article, we will explore the formation and use of the imperative mood in Russian, including different forms for singular and plural, polite requests, and nuances in usage.
1. What Is the Imperative Mood?
The imperative mood is used to express a command, request, suggestion, or advice. It directs the listener to perform (or not perform) an action. The imperative can be used in a variety of contexts, including giving instructions, making requests, or even offering invitations.
For example:
- Закрой дверь! (Close the door!)
- Помоги мне! (Help me!)
- Иди сюда. (Come here.)
2. Forms of the Imperative Mood
In Russian, the imperative mood has different forms depending on the number (singular or plural) and the level of politeness (informal or formal).
2.1. Singular Imperative (Informal)
When speaking to someone informally (such as a friend, family member, or someone of the same age), the singular imperative is used.
Examples:
- Говори! (Speak!)
- Слушай! (Listen!)
- Жди! (Wait!)
2.2. Plural Imperative (Informal)
When speaking to a group of people informally, the plural form of the imperative mood is used.
Examples:
- Говорите! (Speak!)
- Слушайте! (Listen!)
- Ждите! (Wait!)
2.3. Singular Imperative (Formal)
When speaking to someone formally or showing respect (for example, to a stranger, a superior, or an elder), a more polite form of the singular imperative is used. This is created by adding the -те suffix to the verb.
Examples:
- Пожалуйста, скажите! (Please, say it! – formal)
- Откройте окно, пожалуйста. (Please, open the window – formal)
2.4. Plural Imperative (Polite)
Similarly, when speaking to more than one person formally, the polite plural imperative form is used.
Examples:
- Пожалуйста, скажите! (Please, say it! – formal, plural)
- Зайдите, пожалуйста. (Please, come in – formal, plural)
3. How to Form the Imperative Mood
The formation of the imperative mood in Russian depends on the verb type. There are different rules for regular verbs, verbs that are irregular, and verbs with prefixes.
3.1. Regular Verbs (Imperfective and Perfective)
For regular, imperfective verbs (describing ongoing or repeated actions), the imperative is typically formed by removing the infinitive ending -ть and adding the appropriate ending for the number and politeness.
- For singular informal: add -и or -ь.
- For plural informal: add -ите.
Examples:
- Говорить (to speak) → Говори! (Speak!)
- Слушать (to listen) → Слушай! (Listen!)
- Читать (to read) → Читай! (Read!)
- Работать (to work) → Работай! (Work!)
For plural informal, add -ите:
- Говорить (to speak) → Говорите! (Speak!)
- Слушать (to listen) → Слушайте! (Listen!)
- Читать (to read) → Читайте! (Read!)
- Работать (to work) → Работайте! (Work!)
For polite singular or plural forms, add -те:
- Говорите! (Please speak!)
- Читайте! (Please read!)
- Работайте! (Please work!)
3.2. Irregular Verbs
Some verbs are irregular in the imperative mood and do not follow the regular conjugation patterns. For these verbs, the imperative form must be memorized.
Examples of Irregular Verbs:
- Быть (to be) → Будь (Be!)
- Идти (to go) → Иди (Go!) (informal singular), Идите (Go! – formal or plural)
- Дать (to give) → Дай (Give! – informal singular), Дайте (Give! – formal/plural)
3.3. Verbs with Prefixes
When a verb has a prefix, the imperative form may slightly change depending on the verb’s meaning. Some verbs can change from imperfective to perfective, altering the way commands are given.
Examples:
- Вставать (to get up – imperfective) → Встань (Get up! – singular)
- Писать (to write – imperfective) → Напиши (Write! – singular)
- Чистить (to clean – imperfective) → Почисти (Clean! – singular)
4. Negative Imperative
In Russian, to make a negative command, we use the particle не before the verb in the imperative mood.
Examples:
- Не говори! (Don’t speak!)
- Не читай! (Don’t read!)
- Не слушай! (Don’t listen!)
In the polite/formal imperative, the particle не still precedes the verb:
- Не говорите! (Don’t speak! – formal/plural)
- Не читайте! (Don’t read! – formal/plural)
5. Polite Requests in the Imperative Mood
While the imperative mood can seem direct or abrupt, Russian has polite expressions and structures to soften commands. These include using пожалуйста (please) and the -те suffix for formal requests.
Examples:
- Пожалуйста, скажите! (Please, say it!)
- Пожалуйста, откройте окно. (Please, open the window.)
- Помоги, пожалуйста! (Please help!)
Additionally, using an expression like можно (can I) or позвольте (allow me) can make a request sound even more polite.
Examples:
- Можно мне выйти? (May I go out?)
- Позвольте мне задать вопрос. (Allow me to ask a question.)
6. Impersonal Imperative
The impersonal imperative is used to give commands or suggestions that do not specify a particular subject. This construction is common in instructions, warnings, or general advice.
Examples:
- Не курить! (No smoking!)
- Не забывать про встречу! (Don’t forget about the meeting!)
- Не беспокоить! (Do not disturb!)
7. Conclusion
The imperative mood in Russian is used for giving orders, making requests, offering suggestions, and expressing advice. The form of the imperative depends on the number of people you are addressing (singular or plural) and the level of politeness (informal or formal). By mastering the imperative mood, you can effectively communicate commands and requests in Russian.