Genau
Topic test · A1

The imperative · Imperativ test

13questions
8minutes
60%pass mark
Start the test Read the topic first

One question at a time, the clock runs. Answers stay closed like a real exam: you see every correct answer with its explanation at the end. Score 60% to finish the topic.

Topic test

13 questions, easy to hard

Pick an option and press «Next». You can go back and change it. Anything left blank counts as wrong.

For du: “Wait!” →

Warte! The stem ends in -t, so the final -e is required.

For du: “Read the text!” (lesen) →

Lies! The e → ie change carries into the command, and no -e is added.

For Sie: “Please be quiet.” →

Seien Sie. The command forms of sein are irregular: sei · seid · seien Sie.

For du: “Open the window!” (aufmachen) →

Mach … auf! With a separable verb, the prefix goes to the end of the sentence.

For du: “Drive slowly!” (fahren) →

Fahr! The umlaut (a → ä) does not carry into the imperative.

To a group of friends: “Come!” →

Kommt! Informal address to several people is the ihr form.

For du: “Eat!” (essen) →

Verbs with e→i keep the changed stem in commands and take no ending: Iss! · Lies! · Nimm!

Where does “bitte” go in a command? — Please close the door.

bitte softens the command and usually stands right after the verb or at the start — once is enough.

For ihr: “Wait!” →

The ihr command is identical to the present-tense conjugation, minus the pronoun: Wartet! · Kommt!

What is the Sie command of sein? (“be quiet”)

sein takes a special form in commands: Seien Sie …! — the language of reception desks and warning signs.

The sentence “Gebe mir das Buch!” is correct.

False. The verb geben keeps its e→i change in the imperative, so the correct form is Gib mir das Buch!

Sie bitte Platz!

Please take a seat. (nehmen)

Nehmen. In the formal (Sie) command the verb stands first, in its infinitive form.

Build the sentence: Please open the window! (aufmachen)

Tap the pieces to build the sentence

With the command at the front, the prefix of the separable verb goes to the very end of the sentence.
Quick rules

The rules in three lines

The full topic lives on its own page. This is only the core you need for the test.

  1. du command: stem, no ending

    Warte! · Komm! · Fahr! — the pronoun drops, and most verbs are left as a bare stem.

    Warte!

  2. The e→i change STAYS in commands, a→ä does NOT

    Lies! · Iss! · Nimm! but Fahr! · Schlaf!

    Lies den Text!

  3. The ihr and Sie commands

    ihr: same conjugation, pronoun dropped — Kommt! · Sie: verb + Sie — Kommen Sie! (sein → Seien Sie!)

    Kommt! · Kommen Sie!

  4. The separated part goes to the end

    aufmachen → Mach … auf! · mitkommen → Komm mit!

    Mach das Fenster auf!

Traps

Commonly mixed up

Where a direct translation breaks. The hard questions come from here.

  • Liest den Text!

    Lies den Text!

    The du command takes no -st; the changed stem stays.

  • Fähr langsam!

    Fahr langsam!

    The a→ä change does not carry into the command.

  • Sein Sie leise!

    Seien Sie leise!

    The Sie command of sein is a special form.

  • Aufmach das Fenster!

    Mach das Fenster auf!

    The separable prefix goes to the end in commands, too.