The imperative
1. Use
In English: "Run!", "Jump!", "Wash the dishes!", "Do the laundry!"
2. Formation
2.1. The singular imperative
To form the imperative, you take the first person singular without the n.When there's a direct object in the sentence, it should be put in the nominative, because it's an imperative sentence.
| Verb | Minä | Imperative | Translation |
| lukea | minä luen | Lue kirja! | Read a/the book! |
| tehdä | minä teen | Tee kahvia! | Make coffee! |
| olla | minä olen | Ole hiljaa! | Be quiet! |
| kuunnella | minä kuuntelen | Kuuntele! | Listen! |
| tavata | minä tapaan | Tapaa ystävä! | Meet a friend! |
| valita | minä valitsen | Valitse! | Choose! |
| rohjeta | minä rohkenen | Rohkene! | Become braver!! |
2.2. The singular negative imperative
To form the negative imperative, you use Älä + the first person singular without the n. When there's a direct object in the sentence, it should be put in the partitive, because it's a negative sentence.
| Verb | Minä | Negative imperative | Translation |
| lukea | minä luen | Älä lue nyt! | Don't read now! |
| tehdä | minä teen | Älä tee sitä! | Don't do it! |
| olla | minä olen | Älä ole vihainen! | Don't be angry! |
| kuunnella | minä kuuntelen | Älä kuuntele! | Don't listen! |
| tavata | minä tapaan | Älä tapaa häntä! | Don't meet him! |
| valita | minä valitsen | Älä valitse! | Don't choose! |
| rohjeta | minä rohkenen | Älä rohkene! | Don't become braver!! |
2.3. The plural imperative
To form the plural imperative, you take the infinitive's stem of the main verb + -kaa/-kää. Verb type 4 is slightly different, as it holds on to the t from the inifinitive as well. When there's a direct object in the sentence, it should be put in the nominative, because it's an imperative sentence.
| Verb | Stem | Plural imperative | To more than 1 person! |
| nukkua | nukku- | Nukkukaa! | Sleep! |
| syödä | syö- | Syökää! | Eat! |
| ajatella | ajatel- | Ajatelkaa! | Think! |
| tavata | tavat- | Tavatkaa hän! | Meet him! |
| valita | valit- | Valitkaa! | Choose! |
| rohjeta | rohjet- | Rohjetkaa! | Become braver! |
2.4. The negative plural imperative
To form the plural negative imperative, you use Älkää + the infinitive's stem of the verb + -ko/-kö. Verb type 4 is slightly different, as it holds on to the t from the infinitive as well.When there's a direct object in the sentence, it should be put in the partitive, because it's a negative sentence.
| Verb | Stem | Plural neg. imperative | To more than 1 person! |
| nukkua | nukku- | Älkää nukkuko! | Don't sleep! |
| syödä | syö- | Älkää syökö! | Don't eat! |
| ajatella | ajatel- | Älkää ajatelko! | Don't think! |
| tavata | tavat- | Älkää tavatko häntä! | Don't meet him! |
| valita | valit- | Älkää valitko! | Don't choose! |
| rohjeta | rohjet- | Älkää rohjetko! | Don't become braver! |
3. To soften a command
To soften a sentence in the imperative, Finns often add -s. The ending has no real meaning, it just give the sentence a different nuance, more polite.
| Example: |
| Odotas että minä saan rahat kukkarosta! |
| = (Please) wait while I get the money out of my purse. |
| Example: |
| Katsos kun teidät pitää ensin esitellä toisillenne. |
| (Please) see, that you must first be introduced to each other. |
| Related grammar |
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The verb types :
Negation :
The direct object : The partitive |