GrammarImperative

Imperative

The imperative is used to give commands, instructions, requests, or advice.

In Russian, the imperative mainly exists in two forms:

• Singular informal → ты
• Plural / polite → вы

Basic usage

• Скажи́! (Say it! - to one person)
• Скажи́те! (Say it! - to several people or to one person formally)

The plural form (-те) is also used for formal speech when addressing one person.

How to form the imperative

The imperative is usually formed from the verb stem, often with:

• -й
• -и
• -ь (rarer, e.g. будь)

Then add -те for plural or polite forms.

Verbs with -й

• чита́ть → чита́й → чита́йте (read!)
• гуля́ть → гуля́й → гуля́йте (walk!)

Verbs with -и

• говори́ть → говори́ → говори́те (speak!)
• писа́ть → пиши́ → пиши́те (write!)

Irregular forms

Some very common imperatives are short or irregular:

• сказа́ть → скажи́ / скажи́те (say!)
• быть → будь → бу́дьте (be!)
• идти́ → иди́ → иди́те (go!)
• дать → дай → да́йте (give!)
• есть → ешь / е́шьте (eat!)
• пить → пей / пе́йте (drink!)

Reflexive verbs

Reflexive verbs keep -ся / -сь:

• учи́ться → учи́сь → учи́тесь (study!)
• сади́ться → сади́сь → сади́тесь (sit down!)

Negative imperative

To say “don’t do something”, use не + imperative:

• Не говори́! (Don’t speak!)
• Не чита́йте! (Don’t read!)

For stronger or more general prohibitions, Russian often uses не + infinitive:

• Не кури́ть! (No smoking!)
• Не входи́ть! (Do not enter!)

Aspect in the imperative

Aspect is very important in Russian imperatives:

• Imperfective → process, general instruction, repeated action
• Perfective → result, one-time action, completion

Examples:

• Пиши́! (Write! – focus on the process)

• Напиши́! (Write it! – focus on completing it)

• Чита́й! (Read! – in general)

• Прочита́й! (Read it through / finish reading)

Polite requests

Imperatives are often softened with polite words:

• Пожа́луйста, скажи́те... (Please tell me...)
• Скажи́те, пожа́луйста... (Tell me, please...)

Let’s / suggestions (дава́й / дава́йте)

To make suggestions (“let’s do something”), Russian often uses дава́й (informal) or дава́йте (plural / polite):

• Дава́й пойдём! (Let’s go!)
• Дава́йте начнём. (Let’s start.)

Alternatively, without imperative, you can use the "we" form:

• Пойдём в кино́. (Let's go to the cinema.)
• Начнём. (Let's start.)

Summary

• The imperative is used for commands, requests and instructions.
• There are two main forms: singular (ты) and plural/polite (вы).
• The plural/polite form is made by adding -те.
• Negation uses не.
• Aspect is important: imperfective = process, perfective = result.
• Reflexive verbs keep -ся / -сь.