Imperative Mood in Basque

Overview

The imperative mood is used for commands, requests, instructions, and invitations. At the B1 level, you need to be able to give and understand commands in both formal and informal contexts. Basque has several ways to form imperatives, depending on the formality level and whether the verb is transitive or intransitive.

Some common verbs have synthetic imperative forms — single words that function as direct commands: zatoz (come!), zoaz (go!), ekarzu (bring it!). Most verbs, however, use the periphrastic imperative with special auxiliary forms: ezazu (do it! — formal), ezan (do it! — familiar). Prohibitions (negative commands) use ez plus subjunctive forms.

The imperative system reflects the Basque register system: commands to zu (formal you) use one set of forms, while commands to hi (familiar you) use another. Since zu is the default, focus on those forms first.

How It Works

Synthetic imperatives (common verbs):

Verb	Command (zu)	Command (zuek)	Meaning
etorri (come)	zatoz	zatozte	Come!
joan (go)	zoaz	zoazte	Go!
ekarri (bring)	ekarzu	ekarzue	Bring!
esan (say)	esazu	esazue	Say!
eman (give)	emazu	emazue	Give!

Periphrastic imperatives:

Type	Pattern	Example	Meaning
Transitive (zu)	verb + ezazu	Egin ezazu.	Do it.
Transitive (zuek)	verb + ezazue	Egin ezazue.	Do it (pl.).
Intransitive (zu)	verb + zaitez	Eseri zaitez.	Sit down.
Intransitive (zuek)	verb + zaitezte	Eseri zaitezte.	Sit down (pl.).

Prohibitions (negative commands):

Affirmative	Negative	Translation
Etorri! (Come!)	Ez etorri! / Ez zaitez etorri!	Don't come!
Egin ezazu! (Do it!)	Ez ezazu egin!	Don't do it!
Zoaz! (Go!)	Ez joan!	Don't go!

Examples in Context

Basque	English	Note
Etorri hona!	Come here!	Synthetic imperative
Egin ezazu mesedez.	Please do it.	Polite periphrastic
Ez joan oraindik!	Don't go yet!	Prohibition
Isilik egon zaitezte!	Be quiet! (plural)	Intransitive, plural
Esan iezaiozu!	Tell him/her!	With dative
Irakurri ezazu liburua.	Read the book.	Transitive command
Zatoz nirekin!	Come with me!	Synthetic + postposition
Mesedez, eser zaitez.	Please, sit down.	Polite intransitive
Ez kezkatu!	Don't worry!	Negative command
Kontuz ibili!	Be careful!	Idiomatic command

Common Mistakes

Using indicative forms for commands

• Wrong: Egiten duzu. (meaning "Do it!" — but this is a statement)
• Right: Egin ezazu. or Egizu.
• Why: Commands require imperative forms, not indicative. The imperative auxiliaries (ezazu, zaitez, etc.) are distinct from indicative ones (duzu, zara, etc.).

Using the wrong register

• Wrong: Egin itzak! (familiar hi form to a stranger)
• Right: Egin ezazu! (standard zu form)
• Why: The familiar imperative forms (used with hi) are only appropriate with very close friends. Default to zu forms.

Wrong negation in prohibitions

• Wrong: Ez egin ezazu!
• Right: Ez ezazu egin!
• Why: In negative imperatives, ez comes first, then the imperative auxiliary, then the main verb. The auxiliary moves between ez and the verb.

Usage Notes

In everyday Basque, imperatives are softened with mesedez (please) or by using conditional forms for polite requests: Egin zenezake? (Could you do it?) rather than Egin ezazu! (Do it!). Direct imperatives without softeners are reserved for urgent situations, close relationships, or general instructions (recipes, signs). The choice between synthetic and periphrastic forms often depends on the verb and regional preference. The synthetic forms (zatoz, zoaz) feel more natural and direct in spoken Basque.

Practice Tips

1. Memorize the synthetic imperatives for the five most common verbs: zatoz, zoaz, ekarzu, esazu, emazu. These come up constantly.
2. Practice giving instructions for daily tasks using the periphrastic imperative: Liburua ireki ezazu. Irakurri ezazu. Itxi ezazu. (Open the book. Read it. Close it.)
3. Practice the prohibition pattern with common commands: Ez joan! Ez egin! Ez esan!

Related Concepts

• Common Main Verbs