Imperative in Dutch

Overview

The imperative (de gebiedende wijs) is how you give commands, instructions, and make requests in Dutch. Whether you are telling someone to sit down, asking a friend to call you, or reading a recipe, you are encountering the imperative mood.

Dutch imperative formation is refreshingly simple: for informal commands, you use the verb stem. For formal commands with u, you add -t. However, separable verbs, the laten we construction for "let's," and the use of the infinitive for written instructions add layers that you need to master at the B1 level.

Understanding the imperative also helps you navigate everyday Dutch life -- signs, manuals, recipes, and directions all rely heavily on this form.

How It Works

Basic Formation

Type	Rule	Example
Informal (jij)	Verb stem	Kom! (Come!)
Formal (u)	Stem + -t	Komt u! or Gaat u zitten.
Infinitive (general)	Full infinitive	Niet roken. (No smoking.)
"Let's" (wij)	Laten we + infinitive	Laten we gaan. (Let's go.)

The verb stem is the infinitive minus -en (with spelling adjustments): komen becomes kom, wachten becomes wacht, lezen becomes lees.

Separable Verbs

With separable verbs, the prefix moves to the end of the sentence:

• opbellen → Bel me morgen op! (Call me tomorrow!)
• meenemen → Neem je paraplu mee! (Take your umbrella!)
• aandoen → Doe je jas aan! (Put your coat on!)

Formal Imperative with U

The formal imperative places u after the verb and typically adds -t:

• Gaat u zitten. (Please sit down.)
• Neemt u plaats. (Please take a seat.)
• Komt u binnen. (Please come in.)

Note the period rather than exclamation mark -- formal imperatives are often delivered as polite statements.

Infinitive as Imperative

For general instructions (signs, recipes, manuals), the infinitive is used:

• Niet roken. (No smoking.)
• De eieren goed kloppen. (Beat the eggs well.)
• Rechts aanhouden. (Keep right.)

Softening the Imperative

Dutch speakers often soften commands with particles:

Particle	Effect	Example
maar	reassuring	Kom maar binnen. (Just come in.)
even	casual	Wacht even. (Wait a moment.)
eens	friendly	Kijk eens. (Have a look.)
alsjeblieft/alstublieft	polite	Ga alsjeblieft zitten. (Please sit down.)

Examples in Context

Dutch	English	Note
Kom hier!	Come here!	Basic informal
Gaat u zitten.	Please sit down.	Formal
Bel me morgen op.	Call me tomorrow.	Separable verb
Laten we gaan.	Let's go.	First person plural
Niet rennen!	Don't run!	Infinitive prohibition
Wees voorzichtig.	Be careful.	Irregular: zijn → wees
Doe de deur dicht.	Close the door.	Separable verb
Luister goed.	Listen carefully.	Basic informal
Neem nog een koekje.	Have another cookie.	Offering
Vergeet het niet!	Don't forget it!	Negative imperative
Kijk eens wat ik heb.	Look what I have.	Softened with eens
Laat me met rust.	Leave me alone.	Strong command

Common Mistakes

Adding -t in informal imperative

• Wrong: Komt hier! (to a friend)
• Right: Kom hier!
• Why: The informal imperative uses the bare stem without any ending. The -t is only for the formal u form.

Forgetting to separate the prefix

• Wrong: Opbel me morgen!
• Right: Bel me morgen op!
• Why: In main clauses (including imperatives), separable prefixes always go to the end.

Using gaan instead of laten for "let's"

• Wrong: Gaan we eten. (as a suggestion)
• Right: Laten we gaan eten.
• Why: "Let's" is expressed with laten we + infinitive. Gaan we eten? is a question ("Are we going to eat?"), not a suggestion.

Missing irregular imperative of zijn

• Wrong: Zijn stil! or Ben stil!
• Right: Wees stil!
• Why: The imperative of zijn (to be) is the irregular form wees.

Usage Notes

Dutch imperatives can range from very direct to quite soft depending on the particles and tone you use. Adding maar, even, or eens immediately makes a command feel friendlier. In the Netherlands, direct imperatives are common and not considered rude in casual settings. In Flanders, speakers tend to use more softening strategies and may prefer constructions with eens or the conditional (Zou je even...?) over bare imperatives.

The infinitive imperative is standard in written instructions and public signs across both the Netherlands and Belgium.

Practice Tips

• Go through a Dutch recipe and identify all the imperative forms. Then rewrite them as formal imperatives with u and as laten we suggestions.
• Practice giving directions to an imaginary friend using separable verbs: Sla linksaf, steek de straat over, loop rechtdoor.
• Record yourself giving five household instructions (Doe het licht aan, zet de tv uit, ruim je kamer op) to build muscle memory with separable verb imperatives.

Related Concepts

• Prerequisite: Regular Verbs Present -- you need to know how to find the verb stem before you can form imperatives