Imperative Mood in Norwegian

Overview

The Imperative Mood (Imperativ) is a B1-level grammar concept in Norwegian used for commands, instructions, requests, and invitations. Norwegian forms the imperative by using the verb stem -- typically the infinitive minus the final -e. This makes it one of the most straightforward verb forms to construct.

At the B1 level, you need to understand not only how to form the imperative but also how to soften it for polite communication. Direct imperatives are perfectly natural in Norwegian for instructions, recipes, and signs, but in personal interaction, Norwegians frequently prefer softened alternatives using modal verbs (kan du, kunne du) or polite expressions (vær så snill).

The imperative plays a key role in everyday life -- from reading recipes and instruction manuals to understanding public signs and giving directions. Mastering both the direct and polite forms is essential for appropriate communication in Norwegian.

How It Works

Formation

The imperative is formed by removing the final -e from the infinitive:

Infinitive	Imperative	English
å snakke	snakk!	speak!
å lese	les!	read!
å skrive	skriv!	write!
å komme	kom!	come!
å vente	vent!	wait!
å sitte	sitt!	sit!

For verbs whose stem ends in a consonant cluster that is hard to pronounce, the -e may be retained: åpne! (open!).

For monosyllabic verbs without -e, the infinitive and imperative are identical:

Infinitive	Imperative	English
å gå	gå!	go!
å stå	stå!	stand!
å se	se!	look!
å bo	bo!	live!

Polite alternatives

Strategy	Example	English
Vær så snill og + imperative	Vær så snill og vent.	Please wait.
Kan du + infinitive	Kan du lukke døra?	Can you close the door?
Kunne du + infinitive	Kunne du hjelpe meg?	Could you help me?
Vennligst + imperative	Vennligst ta av skoene.	Kindly take off your shoes.

Negative imperative

Use ikke before the imperative verb:

Norwegian	English
Ikke gå!	Don't go!
Ikke snakk så høyt!	Don't speak so loudly!
Ikke glem nøklene!	Don't forget the keys!

Special imperatives

The verb å være (to be) has the imperative vær:

• Vær forsiktig! -- Be careful!
• Vær så snill! -- Be so kind! (Please!)

Examples in Context

Norwegian	English	Note
Snakk saktere!	Speak more slowly!	Direct command
Les denne boka!	Read this book!	Recommendation
Kom hit!	Come here!	Direct summons
Vær så snill og vent.	Please wait.	Polite imperative
Ikke rør!	Don't touch!	Negative command
Sitt ned og slapp av.	Sit down and relax.	Two imperatives chained
Ta med paraply!	Bring an umbrella!	Practical advice
Hjelp meg!	Help me!	Urgent request
Lukk døra etter deg.	Close the door behind you.	Instruction
Se på dette!	Look at this!	Drawing attention
Kan du gi meg saltet?	Can you pass me the salt?	Polite alternative
Hold kjeft!	Shut up!	Rude/strong command
Prøv igjen.	Try again.	Encouragement
Vennligst ta av skoene.	Please take off your shoes.	Formal politeness

Common Mistakes

Adding -e to the imperative

• Wrong: Snakke saktere!
• Right: Snakk saktere!
• Why: The imperative drops the -e ending. Keeping it produces the infinitive form, not a command.

Using du with the imperative

• Wrong: Du kom hit!
• Right: Kom hit!
• Why: Norwegian imperatives do not include the subject pronoun. Adding du sounds aggressive or accusatory rather than simply commanding.

Forgetting ikke placement in negative commands

• Wrong: Gå ikke!
• Right: Ikke gå!
• Why: In negative imperatives, ikke comes before the verb. This is different from declarative sentences where ikke follows the verb.

Being too direct in polite contexts

• Wrong: Gi meg saltet! (at a dinner table)
• Right: Kan du gi meg saltet?
• Why: While grammatically correct, bare imperatives can sound rude in social situations. Norwegian culture favors softened requests with kan du or vær så snill.

Usage Notes

The bare imperative is standard and natural on public signs (Stopp!, Trekk, Skyv), in recipes (Kok i 10 minutter), instruction manuals, and between close friends or family. In professional and social settings, however, Norwegians strongly prefer softened forms.

The expression vær så snill (literally "be so kind") is the most common equivalent of "please" when combined with an imperative. In formal written contexts, vennligst serves the same function.

There is no difference in the imperative between Bokmål and Nynorsk in terms of formation, though individual verb forms may differ.

Practice Tips

• Read Norwegian recipes. Recipes are full of imperatives: Kok, Rør, Tilsett, La stå. This gives you natural exposure to the form in a practical context.
• Practice polite transformations. Take direct imperatives and convert them to polite requests: Lukk vinduet! becomes Kan du lukke vinduet? or Vær så snill og lukk vinduet. This builds your range of register.
• Role-play giving directions. Practice giving walking directions using imperatives: Gå rett fram, ta til venstre, kryss gata, stopp ved kirka. This combines imperatives with spatial vocabulary.

Related Concepts

• Present Tense - Parent concept