IMPERATIVES

for the elementary level

The imperative mood is used to give commands. Whenever you use “ты” (such as with a friend or family member), you should replace the verb ending with -й / -и. And whenever you use “вы” (such as with a group of people or a stranger), you should replace the verb ending with -йте / -ите. Some imperatives end with -ь or -ьте. There is a rule for that. But it is quite complicated. At this stage we suggest just memorizing the most often used imperatives.

Translation

Infinitive

Imperative

• извинить

• сказать

• читать

• писать

• слушать

• идти

• повернуть 

• помочь

• подождать

• взять 

• смотреть

• повторить 

извини(те)

скажи(те)

читай(те) 

пиши(те) 

слушай(те)

иди(те) 

поверни(те) 

помоги(те)

подожди(те) 

возьми(те)

смотри(те)

повтори(те)

forgive me 

tell me

read

write

listen

go

turn

help

wait

take

look

repeat