imperative: d/t

The German Imperative: Mandatory -e Endings

In German, the imperative is used to give commands, requests, or advice. While the informal singular (the du-form) often drops the final -e in modern speech, there are specific verbs where adding the -e is mandatory for phonetic reasons and clarity.

1. When is the -e mandatory?

You must add an -e to the imperative stem if the verb stem ends in the following consonants:

• -d or -t (e.g., warten, antworten)
• -ig (e.g., entschuldigen)
• A consonant combination ending in -m or -n that is difficult to pronounce (e.g., atmen, zeichnen). Note: This does not apply to -rn, -ln, -mm, or -nn (e.g., lernen -> lern!).

2. How to form it

To form the singular informal imperative, take the infinitive, remove the -en ending, and add -e.

3. Examples

Verbs ending in -d / -t:

• Warten (to wait) -> Warte! (Wait!)
• Arbeiten (to work) -> Arbeite! (Work!)
• Finden (to find) -> Finde! (Find!)

Verbs ending in -ig:

• Entschuldigen (to excuse/apologize) -> Entschuldige! (Excuse me!)

Verbs ending in complex -m / -n:

• Atmen (to breathe) -> Atme! (Breathe!)
• Öffnen (to open) -> Öffne! (Open!)
• Zeichnen (to draw) -> Zeichne! (Draw!)

Grammar Tip: Verbs that undergo a vowel change from e to i/ie in the present tense (like geben -> gib) never take an -e ending, even if they end in these consonants.