The imperative is the form of the verb used when you are asking/telling someone to do something. As such, it is often referred to as the command form. In English, we often add a "please" to the command form to turn it into a request. In Russian, the presence or absence of пожа́луйста does not determine the difference between a command and a request. That function is performed by something called aspect (imperfective and perfective verbs). More about this later.
Here are the most basic rules for forming the imperative:
Start with the они́ form of the verb. Completely remove that ending:
|
принесу́т |
принес- |
|
пока́жут |
покаж- |
|
ска́жут |
скаж- |
|
пла́тят |
плат- |
|
иду́т |
ид- |
|
поздра́вят |
поздрав- |
|
рабо́тают |
работа- |
|
чита́ют |
чита- |
and add -и or -ь (if what is left ends in a consonant):
принеси́те
покажи́те
скажи́те
плати́те
иди́те
бу́дьте
поздра́вьте
or add -й (if what is left ends in a vowel):
работай́те
читай́те
Of course, you will find exceptions to this rule, so your best bet will be to simply memorize those imperative forms which you will hear or use most often.
As Russian makes a distinction between the informal ты and the formal/plural вы, you will need to make that distinction with the imperative forms. The forms shown above are for вы. То make the ты forms, simply drop the ending -те:
принеси́
покажи́
скажи́
будь
рабо́тай, etc.
A command/request NOT to do something is made by simply adding не in front of the imperative. Negative commands are usually formed using imperfective verbs. The imperatives рабо́тай and чита́й are examples of these.
He рабо́тай (-те)
He чита́й (-те)
Go back through Lessons 1-6 and find imperative forms. Take note of when and how they are used; explain what they mean. With your instructor's help try to use them yourself.