Verbs: Imperative Mood — Russian Grammar

The imperative is the form used to give commands, make requests and offer invitations. Russian has one form for a person you address as (ty) and one, ending in -те, for (vy): several people, or one person addressed politely.

Forming the Imperative

The imperative is built on the present (or perfective future) stem, which is easiest to see in the (oní) form with its ending removed.

If the stem ends in a vowel, add -й: (chitáyutčitájut) - (chitáyčitáj)
If it ends in a consonant and the "I" form is stressed on the ending, add -и: (govoryúgovorjú) - (govorí), (kúpyatkúpjat) - (kupí)
If it ends in one consonant and the stress is on the stem, add -ь: (búdut) - (bud'budʹ)

Add -те for the (vy) form: (chitáytečitájte), (govoríte), (kupíte).

Смотри́, э́то мой но́вый дом.
Smotrí, éto moy nóvyy dom.Smotrí, éto moj nóvyj dom.
Look, this is my new house.
Купи́те сейча́с!
Kupíte seychás!Kupíte sejčás!
Buy now!
Пожа́луйста, входи́те.
Pozháluysta, vkhodíte.Požálujsta, vxodíte.
Please come in.

Reflexive Imperatives

The reflexive ending is attached last: -ся after a consonant or й, -сь after a vowel.

Не волну́йся.
Ne volnúysya.Ne volnújsja.
Don't worry.
Пожа́луйста, сади́тесь.
Pozháluysta, sadítes'.Požálujsta, sadítesʹ.
Please sit down.
Наслажда́йся о́тпуском.
Naslazhdáysya ótpuskom.Naslaždájsja ótpuskom.
Enjoy your vacation.

Aspect in Commands

A perfective imperative asks for one specific action with a result. An imperfective imperative is used for invitations, for telling someone to go ahead with something already expected, and for repeated or ongoing actions.

Принеси́ мне ещё ча́шку ча́я.
Prinesí mne yeshchó cháshku cháya.Prinesí mne ješčó čášku čája.
Bring me another cup of tea.
Продолжа́й идти́.
Prodolzháy idtí.Prodolžáj idtí.
Keep walking.
Покупа́й его́!
Pokupáy yegó!Pokupáj jegó!
Go ahead and buy it!

Prohibitions

A negative command almost always uses the imperfective: (ne) + imperfective imperative. A negated perfective imperative sounds like a warning against doing something by accident.

Не ешь э́то!
Ne yesh' éto!Ne ješʹ éto!
Don't eat that!
Не пей э́то!
Ne pey éto!Ne pej éto!
Don't drink that!
Не забу́дь сыр.
Ne zabúd' syr.Ne zabúdʹ syr.
Don't forget the cheese.

The last sentence is such a warning: forgetting is not done on purpose.

Softening a Request

(PozháluystaPožálujsta) makes any imperative polite. With people you address as (vy), a question with (mózhetemóžete) is often more natural than a bare command.

Пожа́луйста, принеси́те ещё буты́лку ви́на.
Pozháluysta, prinesíte yeshchó butýlku vína.Požálujsta, prinesíte ješčó butýlku vína.
Please bring another bottle of wine.
Мо́жете повтори́ть э́то?
Mózhete povtorít' éto?Móžete povtorítʹ éto?
Can you repeat that?

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Russian course

40 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 23. A few of them, with the words “Verbs: Imperative Mood” is about in bold:

Идите и посмотрите на кухню. Она такая маленькая.
Idíte i posmotríte na kúkhnyu. Oná takáya málen'kaya.Idíte i posmotríte na kúxnju. Oná takája málenʹkaja.
Go and check out (pl.) the kitchen. It is so small.
Lesson 322
Не ешь это! Это свинина!
Ne yesh' éto! Éto svinína!Ne ješʹ éto! Éto svinína!
Don't eat that! That's pork!
Lesson 366
Не забудь сыр для нашего пикника.
Ne zabúd' syr dlya náshego pikniká.Ne zabúdʹ syr dlja nášego pikniká.
Don't forget the cheese for our picnic.
Lesson 477

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