Imperative Form
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The Imperative is the shortest form of a Swedish verb, used to give orders, instructions, or advice directly.
- For -ar verbs, the imperative is the same as the infinitive: 'tala' becomes 'tala!'.
- For -er verbs, remove the -a from the infinitive to get the stem: 'läsa' becomes 'läs!'.
- To make it negative, simply add 'inte' after the verb: 'Spring inte!' (Don't run!).
Meanings
The imperative mood is used to express commands, requests, suggestions, or instructions. In Swedish, it is often identical to the verb stem.
Direct Command
Giving a clear, direct order to someone to perform an action.
“Stanna!”
“Kom hit!”
Instructions/Recipes
Step-by-step guidance on how to complete a task or cook a dish.
“Koka vattnet.”
“Blanda mjölet och sockret.”
Advice or Suggestions
Offering helpful guidance or recommending a course of action.
“Ta det lugnt.”
“Vila lite.”
Invitations
Welcoming someone to do something or participate.
“Kom in!”
“Stig på!”
Warnings
Alerting someone to immediate danger or a necessary precaution.
“Se upp!”
“Akta dig!”
Swedish Imperative Formation by Group
| Group | Infinitive | Imperative | Rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Group 1 | tala (to speak) | Tala! | Same as infinitive |
| Group 1 | arbeta (to work) | Arbeta! | Same as infinitive |
| Group 2a | läsa (to read) | Läs! | Remove -a |
| Group 2b | köpa (to buy) | Köp! | Remove -a |
| Group 3 | gå (to go) | Gå! | Same as infinitive |
| Group 3 | bo (to live) | Bo! | Same as infinitive |
| Group 4 | skriva (to write) | Skriv! | Remove -a (stem) |
| Irregular | vara (to be) | Var! | Unique form |
| Irregular | göra (to do) | Gör! | Remove -a |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Verb! | Spring! |
| Negative | Verb + inte! | Spring inte! |
| Formal Negative | Verb + ej! | Rök ej! |
| With Particle | Verb + Particle! | Sitt ner! |
| With Object | Verb + Object! | Köp mjölk! |
| Polite (Added word) | Verb + snälla! | Hjälp mig snälla! |
| Reflexive | Verb + Pronoun! | Tvätta dig! |
| Irregular | Unique Stem! | Var snäll! |
طيف الرسمية
Vänligen iakttag tystnad. (Library vs. Argument)
Var tyst, snälla. (Library vs. Argument)
Håll tyst! (Library vs. Argument)
Käft! (Library vs. Argument)
Uses of the Imperative
Commands
- Stoppa! Stop!
Recipes
- Blanda! Mix!
Advice
- Vila! Rest!
Social
- Kom in! Come in!
Group 1 vs Group 2
How to form the imperative?
Does the infinitive end in -a?
Is it a Group 1 verb (-ar)?
Common Imperative Verbs
Movement
- • Spring!
- • Gå!
- • Stanna!
Communication
- • Prata!
- • Lyssna!
- • Skriv!
Daily Life
- • Ät!
- • Drick!
- • Sov!
Examples by Level
Ät din mat!
Eat your food!
Kom hit!
Come here!
Sitt ner.
Sit down.
Drick vatten.
Drink water.
Ring mig imorgon!
Call me tomorrow!
Stäng fönstret, snälla.
Close the window, please.
Kör inte så fort!
Don't drive so fast!
Läs boken nu.
Read the book now.
Ta till höger vid nästa korsning.
Turn right at the next intersection.
Blanda alla ingredienser i en skål.
Mix all ingredients in a bowl.
Glöm inte att låsa dörren!
Don't forget to lock the door!
Var tyst under filmen.
Be quiet during the movie.
Tänk noga efter innan du svarar.
Think carefully before you answer.
Håll ut, det blir snart bättre!
Hang in there, it will get better soon!
Använd ej hissen vid brand.
Do not use the elevator in case of fire.
Sätt igång med arbetet omedelbart.
Get started with the work immediately.
Betrakta detta som en sista varning.
Consider this a final warning.
Låt oss inte förledas av enkla lösningar.
Let us not be misled by simple solutions.
Föreställ dig en värld utan krig.
Imagine a world without war.
Vänj dig vid tanken på att flytta.
Get used to the thought of moving.
Måtte det bära eller brista, kör på!
Come what may, go for it!
Frånsäg dig alla anspråk på tronen.
Renounce all claims to the throne.
Besinna dina handlingar innan det är för sent.
Reflect upon your actions before it is too late.
Håll till godo med det lilla vi har.
Make do with the little we have.
Easily Confused
Learners often add an -r to the command because they are used to the present tense.
Deciding whether to keep the -a or drop it.
Using the infinitive with 'att' for a command.
أخطاء شائعة
Läser boken!
Läs boken!
Inte spring!
Spring inte!
Tal!
Tala!
Äta!
Ät!
Vara tyst!
Var tyst!
Göra det!
Gör det!
Du läs!
Läs!
Snälla stäng dörren.
Stäng dörren, snälla.
Hoppa!
Hoppas!
Sitt ner du.
Sitt ner.
Ej parkera.
Parkera ej.
Sentence Patterns
___ (Verb) inte ___ (Object)!
___ (Verb) ___ (Particle)!
___ (Verb), är du snäll.
Först ___ (Verb), sedan ___ (Verb).
Real World Usage
Gilla och dela!
Hör av dig!
Beskriv din erfarenhet.
Håll dörren stängd.
Möt budet vid dörren.
Hacka löken.
The 'A' Rule
Don't be too blunt
The Stem Secret
Softening with 'Då'
Smart Tips
Check the present tense. If it's 'talar', keep the 'a' (Tala!). If it's 'läser', drop the 'a' (Läs!).
Add 'då' to the end of your command to make it sound like a natural suggestion.
Keep the particle (like 'ner', 'in', 'ut') right after the verb.
Instead of the imperative, use 'Skulle du kunna...' (Would you be able to...).
النطق
Emphasis
The imperative verb usually carries the primary stress of the sentence.
Short Vowels
In Group 2, when the -a is dropped, the remaining vowel length stays the same as in the infinitive.
Falling Intonation
Gör det. ↘
A firm, direct command.
Rising Intonation
Gör det? ↗
A suggestion or a polite nudge.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Group 1 stays 'A-OK' (keeps the -a), Group 2 'Cuts the A' (removes the -a).
Visual Association
Imagine a pair of scissors cutting the 'a' off the word 'LÄSA' to make 'LÄS!', while the word 'TALA' sits safely in a bubble keeping its 'a'.
Rhyme
If it's Group One, keep the 'a' for fun. If it's Group Two, the 'a' is through!
Story
A bossy Swedish chef is in the kitchen. He shouts 'Tala!' to his assistant (Group 1), then takes a knife and cuts the 'a' off 'Skala' (to peel) to shout 'Skal!' (Wait, bad example, 'skala' is Group 1... let's use 'steka' -> 'stek!'). He cuts the 'a' off 'Steka' to shout 'Stek!' (Fry!).
Word Web
تحدٍّ
Look around your room and give yourself 5 commands in Swedish (e.g., 'Stäng dörren!', 'Drick kaffe!').
ملاحظات ثقافية
Swedes value 'Jantelagen' and equality, so direct commands can sometimes feel too strong. To soften them, Swedes often use 'är du snäll' (if you are kind) or 'tack' (thanks) at the end.
In Finland-Swedish, the imperative can sometimes sound slightly more formal or use different melodic patterns compared to rikssvenska.
In Swedish offices, bosses rarely use the imperative. They prefer 'Kan du...?' to maintain a flat hierarchy.
The Swedish imperative stems from the Proto-Germanic root forms, which were typically the bare stem of the verb.
Conversation Starters
Ge mig tre instruktioner för att koka kaffe.
Säg åt din hund vad den ska göra i parken.
Berätta för en turist hur man hittar till stationen.
Ge råd till en vän som är stressad.
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
___ (tala) högre, jag hör inte!
Don't run!
Find and fix the mistake:
Läser boken nu!
___ (vara) snäll mot din bror.
Du stänger dörren.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
A: Jag är trött. B: ___ (vila) lite då!
Score: /8
تمارين تطبيقية
8 exercises___ (tala) högre, jag hör inte!
Don't run!
Find and fix the mistake:
Läser boken nu!
___ (vara) snäll mot din bror.
Du stänger dörren.
1. Drick, 2. Ät, 3. Läs
A: Jag är trött. B: ___ (vila) lite då!
Score: /8
الأسئلة الشائعة (8)
Not necessarily. It's standard for instructions and among friends. Use a friendly tone or add `snälla` to be polite.
It depends on the verb group. Group 1 verbs (present tense -ar) keep the -a. Group 2 verbs (present tense -er) drop it.
Yes! Swedish uses the same imperative form for one person or a hundred people.
It is 'Var inte!'. For example: 'Var inte rädd!' (Don't be afraid!).
You can use `snälla` at the beginning or end, or `är du snäll` at the end.
No. Since the 'Du-reformen', Swedish has used the same form for everyone.
Deponent verbs like `hoppas` (hope) keep the -s: `Hoppas!`.
Usually no. Adding 'du' (e.g., 'Gör du det!') makes it sound like a question or a very emphatic, sometimes annoyed, command.
In Other Languages
Imperativo (tú/usted)
Swedish uses the same form for affirmative and negative commands.
Impératif
Swedish lacks plural imperative forms.
Imperativ
German has a formal imperative; Swedish does not.
命令形 (Meireikei) / ~te kudasai
Swedish imperative is neutral/common; Japanese is often aggressive.
فعل الأمر (Fi'l al-Amr)
Arabic conjugates for gender; Swedish does not.
祈使句 (Qǐshǐjù)
Chinese uses particles; Swedish uses conjugation/stem changes.
