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Imperative Form for Direct Commands (Kar/Kara)

To give commands, use the verb root for friends and add 'a' for respect or groups.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use the verb root for friends and add '-a' for elders or groups to give direct commands.

  • Informal (Singular): Use the verb root. Example: 'Kar' (Do).
  • Formal/Plural: Add '-a' to the root. Example: 'Kara' (Do).
  • Negative: Use 'Nako' (Informal) or 'Naka' (Formal) after the verb.
Verb Root + (∅ / -a) = 📢 Command

Overview

Welcome to the world of Marathi commands! Think of the imperative form as your remote control for life. You use it to tell people what to do.
It is simple, direct, and very powerful. In Marathi, commands are all about the verb. You do not need complex sentences here.
Just one or two words will do the job perfectly. Whether you are ordering a spicy Vada Pav or asking for directions, this is your go-to tool. It is like the 'Buy Now' button on a website.
It gets things moving immediately. Most beginners love this rule because it is so short. You can start using it on day one of your journey.

How This Grammar Works

Marathi verbs usually end in ne. To give a command, you first strip that away. What remains is called the verb root.
This root is the heart of your command. But wait, there is a small social catch! Marathi cares a lot about who you are talking to.
Are you talking to a close friend? Use the short version. Are you talking to your boss or a stranger?
Use the polite version. It is like a grammar volume knob. You turn it up for respect and down for friends.
Even native speakers sometimes pause to choose the right one. Do not worry, it becomes second nature very quickly. Think of it like a grammar traffic light guiding your social interactions.

Formation Pattern

1
Start with the full verb like karne (to do).
2
Remove the ne ending to find the root kar.
3
For a friend or younger person (Singular/Informal), just use the root kar.
4
For an elder, a group, or a stranger (Plural/Formal), add a to the root to get kara.
5
If the root ends in a vowel, things might shift slightly.
6
For example, ye (come) stays ye for friends but becomes ya for elders.
7
For pine (to drink), the root is pi. For elders, it becomes pya.
8
Most regular verbs follow the simple +a rule perfectly.

When To Use It

Use this when you need action right now. Real-world scenarios are everywhere! Imagine you are at a busy Mumbai cafe.
You want the waiter to bring water. You would say pani dhya (give water). Notice the a at the end for respect.
If you are teaching your younger brother to study, say abhyas kar (do study). Use it when giving directions to a rickshaw driver. Ithe thamba (stop here) is a classic phrase.
You will also see this in recipes. 'Mix the flour' or 'Add salt' use these forms. It is also great for emergencies like pala! (run!).
Even in job interviews, a recruiter might say basa (sit). It is the language of instructions and daily life.

When Not To Use It

Do not use the short root version with strangers. It can sound very rude or bossy. Imagine walking up to a grandmother and saying bagh (look).
She might give you a very confused look! Always lean towards the a ending if you are unsure. It is better to be too polite than accidentally mean.
Also, do not use imperatives for things you 'might' do. This is for direct actions only. If you are asking a huge favor, add kripaya (please).
Pure commands can sometimes feel too sharp in delicate situations. Avoid using them when you want to sound suggestive or optional. Use a different tense for 'we should do this'.
The imperative is a direct order, not a suggestion.

Common Mistakes

One big mistake is keeping the ne on the verb. Say kar, not karne, when giving an order. People will understand you, but it sounds like a textbook. Another slip-up is using the informal form for everyone. It is a common trap for English speakers. In English, 'do' works for everyone. In Marathi, you must choose between kar and kara. Mixing these up is like wearing flip-flops to a wedding. It just feels a bit out of place! Also, watch out for vowel-ending verbs. Some learners say pia instead of pya. It is a small detail, but pya sounds much more natural. Don't sweat the small stuff too much yet, though.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

In English, the command is just the base verb. 'Sit' is 'Sit' whether talking to a dog or a king. Marathi is more like French or Spanish in this way.
It splits the 'you' into two distinct categories. Compared to the Marathi 'Request' form, the command is much shorter. A request might be karal ka? (will you do?).
The command is just kara (do). One is a question, the other is a statement. The command form is also faster to say than the future tense.
Use commands for the 'now' and future tense for the 'later'. It is the difference between 'Eat!' and 'You will eat'.

Quick FAQ

Q

Is kar always for one person?

Yes, one person who is a friend or younger.

Q

Can I use kara for one person?

Yes, if you want to show them respect.

Q

What if I am talking to a dog?

Use the short form like bas (sit).

Q

Is this the same for boys and girls?

Yes! Commands do not change based on gender.

Q

How do I say 'Don't do it'?

That is a different rule using nako.

Q

Is kara used for a group of friends?

Yes, use the a ending for any group.

Imperative Conjugation (Verb: Karne - To Do)

Subject Type Pronoun Suffix Form Example
Informal Singular
Tu (तू)
None (Root)
Kar (कर)
Tu kar (You do)
Formal / Plural
Tumhi (तुम्ही)
-a (ा)
Kara (करा)
Tumhi kara (You all do)
Very Formal
Aapan (आपण)
-a (ा)
Kara (करा)
Aapan kara (Please do)

Irregular Imperative Forms

Verb Informal Formal English
Yene (Come)
Ye
Ya
Come
Jane (Go)
Ja
Jaa
Go
Pine (Drink)
Pi
Pya
Drink
Dene (Give)
De
Dya
Give
Ghene (Take)
Ghe
Ghya
Take

Meanings

The imperative form is used to give direct orders, instructions, or requests to someone.

1

Direct Command

Telling someone exactly what to do immediately.

“बस (Bas) - Sit down.”

“पाणी पी (Paani pi) - Drink water.”

2

Polite Request/Instruction

Giving directions or asking politely in a formal setting.

“कृपया बसा (Krupaya basa) - Please sit down.”

“फॉर्म भरा (Form bhara) - Fill the form.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Imperative Form for Direct Commands (Kar/Kara)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative Informal
Root
Bas (Sit)
Affirmative Formal
Root + a
Basa (Sit)
Negative Informal
Verb-u + Nako
Basu nako (Don't sit)
Negative Formal
Verb-u + Naka
Basu naka (Don't sit)
Polite Request
Krupaya + Formal
Krupaya basa (Please sit)
Instructional
Object + Verb
Darwaja ughada (Open the door)

フォーマル度スペクトル

フォーマル
कृपया बसा (Krupaya basa)

कृपया बसा (Krupaya basa) (General sitting)

ニュートラル
बसा (Basa)

बसा (Basa) (General sitting)

カジュアル
बस (Bas)

बस (Bas) (General sitting)

スラング
बस की (Bas ki - emphatic)

बस की (Bas ki - emphatic) (General sitting)

The Command Tree

Imperative

Informal

  • Tu You (singular)
  • Root No suffix

Formal

  • Tumhi You (plural/respect)
  • -a Suffix

Kar vs. Kara

Kar (Informal)
Tu kar You do
Kara (Formal)
Tumhi kara You (all) do
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レベル別の例文

1

जेवण कर.

Eat your meal.

2

पाणी प्या.

Drink water.

1

तिथे जाऊ नको.

Don't go there.

2

कृपया खिडकी उघडा.

Please open the window.

1

मला तुमचे पुस्तक द्या.

Give me your book.

2

सावधगिरी बाळगा.

Exercise caution.

1

प्रत्येक नागरिकाने आपले कर्तव्य पार पाडावे.

Every citizen should fulfill their duty.

2

त्वरीत उत्तर द्या.

Respond immediately.

1

सत्याची कास धरून पुढे चला.

Move forward holding onto the truth.

2

अन्यायाविरुद्ध आवाज उठवा.

Raise your voice against injustice.

1

निसर्गाच्या या किमयेचा अनुभव घ्या आणि धन्य व्हा.

Experience this miracle of nature and be blessed.

2

शब्दांचा खेळ थांबवा आणि कृती करा.

Stop the wordplay and take action.

間違えやすい

Imperative Form for Direct Commands (Kar/Kara) 対 Hortative (Let's)

Learners mix 'Kara' (You do) with 'Karuya' (Let's do).

よくある間違い

✗

Aai, ikade ye.

✓

Aai, ikade ya.

Using informal 'Ye' with a mother is considered disrespectful.
✗

Tumhi kar.

✓

Tumhi kara.

The pronoun 'Tumhi' must match the '-a' verb ending.
✗

Bas nako.

✓

Basu nako.

Negative commands require the '-u' vowel before 'nako'.
✗

Krupaya de.

✓

Krupaya dya.

If you use 'Please', you must use the formal verb form.

文型パターン

Krupaya ___ -a.

Real World Usage

Ordering Food very common

Ek chaha dya. (Give one tea.)

GPS Navigation constant

Ujvi kade vala. (Turn right.)

Texting Friends very common

Lavkar ye! (Come fast!)

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🎯

The Safety Rule

If you don't know someone's age or status, always use the '-a' form. It is never rude to be too polite.
⚠️

Negative Trap

Don't just say 'Nako'. You must change the verb ending to '-u' first (e.g., 'Jau nako').

Smart Tips

Always add the '-a' sound to the end of your verb.

Kaka, ye. → Kaka, ya.

発音

/kəra/

The 'a' suffix

The 'a' in 'Kara' is a long vowel like in 'Father'.

Falling Tone

खाली बस! (Khaali bas!)

Conveys a strong, direct command.

暗記しよう

記憶術

Kar is for a 'Car' friend (singular); Kara is for a 'Crowd' or 'Karta' (boss/elder).

視覚的連想

Imagine pointing a finger at a small child (Kar) versus opening your palms to welcome a group of guests (Kara).

Rhyme

For a friend, just say the root. For the boss, add 'a' to suit!

Story

A king tells his servant 'Kar' (Do it), but the servant tells the king 'Kara' (Please do it). The 'a' at the end is like a bow of respect.

Word Web

KarKaraNakoNakaKrupayaAadnya

チャレンジ

Look around your room and give yourself 5 commands in Marathi (e.g., 'Bas', 'Uth', 'Bag'). Then imagine your teacher is there and repeat them with the '-a' ending.

文化メモ

In Marathi culture, using the formal 'Kara' with anyone even slightly older than you is a sign of good upbringing (Sanskar).

Derived from Sanskrit imperative (Lot Lakara).

会話のきっかけ

“

मित्राला चहा पिण्यास सांगा.

“

शिक्षकांना वर्गात येण्यास सांगा.

日記のテーマ

Write 5 instructions for a new student in your class.

よくある間違い

Incorrect

正解

Incorrect

正解

Incorrect

正解

Incorrect

正解

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Test Yourself

Choose the correct formal command for 'Sit'. 選択問題

Tumhi ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Basa
The formal/plural suffix is '-a'.
Fill in the informal command for 'Come'.

Tu ikade ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ye
The informal singular command is the verb root.
Correct the sentence: 'Aaji, ikade ye.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Aaji, ikade ye.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aaji, ikade ya
Grandmothers (Aaji) require the formal '-ya' form.

Score: /3

練習問題

3 exercises
Choose the correct formal command for 'Sit'. 選択問題

Tumhi ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Basa
The formal/plural suffix is '-a'.
Fill in the informal command for 'Come'.

Tu ikade ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ye
The informal singular command is the verb root.
Correct the sentence: 'Aaji, ikade ye.' Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Aaji, ikade ye.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Aaji, ikade ya
Grandmothers (Aaji) require the formal '-ya' form.

Score: /3

よくある質問 (6)

Generally, no. It is better to use `Kara` to show respect, though some very modern families might use informal speech.

In writing, it is `या` (Ya). The 'a' sound is built into the letter.

Use `Karu nako` (informal) or `Karu naka` (formal).

No, `Kar` and `Kara` are the same whether you are talking to a man or a woman.

Use the formal/plural form `Kara` because it is a group.

Add the word `Krupaya` (Please) at the beginning.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Tú vs Usted commands

Marathi doesn't change the stem as drastically as Spanish 'irregular' imperatives.

French high

Tu vs Vous

Marathi formal ending '-a' is consistent across almost all verbs.

German moderate

Du vs Sie

Marathi does not require the pronoun to be stated in the command.

Japanese low

Te-form vs Imperative

Japanese imperative is often considered very aggressive; Marathi formal imperative is polite.

Arabic moderate

Amr (أمر)

Marathi imperatives are gender-neutral.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
The 'To Be' Verb in Present Tense (Ahe/Aahet)
Next
The Postposition 'Shejari' for Proximity (Next to)

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