Imperative Forms
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests by conjugating the verb stem based on the person.
- For 2nd person singular (informal), use the verb stem: 'Kel' (Come).
- For 2nd person plural (formal/polite), add '-ińiz/-yńyz': 'Kelińiz' (Please come).
- For negative commands, add '-ma/-me/-ba/-be/-pa/-pe' before the ending: 'Kelme' (Don't come).
Meanings
The imperative mood is used to express commands, requests, advice, or instructions. It changes based on the level of formality and the number of people addressed.
Direct Command
A forceful or direct instruction to someone.
“Oq!”
“Jaz!”
Polite Request
A respectful way to ask someone to do something.
“Oqyńyz.”
“Jazyńyz.”
Negative Prohibition
Telling someone not to perform an action.
“Kelmeńiz.”
“Jazba.”
Imperative Conjugation Table
| Person | Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| 2nd Sing (Inf) | Jaz | Jazba |
| 2nd Plur (Formal) | Jazyńyz | Jazbańyz |
| 3rd Sing | Jazsyn | Jazbasyn |
| 1st Plur | Jazaıyq | Jazbaıyq |
| 2nd Plur (Inf) | Jazyńdar | Jazbańyzdar |
| 3rd Plur | Jazsyn | Jazbasyn |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Informal | Stem | Kel |
| Formal | Stem + ińiz | Kelińiz |
| Negative Inf | Stem + ba | Kelme |
| Negative Formal | Stem + ba + ńyz | Kelmeńiz |
| Plural Inf | Stem + ińder | Kelińder |
| Polite Marker | Verb + shi | Kelińizshi |
Formality Spectrum
Myna jerge kelińiz. (Directing someone)
Myna jerge kel. (Directing someone)
Kelshi! (Directing someone)
Kel! (Directing someone)
Imperative Mood Branches
Informal
- Jaz Write
Formal
- Jazyńyz Please write
Examples by Level
Kel!
Come!
Oqy!
Read!
Jaz!
Write!
Kelińiz.
Please come.
Esikti jabyńyz.
Close the door.
Ony aytpa.
Don't say that.
Sý ishińiz.
Drink water.
Kitepti alma.
Don't take the book.
Maǵan kómektesińizshi.
Please help me.
Erte kelmeńiz.
Don't come early.
Bul jerge otyryńyz.
Sit here.
Jumysty tez bitir.
Finish the work quickly.
Osy qujatty qol qoıyńyz.
Sign this document.
Eshkimge aıtpańyz.
Don't tell anyone.
Meni tyńdańyz.
Listen to me.
Keshikpe.
Don't be late.
Sizge aıtqanymdy oryndańyz.
Carry out what I told you.
Bul máseleni talqylamańyz.
Do not discuss this issue.
Oılańyz, sosyn jaýap berińiz.
Think, then answer.
Eshqashan berilme.
Never give up.
Osy jaǵdaıda sabyr saqtańyz.
Maintain composure in this situation.
Tarihı derekterdi eskere otyryp jaz.
Write while considering historical facts.
Óz pikirińizdi ashyq aıtyńyz.
Express your opinion openly.
Eshqandaı qatelikke jol bermeńiz.
Do not allow any mistakes.
Easily Confused
Both involve verb suffixes.
Choosing the wrong register.
Placement of negative suffix.
Common Mistakes
Kel-ińiz-ba
Kelmeńiz
Jaz-yńiz
Jazyńyz
Kel-iń
Kel
Oqy-ińiz
Oqyńyz
Jaz-ma-ińiz
Jazbańyz
Ayt-ińiz
Aytyńyz
Kel-ińiz-dar
Kelińiz
Otyr-ińiz
Otyryńyz
Ber-mańyz
Bermeńiz
Keshik-ińiz
Keshikińiz
Aıt-ma-ńyz
Aıtpańyz
Jaz-syn-dar
Jazsyn
Kel-me-ińiz
Kelmeńiz
Sentence Patterns
___ (verb) ___ (formal suffix).
___ (negative) ___ (formal suffix).
___ (polite marker) ___ (verb).
___ (formal) ___ (verb) ___ (object).
Real World Usage
Kelshi!
Otyryńyz.
Tezrek ákelińiz.
Bıletti berińiz.
Jaz!
Kitepti ashyńyz.
Vowel Harmony
Formality
Politeness
Respect
Smart Tips
Add 'shi' to your command.
Check the last vowel of the stem.
Use the stem directly for informal commands.
Always use the formal suffix.
Pronunciation
Vowel Harmony
Suffixes must match the last vowel of the stem.
Command
Jaz! ↘
Falling intonation for direct commands.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'ińiz' as 'in is' (as in, 'you are in the formal zone').
Visual Association
Imagine a king wearing a crown (formal) vs a friend in a hoodie (informal).
Rhyme
For a friend, keep it short, for a boss, add the sort (ińiz).
Story
Ali meets a friend and says 'Kel!'. Then he meets his teacher and says 'Kelińiz'. He realizes the suffix is the key to respect.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 commands you would say to a friend and 5 to a teacher.
Cultural Notes
Respect for elders is paramount. Always use the formal imperative with them.
Commands are often softened with 'shi'.
Formal imperatives are standard in office settings.
The imperative mood is derived from Proto-Turkic verb stems.
Conversation Starters
Do you want me to write this?
Please sit down.
Don't do that, please.
Tell me what to do.
Journal Prompts
Test Yourself
Kel___
Choose the correct form of 'Jaz'.
Find and fix the mistake:
Kel-ińiz-ba
Kel!
A: ___ (Come). B: Baramyn.
Esikti (close - formal)
Which is most formal?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesKel___
Choose the correct form of 'Jaz'.
Find and fix the mistake:
Kel-ińiz-ba
Kel!
A: ___ (Come). B: Baramyn.
Esikti (close - formal)
Which is most formal?
Match: 1. Jaz, 2. Jazyńyz
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
The suffix determines formality. '-ińiz' is formal.
No, the imperative is for addressing others.
It might sound rude or grammatically incorrect.
Yes, '-ińder' for informal plural.
Add 'shi' to the end.
Yes, always.
Yes, in instructions or emails.
It is essential for daily communication.
In Other Languages
Imperativo
Kazakh uses vowel harmony; Spanish does not.
Impératif
Kazakh is agglutinative.
Imperativ
Kazakh is agglutinative.
Meireikei
Japanese uses particles; Kazakh uses suffixes.
Fi'l al-Amr
Arabic is root-based; Kazakh is stem-based.
Imperative
Chinese is isolating; Kazakh is agglutinative.
