A2 · Elementary Chapter 29

Imperative Mood

4 Total Rules
48 examples
1 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of giving direct, polite, and effective instructions in everyday Swedish.

  • Form the imperative mood using the verb stem.
  • Issue clear commands for daily tasks.
  • Propose activities using inviting language.
Speak with purpose: The Swedish Imperative.

What You'll Learn

Giving commands and suggestions. This chapter focuses on the imperative form of verbs.

  • Imperative Form
    Just use the verb's root to tell someone what to do—it's the simplest Swedish verb form!
  • Giving Commands
    Just use the verb stem to tell someone what to do, or add 'inte' to stop them.
  • Giving Suggestions
    Master 'Ska vi' and 'Vad sägs om' to navigate Swedish social life and the essential fika culture.
  • Imperative in Context
    Just use the verb stem to give a command, and add 'inte' if you want to say don't.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Form the imperative mood for regular verbs.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Give clear, polite instructions to friends or colleagues.

Key Examples (8)

1

Ring mig imorgon!

Call me tomorrow!

Imperative Form
2

Stäng fönstret, snälla.

Close the window, please.

Imperative Form
3

Sväng höger här.

Turn right here.

Giving Commands
4

Ring mig ikväll.

Call me tonight.

Giving Commands
5

Vad sägs om en promenad?

What about a walk?

Giving Suggestions
6

Varför inte gå på bio?

Why not go to the cinema?

Giving Suggestions
7

Spring inte så fort!

Don't run so fast!

Imperative in Context
8

Gå till affären.

Go to the store.

Imperative in Context

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The 'A' Rule

If a verb ends in -ar in the present tense, the imperative always ends in -a. Always.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imperative Form
💡

Softening

Always add 'är du snäll' to make your commands sound like polite requests.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Commands
🎯

The 'Kanske' Trick

Add 'kanske' (maybe) to any suggestion to sound 50% more Swedish and 100% more polite. 'Ska vi kanske gå?'
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Suggestions
💡

Softening

Always add 'snälla' or 'gärna' to sound polite.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imperative in Context

Key Vocabulary (5)

läs read ät eat gärna gladly/please kom come titta look/watch

Real-World Preview

coffee

Café Meeting

Review Summary

  • Infinitive - a
  • Imperative + gärna

Common Mistakes

Never use the infinitive (att-form) for commands. Always use the stem.

Wrong: Att läsa boken!
Correct: Läs boken!

The subject 'du' is dropped in the imperative. It sounds unnatural to include it.

Wrong: Du läs boken.
Correct: Läs boken!

Negation ('inte') must come after the verb, not at the end of the sentence.

Wrong: Läs gärna boken inte.
Correct: Läs inte boken.

Next Steps

You've done an amazing job today. Take a quick break and get ready for prepositions—they will help you add even more detail to your Swedish!

Write 5 instructions for a cooking recipe

Continue to: Prepositional Phrases

Quick Practice (10)

Which is the correct imperative?

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Läs!
Läs is the stem.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imperative in Context

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Springa inte!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Spring inte!
Remove -a and put inte after.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imperative in Context

Change the verb 'tala' to the imperative form.

___ (tala) högre, jag hör inte!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tala
'Tala' is a Group 1 verb, so the imperative is the same as the infinitive.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imperative Form

Choose the correct negative command.

___ (att gå) inte!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Gå
Verb stem + inte.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Commands

Correct the mistake: 'Läser boken nu!'

Find and fix the mistake:

Läser boken nu!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Läs boken nu!
Remove the -r to change present tense to imperative.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Imperative Form

Fix the error.

Find and fix the mistake:

Läsa boken!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Läs boken!
Remove the -a.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Commands

Complete the phrase for 'What about tomorrow?'.

Vad sägs ___ imorgon?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: om
The fixed phrase is 'Vad sägs om'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Suggestions

Correct the mistake in this sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ska vi går på bio?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ska vi gå på bio?
Use the infinitive 'gå' after 'ska'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Suggestions

Choose the correct way to suggest a coffee break.

___ vi fika?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ska
'Ska vi' is the standard way to make a suggestion.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Suggestions

Fill in the correct imperative form.

___ (att äta) maten!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ät
The imperative is the stem.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Giving Commands

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

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, for consonants. For vowels, it's the infinitive.
No, the imperative has no subject.
Yes, if the context is clear (like pointing at a door to leave), you can just say Ska vi?.
It's neutral to informal. In very formal settings, you might use Får jag föreslå....
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