An Introduction to Imperatives

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An imperative is a verb that expresses command or a request. This is derived from the stem of the Verb.Imperatives are used to give a direct order, to give instructions, to make an invitation, to give friendly informal advice or are used on signs or notices.

आज्ञासूचक वाक्य (Imperative Sentences) वो होते हैं जिनकी मदद से हम या तो किसी को कोर्इ आदेश देते हैं, सलाह देते हैं या फिर किसी से कोई अनुरोध करते हैं।” अगर मैं आपसे कहूँ कि “मुझे पैन दो”, तो या तो मैं आपको आदेश दे रहा हूँ।

The imperative expresses a command, a request, a warning, a prohibition, and so on. The imperative can only be used in the future and cannot be used in the present or past tenses. Because of the requirement denotes a command, request, or the like, and its proper domain is the second person. Indirect commands or requests made to a third party are prohibited. The subjunctive form is used to express this. The is used in imperative constructions. The subject is omitted and can be deduced from both the context and the sentence phrasing of the verb. The verb agrees with the subject in the second person which has three second person pronominal forms: I intimate, (ii) formal, and (iii) formal (ii) familiar, and (iii) courteous. Each Hindi verb has two commonly used imperative or command forms  - the common form and the polite form.

The general rules are:

• आओ(aao), जाओ(jaao), करो(karo), etc are used in addressing equals or inferiors.
• आइये(Aayiye), बैठिए (baithiye), कीजिए (keejiye),etc are used in addressing elders and persons whom we respect.
• All the respectful forms presuppose the use of आप or some similar title of respect.
• For the negative imperative, मत (math) is used. With the respectful forms,न (na) is the correct word, though मत is occasionally found.
• The Infinitive is also used as a gentle Imperative.

 

जाना	जाओ	जाइये
आना	आओ	आइये
ख़रीदना	ख़रीदो	ख़रीिदये
देखना	देखो	देिखये
सुनना	सुनो	सुिनये

Examples:

Stop!	ठहरो	Thaharo
You go	तू जा	Tu jaa
You study	तू पढ़	Tu padh
You also come	तू भी चल	Tu bhi chal
Come here!	यहाँ आओ	Yahan aao
Don't go there!	वहाँ मत जाओ	Vahan math jaao
You don't take this pen.	तुम यह कलम मत लेना	Tum yeh kalam math lena
Hurry up!	जल्दी करो	Jaldi karo
Don't touch	छूना मत	Chuna math
You go there	तुम वहाँ जाओ	Tum vahan jaao
Stand up straight.	सीधे खड़े हो जाओ	Seedhe khade ho jaao
Bring a cup of milk.	एक प्याला दूध लाओ	Ek pyala doodh laao
Come in and sit down.	अंदर आओ और बैठ जाओ अंदर आइए और बैठ जाइए	Andhar aao aur bait jaao Andhar aayiye aur bait jaayiye
Please come.	(आप) आइये	(Aap) Aayiye
Please sit here	यहाँ बैठिए	Yahan baithiye
Please do this work.	यह काम कीजिए	Yeh kaam keejiye
Please don't do this work	आप यह काम न/मत कीजिए	Aap yeh kaam na/math keejiye
Please do not sell this watch.	आप यह घड़ी मत बेचना	Aap yeh ghadi math bechna
Speak to him.	उससे बात करो	usse baat karo.

More Examples:

• राम के साथ जाओ। Go with Ram.
• पार्क में आओ। Come at the park.
• हमेशा सच बोलो। Always speak the truth.
• हमेशा बड़ों को इज्ज़त दो। Always respect elders.
• गरीबों को कभी मत सताओ। Never bother the poor.
• कभी झूठ मत बोलो। Never tell a lie.

Test Your Undersatnding:
Try these sentences in Hindi:
1) Stand behind the line, please.
2) Shut up.
3) Put that down.
4) Come and see me next week.
5) Take a left and then a right.


And please leave a comment if you have any question at all!

Until we meet next, Adios!