Say what is necessary
means have to or must. It works with an infinitive at the end: . It describes an obligation, not a wish. The 1st and 3rd person singular have the same form .
| Person | Form |
|---|---|
Give an instruction to the right person
An imperative directly tells someone what to do. For informal , use a short verb form, normally without : . For informal plural , use the present form ending in t, without the pronoun: . For polite , put the verb first and keep : .
| Verb | One person: du | Several: | Polite: |
|---|---|---|---|
Some commands have special forms such as , and . A vowel change with a or o does not give an umlaut in these commands: . Learn the useful command, not a rule that every vowel change is kept.
Be clear and polite
Add for a polite request. Use to stop an action: . Use to negate a noun phrase: . With a separable verb the prefix still comes at the end: .
Wir müssen um elf zur Besprechung gehen.We have to go to the meeting at eleven.
Geben Sie mir bitte einen Stift.Please give me a pen.
Nimm bitte die Tasche.Please take the bag.
Practice 1/5 · Finding words
Notice the useful forms
Tap the modal forms and the command verbs.
.
I have to work.
.
We have to leave at eleven.
.
Please give me the pen.
.
Please come here (polite).
Practice 2/5 · The right form
What does each person have to do?
Choose the right word for the gap.
Ich früh aufstehen.
I have to get up early.
Du arbeiten.
You have to work.
Greta backen.
Greta has to bake.
Wir zur Besprechung gehen.
We have to go to the meeting.
Ihr warten.
You have to wait (several people).
Sie heute arbeiten?
Do you have to work today (polite)?
The instruction fits the person
Choose the right word for the gap.
Mikesch, her!
Mikesch, come here!
Lotte, mir bitte das Buch.
Lotte, please give me the book.
Frau Brandt, Sie bitte die Tasse.
Mrs Brandt, please take the cup.
Kinder, bitte her.
Children, please come here.
Sie bitte langsam.
Please speak slowly (polite).
Jonas, komm bitte zu spät.
Jonas, please do not be late.
Practice 3/5 · Fill the gaps
Complete the conversation
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Ich arbeiten. Du warten.
I have to work. You have to wait.
Wir gehen. Ihr hier bleiben.
We have to leave. You have to stay here (several people).
Greta backen. Sie auch arbeiten?
Greta has to bake. Do you have to work too (polite)?
Lotte, mir das Buch. Frau Brandt, Sie mir bitte das Foto.
Lotte, give me the book. Mrs Brandt, please give me the photo.
Practice 4/5 · Building sentences
Put the message together
Put the words in order.
We have to go to the meeting at eleven.
Please do not be late (polite).
Mikesch, please come here.
Do not give him any cake.
Practice 5/5 · In situations
Respond to the situation
Choose the right words for the situation.
You need your colleague to pass you the paper. You address him politely.
You say:
The polite instruction keeps Sie after the verb.
You need your colleague to pass you the paper. You address him politely.
You say:
The polite instruction keeps Sie after the verb.
Mikesch is about to jump on the printer. You want him to stay away from it.
You say:
The short instruction is natural in an urgent situation.
Mikesch is about to jump on the printer. You want him to stay away from it.
You say:
The short instruction is natural in an urgent situation.
Unit complete
