Language/Polish/Grammar/The-Imperative-Mood

Polish → Grammar → The Imperative Mood

In this lesson, you will learn how to use the imperative mood in Polish. The imperative mood is used to express commands, advice, and requests. It is important to understand how to use it correctly, as it is commonly used in everyday communication.

What is the Imperative Mood?

The imperative mood is a grammatical mood used to express a command or request. In English, the imperative is usually formed by using the base form of the verb without the subject. For example, "Listen to the music" or "Please, come here."

In Polish, the imperative is also formed using the base form of the verb, but the form of the verb changes depending on the gender, number, and person of the subject. The imperative form is shorter than the infinitive and it often ends in a vowel.

Regular Imperative Forms

Regular imperatives are formed by taking the appropriate form of the verb for the singular and adding "-j" at the end.

Polish	Pronunciation	English
idź	eej	go/walk (sg.)
czytaj	chitai	read (sg.)
rób	roob	do/make (sg.)

When forming the imperative for plural, the "-cie" ending is used:

Polish	Pronunciation	English
idźcie	eejtche	go/walk (pl.)
czytajcie	chitaitche	read (pl.)
róbcie	roobtche	do/make (pl.)

Irregular Imperative Forms

Some verbs have irregular imperatives. Here are some examples:

Polish	Pronunciation	English
być (być)	beim	be
mieć (mieć)	myetch	have
dawać (dać)	davatch	give
iść (pójść)	ysch	go (sg.)
iść (pójść)	yschmy	go (pl.)
wiedzieć (wiedzieć)	vyedzyeitch	know

Using the Imperative Mood

The imperative mood is commonly used in Polish in the following situations:

• Giving commands: Idź do sklepu (Go to the shop)
• Giving advice: Spróbuj to zrobić (Try to do it)
• Making requests: Proszę powiedzieć mi, co masz na myśli (Please, tell me what you mean)

In Polish, the imperative mood is often used in informal contexts, such as conversations with friends and family. It is important, however, to use it correctly, as it can also be used in formal situations.

Practice Exercises

Now that you understand how to use the imperative mood, it's time to practice! Below are some exercises to help you master this skill.

1. Form the imperative of the following verbs: pić (to drink), jeść (to eat), czytać (to read), uczyć się (to learn). 2. Rewrite the following sentences using the imperative mood: "Mówię cicho" (Speak quietly), "Pomóż mi" (Help me), "Posłuchaj mnie" (Listen to me). 3. Write three imperative sentences for each of the following situations: giving advice, giving a command, and making a request.

Sources

• The Complete Guide to Polish Imperative Verbs
• Imperative (Tryb rozkazujący) - Polish Language Grammar | Course ...
• Polish Grammar - Imperative Mood

Related Lessons

• Possessive Case in Polish
• Give your Opinion
• Negation
• Gender
• Cases
• Plural
• Imperative Mood
• Conditional Sentences
• Questions