FormVerb (Infinitiv) + Sie + ...
Meaning and usage
The formal imperative is used when you speak to one or more people you address with Sie. You put the verb first, then Sie, and the rest of the sentence follows. The verb takes the same form as the Sie form in the present tense, except for sein, which becomes Seien. For example, Kommen Sie! means 'Come!' and Seien Sie ruhig! means 'Be quiet!'.
Use this form in polite requests, instructions, and invitations. The pronoun Sie must stay after the verb. A common mistake is to drop Sie or to use the du form with Sie.
Examples 6
Kommen Sie bitte zu mir ins Büro!
Please come to my office.
Geben Sie mir bitte eine Tasse Milch.
Please give me a cup of milk.
Stellen Sie die Lampe auf den Tisch.
Set the lamp on the table.
Bleiben Sie ein paar Tage bei uns!
Stay with us for a few days.
Machen Sie einen Termin mit ihm aus!
Make an appointment with him.
Setzen Sie sich bitte und warten Sie!
Please take a seat and wait.
Test yourself
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1 Sprachbausteine
Sie bitte das Fenster!
Show answer
Correct answer: Öffnen
The formal imperative puts the verb first in its infinitive form, followed by Sie. Öffnen is the correct verb form for Sie.
- Öffnest is the du present tense form and is not used in the imperative.
- Öffne is the du imperative and does not fit with Sie.
- Öffnet is the ihr imperative and does not fit with Sie.
In this topic: Imperative
- Komm! Mach das! du command: verb stem, no du, no -st
- Kommt! Macht das! Command to a group you address as ihr
- Kommen Sie! Formal command: verb first, then Sie
- Nimm! Lies! Fahr! du-command with e→i or e→ie vowel change
- Sei! Seid! Seien Sie! Commands with sein: be
- bitte, mal, doch Softens a command: please, a moment, why not
- Gehen wir! Let's do something together
Example sentences from Tatoeba, used under CC BY 2.0 FR. See sources.