Japanese Verb Imperative Form

V-しろ・動詞命令形・どうしめいれいけい

1. What is the Imperative Form?

The imperative form (めいれいけい) is used to give commands or instructions. It expresses direct requests or orders, similar to "Do ～" or "Please ～" in English. The tone can vary from formal to informal, depending on the context and the relationship between the speaker and the listener.

2. Construction of the Imperative Form

The imperative form is constructed differently based on the type of verb (Group 1, Group 2, or irregular verbs).

2.1 Group 1 Verbs (五段動詞)

For Group 1 verbs, the imperative form is created by changing the verb's ending to its corresponding imperative ending.

Verb Ending	Imperative Form Change	Example (Dictionary Form)	Example (Imperative Form)
～う	→ ～え	会う（あう）	会え（あえ）
～つ	→ ～て	待つ（まつ）	待て（まて）
～る	→ ～れ	取る（とる）	取れ（とれ）
～む	→ ～め	飲む（のむ）	飲め（のめ）
～ぬ	→ ～ね	死ぬ（しぬ）	死ね（しね）
～ぶ	→ ～べ	遊ぶ（あそぶ）	遊べ（あそべ）
～く	→ ～け	書く（かく）	書け（かけ）
～ぐ	→ ～げ	泳ぐ（およぐ）	泳げ（およげ）
～す	→ ～せ	話す（はなす）	話せ（はなせ）

2.2 Group 2 Verbs (一段動詞)

For Group 2 verbs, remove the final 「る」 from the verb in its dictionary form and add 「ろ」.

Verb Ending	Imperative Form Change	Example (Dictionary Form)	Example (Imperative Form)
～る	→ ～ろ	食べる（たべる）	食べろ（たべろ）
		見る（みる）	見ろ（みろ）

2.3 Irregular Verbs

Irregular verbs have their own specific imperative forms.

Verb	Imperative Form Change	Example (Dictionary Form)	Example (Imperative Form)
する	→ しろ	する	しろ
来る（くる）	→ 来い	来る（くる）	来い（こい）

3. Examples of Imperative Form

Here are some common contexts for using the imperative form:

Direct Orders:
- 早く来い！
  (Come quickly!)
Encouragement:
- 頑張れ！
  (Do your best!)
Commands in a Group Setting:
- 静かにしろ！
  (Be quiet!)

4. Points to Note

The imperative form can sound quite forceful or rude if used inappropriately. It is often best reserved for situations where you are speaking to someone of lower status or among close friends.
In more polite contexts, it's common to use the phrase ～てください instead, as in 来てください (Please come).

5. Summary

The imperative form of Japanese verbs is used to issue commands or requests. Understanding how to form and use the imperative correctly is essential for effective communication in both formal and informal contexts.