Hindi Chapter 5: Imperative Forms (Commands & Requests)

Vocabulary and rule-based revision flashcards covering Hindi Chapter 5: Imperative Forms, including formal, familiar, intimate, neutral, negative, softening, and irregular imperative patterns.

Imperative Form

A verb form used to convey a command, instruction, request, suggestion, or direction.

Formal Imperative (आप / Aap)

The imperative form used respectfully with elders, teachers, seniors, strangers, or in formal situations, commonly constructed using verb stem + ईए/ईये (-iye).

Familiar / Informal Imperative (तुम / Tum)

The imperative form used with friends, equals, colleagues, and familiar relationships, commonly constructed using verb stem + ओ (-o).

Intimate Imperative (तू / Tu)

The imperative form used with very close relationships, small children, in religious contexts, or to express anger/contempt; typically identical to the bare verb stem.

Neutral Imperative

An imperative form identical to the verb's infinitive (-ना), used for impersonal directions, instructions, schedules, or when social hierarchy is not specified.

Gender Invariance in Imperatives

The grammatical rule stating that Hindi imperative forms do not change based on the gender of the addressee.

Subject Pronoun Omission

The convention where the second-person pronoun (आप, तुम, or तू) is understood from the imperative ending and is normally omitted in speech and writing.

मत (Mat)

The primary negative marker used before verbs to express prohibitions or negative commands, especially with familiar (तुम) and intimate (तू) forms.

न (Na)

A negative particle used to express negative commands, commonly found in formal constructions and polite notices (e.g., कृपया घास पर न चलिए).

ज़रा (Zara)

A word meaning 'just' or 'a little' placed before an imperative to make everyday requests gentler and softer.

कृपया (Kripya)

A formal term meaning 'kindly' or 'please', predominantly used in formal writing, official notices, business communications, and polite requests.

Deferential Imperative (-ईएगा / -iyega)

A very formal imperative form created by adding 'गा' to the formal imperative (e.g., जाइएगा / baithiyega), used to demonstrate great deference rather than everyday speech.

लीजिए (Leejiye)

The irregular formal imperative form of the verb लेना (lena - to take), meaning 'please take'.

दीजिए (Deejiye)

The irregular formal imperative form of the verb देना (dena - to give), meaning 'please give'.

कीजिए (Keejiye)

The irregular formal imperative form of the verb करना (karna - to do), meaning 'please do'.

पीजिए (Peejiye)

The irregular formal imperative form of the verb पीना (peena - to drink), meaning 'please drink'.

लो (Lo)

The irregular familiar imperative form of the verb लेना (lena - to take), meaning 'take'.

दो (Do)

The irregular familiar imperative form of the verb देना (dena - to give), meaning 'give'.

पियो (Piyo)

The familiar imperative form of the verb पीना (peena - to drink), formed with the shortened vowel pattern for verbs ending in long ई.

सियो (Siyo)

The familiar imperative form of the verb सीना (seena - to sew), meaning 'sew'.

छुईए (Chhuiye)

The formal imperative form of the verb छूना (chhoona - to touch), meaning 'please touch'.

खाना (Khaana)

Verb meaning 'to eat'; imperative forms are खाओ (khaao - familiar), खाईए (khaaiye - formal), and खा (khaa - intimate).

पढ़ना (Padhna)

Verb meaning 'to read/study'; imperative forms are पढ़ो (padho - familiar), पढ़िए (padhiye - formal), and पढ़ (padh - intimate).

जाना (Jaana)

Verb meaning 'to go'; imperative forms are जाओ (jaao - familiar), जाईए (jaaiye - formal), and जा (jaa - intimate).

सुनना (Sunna)

Verb meaning 'to listen'; imperative forms are सुनो (suno - familiar), सुनिए (suniye - formal), and सुन (sun - intimate).

बैठना (Baithna)

Verb meaning 'to sit'; imperative forms are बैठो (baitho - familiar), बैठिए (baithiye - formal), and बैठ (baith - intimate).

आना (Aana)

Verb meaning 'to come'; imperative forms are आओ (aao - familiar), आईए (aaiye - formal), and आ (aa - intimate).

उठना (Uthna)

Verb meaning 'to get up'; imperative forms are उठो (utho - familiar), उठिए (uthiye - formal), and उठ (uth - intimate).

लिखना (Likhna)

Verb meaning 'to write'; imperative forms are लिखो (likho - familiar), लिखिए (likhiye - formal), and लिख (likh - intimate).

बोलना (Bolna)

Verb meaning 'to speak'; imperative forms are बोलो (bolo - familiar), बोलिए (boliye - formal), and बोल (bol - intimate).

देखना (Dekhna)

Verb meaning 'to see/watch/look'; imperative forms are देखो (dekho - familiar), देखिए (dekhiye - formal), and देख (dekh - intimate).

रुकना (Rukna)

Verb meaning 'to stop/wait'; imperative forms are रुको (ruko - familiar), रुकिए (rukiye - formal), and रुक (ruk - intimate).

चलना (Chalna)

Verb meaning 'to walk/go'; imperative forms are चलो (chalo - familiar), चलिए (chaliye - formal), and चल (chal - intimate).

खोलना (Kholna)

Verb meaning 'to open'; imperative forms are खोलो (kholo - familiar), खोलिए (kholiye - formal), and खोल (khol - intimate).

बंद करना (Band karna)

Compound verb meaning 'to close'; imperative forms are बंद करो (band karo - familiar), बंद कीजिए (band keejiye - formal), and बंद कर (band kar - intimate).

लाना (Laana)

Verb meaning 'to bring'; imperative forms are लाओ (laao - familiar), लाईए (laaiye - formal), and ला (laa - intimate).

पूछना (Poochhna)

Verb meaning 'to ask'; imperative neutral form is identical to the infinitive (पूछना).