The Dutch Imperative: Commands, Recipes & Signs

The essentials

To tell someone to do something, Dutch uses the stem of the verb, the same form as with ik: Kom!, Wacht!, Luister! There is no subject and no -t, and the verb comes first.

Core rule: command = stem, first in the sentence. The only verb with its own form is zijn: wees.

Infinitive	Stem	Command
komen	kom	Kom hier! Kom hier! - Come here!
wachten	wacht	Wacht even! Wacht even! - Wait a moment!
luisteren	luister	Luister goed. Luister goed. - Listen carefully.
gaan	ga	Ga zitten. Ga zitten. - Sit down.
doen	doe	Doe de deur dicht. Doe de deur dicht. - Close the door.
zijn	—	Wees voorzichtig! Wees voorzichtig! - Be careful!

💡 The command is the same for one person or many: Kom binnen! works for your friend and for a whole class.

Separable, Reflexive, Negative and Polite

Everything you know about word order still applies. A separable verb splits: stem first, prefix at the end. A reflexive verb keeps its pronoun (je, because you speak to "you"). Niet goes where it would go anyway.

Type	Example
Separable	Sta op! Het is al acht uur. Sta op! Het is al acht uur. - Get up! It is already eight o'clock.
Separable with an object	Doe het licht uit. Doe het licht uit. - Turn off the light.
Reflexive	Haast je! Haast je! - Hurry up!
Reflexive and separable	Kleed je aan. Kleed je aan. - Get dressed.
Negative	Doe dat niet! Doe dat niet! - Don't do that!
Negative with wees	Wees niet bang. Wees niet bang. - Don't be afraid.
Polite, with u	Komt u binnen. Komt u binnen. - Please come in.
Polite, with u	Gaat u zitten. Gaat u zitten. - Please take a seat.

💡 The u-form is stem + t + u: Komt u binnen, Neemt u plaats. You hear it at the doctor's, in shops and from officials. Among friends, the bare stem is normal.

Softening a Command: Even, Maar and Eens

A bare command can sound bossy. Dutch speakers add a small word that changes the tone. These words have no exact English translation; learn the feeling.

Word	Feeling	Example
even	just, quickly: a small favour	Geef me even het zout. Geef me even het zout. - Could you pass me the salt?
		Wacht even, alsjeblieft. Wacht even, alsjeblieft. - Just a moment, please.
maar	go ahead: permission, encouragement	Kom maar binnen! Kom maar binnen! - Come on in!
		Ga maar zitten. Ga maar zitten. - Go ahead and sit down.
eens	have a try, have a look	Kijk eens! Wat een mooie fiets! Kijk eens! Wat een mooie fiets! - Look! What a lovely bike!
		Probeer het maar eens. Probeer het maar eens. - Go on, give it a try.

Real-life note: Geef het zout sounds like an order. Geef me even het zout, alsjeblieft sounds like a friend asking. The small word does the work that "could you…?" does in English.

Recipes, Instructions and Signs

When a recipe or a person speaks to you, it uses the stem. On signs, labels and in many printed instructions, Dutch uses the infinitive instead, often with niet in front.

Where	Form	Example
Recipe	stem	Snijd de uien klein. Snijd de uien klein. - Chop the onions finely.
Recipe	stem	Kook de pasta tien minuten. Kook de pasta tien minuten. - Cook the pasta for ten minutes.
Recipe	stem, separable	Voeg een beetje zout toe. Voeg een beetje zout toe. - Add a little salt.
Sign	infinitive	Niet roken. Niet roken. - No smoking.
Sign	infinitive	Niet parkeren. Niet parkeren. - No parking.
Door	infinitive	Duwen. Duwen. - Push.
Door	infinitive	Trekken. Trekken. - Pull.
Hotel door	infinitive	Niet storen. Niet storen. - Do not disturb.

💡 Some recipe websites write every step with the infinitive at the end: De uien klein snijden. Both styles mean the same.

COMMON MISTAKES

Mistakes English Speakers Make

English commands are just the bare verb, which matches Dutch well. The trouble starts with -t, zijn, and separable verbs.

✗ ~~Komt hier!~~ ✓ Kom hier!

A command is only the stem: no -t (unless you add u).

✗ ~~Ben stil!~~ ✓ Wees stil!

Zijn has its own command form: wees.

✗ ~~Opsta!~~ ✓ Sta op!

Separable verbs split in commands too: stem first, prefix last.

✗ ~~Niet rook. (on a sign)~~ ✓ Niet roken.

Signs use the infinitive.

✗ ~~Haast!~~ ✓ Haast je!

Reflexive verbs keep their pronoun: je.

PRACTICE

A2 Lesson 4 Practice

Choose one activity below. Questions reuse words from the A1 course and A2 lessons 1 to 4.

Option 1: Choose The Command

The situation tells you the verb. Pick the right command form.

Question 0/8 Score 0

The Dutch Imperative: Commands, Instructions and Signs

The essentials

Separable, Reflexive, Negative and Polite

Softening a Command: Even, Maar and Eens

Recipes, Instructions and Signs

Mistakes English Speakers Make

A2 Lesson 4 Practice

Option 1: Choose The Command

Option 2: What Would You See Or Say?

Option 3: Build The Command