Gebt

Gebt is the second-person plural imperative form of the German verb geben, meaning “to give.” It is used to command or request something from two or more people. As an imperative, it typically appears without an explicit subject, with the understood subject being ihr. For example: Gebt mir das Buch. It can also occur in isolated exhortations or warnings, such as Gebt Acht, a common expression meaning “pay attention.”

Grammar and usage notes: In the present tense, the indicative form for ihr is gebt (ihr gebt). The imperative form for addressing a group directly is Gebt, formed from the same stem with the imperative ending. The corresponding forms for other persons are Gib! (du) and Geben Sie! (Sie) for formal address. In negative imperatives, Gebt nicht auf is a typical construction, meaning “don’t give up.”

Contexts and frequency: Gebt appears frequently in everyday speech, especially in households, classrooms, and public instructions. It also appears in written signage, recipes, and interactive dialogue in literature or media. The phrase Gebt Acht, though not a complete sentence in itself, is widely used to warn or advise vigilance.

Etymology and relation to other forms: Gebt derives from the verb geben. It is part of the standard German verb paradigm and contrasts with the singular du-imperative Gib, as well as the formal Sie-form Gaben Sie. Misunderstandings can arise with similar-sounding phrases or with the noun Gebet (prayer), which is etymologically unrelated.

Overall, Gebt serves as a practical, common command form when directing a group to perform the action of giving or to pay attention.