bliv

Bliv is the imperative form of the Danish verb blive, meaning to become or to stay. In everyday speech and in writing, it functions as a direct command asking the listener to adopt a state or to continue an action. Common examples include Bliv rolig (Stay calm), Bliv ved (Keep at it), and Bliv hjemme (Stay home). The form is used for both singular and plural imperatives when addressing someone informally and appears frequently in signs, instructions, and motivational phrases.

Grammatical notes: Blive is conjugated in the present tense as bliver (he/she/it becomes), in the past tense as blev, and the supine form is blevet. The imperative bliv is one of the established, non-finite forms that continues to be used in contemporary Danish.

Etymology and cognates: Bliv derives from the Danish verb blive, with cognates in other Scandinavian languages such as Norwegian bli and Swedish bli. These forms share a common Proto-Germanic root related to remaining or becoming, reflecting a semantic link between staying and changing state.

Usage considerations: Bliv is strictly a verb form and rarely occurs as a proper noun or name in Danish. It is commonly encountered in instructional text, public signage, and everyday commands. In instructional contexts or language learning materials, bliv is often presented alongside other imperative forms to illustrate mood and action in Danish verb conjugation.

See also: Danish language, Danish imperatives, blive.