imperatiivissa

Imperatiivissa refers to the imperative mood in Finnish grammar. It is used to express commands, instructions, requests and warnings, addressed directly to the listener or listeners. The imperative forms in Finnish are primarily the second person: singular for one person and plural for several people, with the subject sinä or te implied rather than stated.

Formation and forms

- Singular imperative: formed from the verb stem with no personal ending, often ending in -a/-ä, -e or other vowel sounds depending on the verb. Examples: tule (come), sano (say), tee (do), kirjoita (write). Some verbs have irregulars, such as ole (be) and ole hyvä (please be kind).

- Plural imperative: formed by adding -kaa/-kää to the stem. Examples: tulkaa (come), kirjoittakaa (write), tehkää (do). For the verb olla the plural is olkaa.

- Negative imperative: formed with älä (singular) or älkää (plural) preceding the verb, which keeps its basic present-form in practice. Examples: Älä tule! Älkää tulko! Älä tee! Älkää tehkö!

Usage and tone

The imperative can convey a range of tones from direct commands to polite requests, often softened in context. In polite or formal situations, speakers may use questions or indirect forms, or add phrases such as olkaa hyvä (you all, please) when offering something. Imperatives are common in directions, recipes, signs and instruction manuals, as well as everyday speech.

Historical and linguistic notes

Finnish imperatives exhibit several irregular forms due to historical developments and verb class differences. Despite these irregularities, the imperative remains a core tool for direct communication, providing concise and unambiguous instructions.