Imperative forms are the verbal forms used in commands, orders, requests, warnings, prohibition,s etc. In this form, the subject will always be in the second person which is generally not mentioned in the sentence.
When tu is the subject, the verb remains in its root form/base form.
You come – तू आ – Tu aa – Here aa is come and is in its root form. We leave out the Tu and just say aa.
You sit – तू बैठ – Tu bait – Here bait is sit and is in its root form. We leave out the Tu and just say bait.
You eat – तू खा – Tu khaa – Here kha is eat and is in its root form. We leave out the Tu and just say kha.
When tum is the subject, ओ o (sound or letter) is added to the root verb.
You come – तुम आओ – Tum aao. We leave out the Tum and just say aao.
You sit – तुम बैठो – Tum baito. We leave out the Tum and just say baito.
You eat – तुम खाओ – Tum khaao. We leave out the Tum and just say khao.
Below four verbs are the exceptions here which does not follow the above rule:
You give – तुम दो – Tum do – De दे is the root verb here.
You take – तुम लो – Tum lo – Le ले is the root verb here.
When aap is the subject, इए iye (sound or letter) is added to the root verb.
You (please) come – आप आइए – Aap aaiye. We leave out the Aap and just say aaiye.
You (please) sit – आप बैठिए – Aap baitiye. We leave out the Aap and just say baitiye.
You (please) eat – आप खाइए – Aap khaaiye. We leave out the Aap and just say khaaiye.
Below four verbs are the exceptions here which does not follow the above rule:
You (please) take – आप लीजिए – Aap leejiye. Le ले is the root verb here.
You (please) give – आप दीजिए – Aap deejiye. De दे is the root verb here.
You (please) pee – आप पीजिए – Aap peejiye. Pee पी is the root verb here.
You (please) do – आप कीजिए – Aap keejiye. Kar कर is the root verb here.
The aap version is the polite version and can be used on everyone. Not only the version, but the tone also matters in imperatives. A softer tone of voice is used in imperative sentences.
Examples:
You teach
तू सीखा – Tu seekha
तुम सिखाओ – Tum seekhao
आप सिखाइए – Aap sikhaaiye
You run
तू दौड़ – Tu daud
तुम दौड़ो – Tum daudo
आप दौड़िए – Aap daudiye
You write
तू लिख – Tu likh
तुम लिखो – Tum likho
आप लिखिए – Aap likhiye
You bring
तू ला – Tu la
तुम लाओ – Tum laao
आप लाइए – Aap laaiye
You say
तू बोल – Tu bol
तुम बोलो – Tum bolo
आप बोलिये – Aap boliye
Notes:
1. More politeness is expressed by adding to गा gaa to the verb in aap form only.
You please teach – आप सिखाइएगा – aap sikhaayigaa
You please run – आप दौड़िएगा – aap daudiyegaa
You please write – आप लिखिएगा – aap likhiyega
2. The negative form of the imperative is obtained by placing मत mat or न na immediately before the verb. Of the two, na is polite but weak and mat is emphatic but less polite. नहीं naheen is not used in imperatives.
तू मत ला – Tu la – Don’t bring
तुम मत लाओ – Tum laao – Don’t bring
आप मत लाइए – Aap laaiye – Please don’t bring
तू न ला – Tu la – Don’t bring
तुम न लाओ – Tum laao – Don’t bring
आप न लाइए – Aap laaiye – Please don’t bring
3. Adverbs ज़रा jaraa (just a bit) and kripaya कृपया (please) are often used at the beginning of a command or request to make it more polite.
ज़रा बोलो – Jaraa bolo – Kindly speak
कृपया बोलिये – Krupaya boliye – Kindly speak
Examples:
Please don’t stay – मत ठहरिए – Mat tahariye
Please don’t sleep – न सोइये – Na soyiye
Please bring the book – कृपया किताब लाओ – Krupaya kitaab kao
Please drink the soup – ज़रा सूप पीजिएगा – Jaraa soop peejiyegaa