The Imperative Mood: Giving Commands in Finnish
Explore imperatiivin käyttö (the imperative mood) to give instructions and commands
The imperative mood in Finnish is used to give commands, make requests, or offer suggestions. Finnish has singular, plural, and passive forms of the imperative, which allow you to address individuals, groups, or issue general instructions. Learning how to use the imperative mood is essential for practical communication in Finnish.
Forms of the Imperative
1. Singular Imperative (One Person)
To give a command to one person, use the verb stem without any personal endings. The verb stem is typically the infinitive form without -a/-ä, -da/-dä, or other endings.
Examples:
Tule! – Come!
Mene! – Go!
Syö! – Eat!
Puhu! – Speak!
2. Plural Imperative (To a Group)
To address more than one person, add -kaa/-kää to the verb stem. The ending depends on vowel harmony.
Examples:
Tulkaa! – Come (you all)!
Menkää! – Go (you all)!
Syökää! – Eat (you all)!
Puhukaa! – Speak (you all)!
3. Passive Imperative (General Instructions)
The passive imperative is used to give general instructions or commands without specifying who should perform the action. This form is created by adding -ttakoon/-ttäkään to the verb stem.
Examples:
Aloitettakoon! – Let it begin!
Syötäköön! – Let it be eaten!
Tehtäköön päätös! – Let the decision be made!
4. Let’s Form (Inclusive Suggestion)
To make a suggestion that includes the speaker, use the first-person plural form with -kaa/-kää.
Examples:
Mennään! – Let’s go!
Syödään! – Let’s eat!
Puhutaan suomea! – Let’s speak Finnish!
Negative Imperative
To form negative commands, use the negative verb älä (for singular), älkää (for plural), or älköön (for passive/general). Combine these with the verb stem.
Examples:
Älä mene! – Don’t go!
Älkää tulko! – Don’t come (you all)!
Älköön päätös viivästy! – Let the decision not be delayed!
Politeness and the Imperative
While the imperative can sound direct, you can make it more polite by softening commands with words like ole hyvä (please) or using a suggestion form:
Examples:
Ole hyvä ja istu! – Please sit!
Voisitko odottaa hetken? – Could you wait a moment?
Common Commands and Requests
Here are some useful everyday commands in Finnish:
Odota! – Wait!
Kuuntele! – Listen!
Katso! – Look!
Ole hiljaa! – Be quiet!
Anna! – Give!
Ottakaa tämä! – Take this (you all)!
Älä unohda! – Don’t forget!
Spoken Finnish Notes
In casual spoken Finnish, the imperative is often softened for friendliness or brevity:
Tulkaa tänne! → Tulkaa tännepäin! – Come over here!
Mennään! → Lähetään! – Let’s go!
Quick Reference
Singular Command: Verb stem (e.g., Mene! – Go!)
Plural Command: Add -kaa/-kää (e.g., Menkää! – Go!)
General Command: Add -ttakoon/-ttäkään (e.g., Tehtäköön! – Let it be done!)
Negative Command: Use älä/älkää with the verb stem (e.g., Älä odota! – Don’t wait!)
Final Tips
Practice forming singular and plural commands with common verbs.
Pay attention to vowel harmony when using -kaa/-kää or -ttakoon/-ttäkään endings.
Use polite phrases like ole hyvä or suggestion forms when appropriate to soften commands.
The imperative mood is powerful in Finnish, and mastering it will allow you to make clear requests and suggestions.
Onnea käskymuodon harjoitteluun! (Good luck practicing the imperative mood!)