Grammar

Imperative Mood

The Imperative Mood (Emir Kipi) is used to give commands, orders, or make strong requests.

Formation:

  • 2nd Person Singular (Sen - You, informal): Use the bare verb stem.
    Example: gel! (Come!), yap! (Do!)
    Negative: Verb Stem + -me/-ma. Example: gelme! (Don't come!)
  • 2nd Person Plural/Formal (Siz - You): Verb Stem + -in / -ın / -un / -ün (or -yiniz/-yınız/-yunuz/-yünüz after vowel stems for extra politeness, often shortened to -yin/-yın/-yun/-yün).
    Example: gelin! (Come!), yapın! (Do!)
    Negative: Verb Stem + -me/-ma + -yin/-yın. Example: gelmeyin! (Don't come!)
  • 3rd Person Singular (O - He/She/It): Verb Stem + -sin / -sın / -sun / -sün.
    Example: gelsin! (Let him/her come!), yapsın! (Let him/her do!)
    Negative: Verb Stem + -me/-ma + -sin/-sın. Example: gelmesin! (Let him/her not come!)
  • 3rd Person Plural (Onlar - They): Verb Stem + -sinler / -sınlar / -sunler / -sünler.
    Example: gelsinler! (Let them come!), yapsınlar! (Let them do!)
    Negative: Verb Stem + -me/-ma + -sinler/-sınlar. Example: gelmesinler! (Let them not come!)

There is no 1st person imperative form in Turkish; the Optative mood is used instead for "let me/us..."

Practice Zone

1. How do you tell one person (informal 'you') 'Don't go!' using 'gitmek' (to go)?