Dutch imperative (gebiedende wijs)
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Hannelore L.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Corentin D.
35.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Elvira V.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Our offer
Lesson outline
HideDefinition and usage of the Dutch imperative
The Dutch imperative is used to give an order or command. The sentences generally do not have a subject if an imperative is used. The table below shows the different situations in which this Dutch verb tense is used.
| Situation | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| You want to give an order or command. |
|
|
| You want to give an order or command in a polite way. |
|
|
| A command is given in general and not addressed to one specific person. |
|
|
| You want to make a proposal with 'laten we' (let's) |
|
|
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Ivetta I.
35.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Lauren D.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Angelo V.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Johannes D.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Ana M.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Bart N.
39.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Saskia D.
27.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Maaike R.
33.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Leonie B.
27.50 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Michel B.
35.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Ivetta I.
35.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Lauren D.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Angelo V.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Johannes D.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Ana M.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Bart N.
39.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Saskia D.
27.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Maaike R.
33.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Conjugation of the Dutch imperative
1. To give an order or command, the imperative is formed with the present tense
of the first person singular, ik (I). The subject is left out here.
| Verb | Imperative | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| gaan (to go) | ga |
|
|
| lopen (to walk) | loop |
|
|
| blijven (to remain/to keep/to stay) | blijf |
|
|
2. To give a more polite order or command, the second person personal, u (you), is used. The personal pronoun has to be added here.
| Verb | Imperative | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| gaan (to go) | gaat u |
|
|
| lopen (to walk) | loopt u |
|
|
| blijven (to remain/to keep/to stay) | blijft u |
|
|
3. If a command is given in general and not addressed to a specific person, the infinitives of the verbs are used. This happens for example on signs in public places.
| Verb | Imperative | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| gaan (to go) | gaan |
|
|
| lopen (to walk) | lopen |
|
|
| blijven (to remain/to keep/to stay) | blijven |
|
|
4. To make a proposal with 'laten we' (let's), the infinitive of the verb is used in combination with 'laten we'.
| Verb | Imperative | Example | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| gaan (to go) | laten we gaan |
|
|
| lopen (to walk) | laten we lopen |
|
|
| blijven (to remain/to keep/to stay) | laten we blijven |
|
|
Train your skills with the exercises about the imperative below!
Exercises
Exercise to practice Dutch imperative 1
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets to form the Dutch imperative.
Tips: There are four different usages of the imperative in Dutch.
- To give an order or command - first person singular (ik) is used.
- To give a more polite order or command - the second person singular (u) is used.
- To give a command in general - the infintives of the verbs are used.
- To make a proposal with 'laten we' (let's) - the infinitives of the verbs are used with 'laten we'
aan de kant. (gaan) (Get out of the way.)
u naar buiten. (gaan) (Go outside.)
Niet . (roken) (Don't smoke.)
eens mee. (lopen) (Walk with me.)
Laten we bij dit restaurant . (eten) (Let's eat at this restaurant.)
eens stil, ik hoor niks. (houden) (Keep quiet, I cannot hear anything.)
stil. (zitten) (Stay still.)
Laten we naar school . (gaan) (Let's go to school.)
Niet . (voeren) (Don't feed.)
hier zitten tot ik terug ben. (blijven) (Stay here until I come back.)
Exercise to practice Dutch imperative 2
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets to form the Dutch imperative.
Tip: There are four different usages of the imperative in Dutch.
- To give an order or command - first person singular (ik) is used.
- To give a more polite order or command - the second person singular (u) is used.
- To give a command in general - the infintives of the verbs are used.
- To make a proposal with 'laten we' (let's) - the infinitives of the verbs are used with 'laten we'.
stil. (liggen) (Lay down.)
u aan de kant alstublieft. (gaan) (Please move.)
Het gras niet . (betreden) (Do not step on the grass.)
eens recht. (staan) (Stand up straight.)
u even mee naar het kantoor. (komen) (Come with me to the office.)
Laten we ons huiswerk . (maken) (Let's do our homework.)
Verboden te . (parkeren) (No parking allowed.)
niet zo. (schreeuwen) (Don't scream.)
u deze kant op alstublieft. (lopen) (Walk this way please.)
naar de overkant en weer terug. (zwemmen) (Swim to the other side and back.)
Exercises
Exercise to practice Dutch imperative 1
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets to form the Dutch imperative.
Tips: There are four different usages of the imperative in Dutch.
- To give an order or command - first person singular (ik) is used.
- To give a more polite order or command - the second person singular (u) is used.
- To give a command in general - the infintives of the verbs are used.
- To make a proposal with 'laten we' (let's) - the infinitives of the verbs are used with 'laten we'
aan de kant. (gaan) (Get out of the way.)
u naar buiten. (gaan) (Go outside.)
Niet . (roken) (Don't smoke.)
eens mee. (lopen) (Walk with me.)
Laten we bij dit restaurant . (eten) (Let's eat at this restaurant.)
eens stil, ik hoor niks. (houden) (Keep quiet, I cannot hear anything.)
stil. (zitten) (Stay still.)
Laten we naar school . (gaan) (Let's go to school.)
Niet . (voeren) (Don't feed.)
hier zitten tot ik terug ben. (blijven) (Stay here until I come back.)
Exercise to practice Dutch imperative 2
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verbs in brackets to form the Dutch imperative.
Tip: There are four different usages of the imperative in Dutch.
- To give an order or command - first person singular (ik) is used.
- To give a more polite order or command - the second person singular (u) is used.
- To give a command in general - the infintives of the verbs are used.
- To make a proposal with 'laten we' (let's) - the infinitives of the verbs are used with 'laten we'.
stil. (liggen) (Lay down.)
u aan de kant alstublieft. (gaan) (Please move.)
Het gras niet . (betreden) (Do not step on the grass.)
eens recht. (staan) (Stand up straight.)
u even mee naar het kantoor. (komen) (Come with me to the office.)
Laten we ons huiswerk . (maken) (Let's do our homework.)
Verboden te . (parkeren) (No parking allowed.)
niet zo. (schreeuwen) (Don't scream.)
u deze kant op alstublieft. (lopen) (Walk this way please.)
naar de overkant en weer terug. (zwemmen) (Swim to the other side and back.)
What our students say
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
My mother language is Dutch and I mainly teach Dutch nowadays.
However, I have a Master's degree in Spanish and I am also fluent in English.
I offer interactive classes, often focused on speaking skills. I am patient and helpful.
My students come from all over the world, all levels and ages.
I look forward to meeting you!
L. .
Elvira is a wonderful Dutch teacher! Not only she has lots of very useful study material but she also gives great explanations and adds context to make it easier to understand and remember. She explains to me in English but also in Spanish which makes it even easier for me because those are the two languages that I speak.
Elvira V.
Hello! My name is Emilia and I am an experienced language tutor and translator from/to Bulgarian, Spanish, English and Dutch. My biggest passion are foreign languages and I have passed this passion to many of my students throughout the years. Despite the fact I have a Master degree in Economics and International Business and I have worked few years as an economist, my heart always takes me back to my teaching and translation jobs. With 20 years of teaching experience, a great level of patience and dedication to my work, and a great number of happy students, I am here to help you learn Bulgarian and Spanish at your own pace and convenience. Hope to hear from you soon! Best regards, Emilia
Y. .
Emilia is a very kind and supportive teacher. With a reasonable amount of lessons I am now able to conduct business meetings completely in Dutch and feel more confident after each lesson. I would highly recommend Emilia as a teacher to anyone interested in learning a new language. Learning a new language is a journey of self improvement and opens you up to new cultures and friends since you can have more authentic conversations. Do yourself a favor and learn a new language!
Emilia I.
Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
J. V.
Monique is very sweet and attentive to my needs. It has been a pleasure to navigate the Dutch language with her help!
Monique M.
Hello, my name is Michel and I'm a Dutch primary school language teacher. I lived in France for 7 years and I worked for an international school that is well known all over France. I moved to Madeira, Portugal and started to work as online Dutch language teacher 4 years ago. Teaching children and adults is my passion aswel as having fun with learning a new language.
My lessons are adapted to your level and due to my job and experience I have acces to teaching methodes to learn you the basics of the Dutch language or to improve your level. I can help you to improve your level of writing and speaking or help you learn your first words and phrases.
H. M.
Michel / Johannes is really nice, he adapted to my needs and understood my type of learning. Result: really targeted courses that allow me to make rapid progress.
Michel B.
Why should you choose me? Take a look at what people say who have taken online classes with me.
Book lessons with me and
- prepare Dutch exams "Basisinburgering A1" and "Inburgeringsexamen A2". Your full commitment and my energetic, professional approach are the winning combination to help you succeed at once!
- learn Dutch because you live in the Netherlands (or are planning to move there) and still don’t speak the language properly or haven’t started yet. You’ll enjoy your environment more!
- learn Italian for work or because you will move to this beautiful country or simply because you just love it. Let me help you experience the language!
- study Spanish for pleasure, work or because you have to prepare an exam for school and you need to get confident to perform optimally
- get confident in useful daily conversations, meetings at work, exams, and presentations
- overcome the fear of failure; if you have learning problems, feel shy or need a boost of energy you’ll get confident enough to achieve your goals
My lessons are based on conversations. My method is to help you practice the language from the very beginning in spontaneous and direct conversations, using often role plays.
With books, articles, songs, and other interesting and stimulating material I will encourage conversation, develop grammar in a simpler way, and improve pronunciation.
Learning a foreign language is not a matter of doing much effort, but rather of being consistent, enjoying the lessons and allowing your intuition to work with you. You will book immediate results while having fun!
I've been teaching Dutch, Spanish and Italian for many years, in The Netherlands, for private institutes, for the integration of foreigners into society (Inburgering), and online from Italy, where I currently live.
Contact me for a free trial and let me know how I can help you.
CANCELATION POLICY
If you cancel a reservation please do it at least 24 hours before the session
(otherwise I would have to charge you for the lesson).
V. I.
Excellent teacher, classes are dynamic and conversation oriented from the start. Elena is a very attentive teacher, ready to answer all your questions, adapting to your needs as a student.
Elena P.
Thank you very much for your comment, Valeria! It's a pleasure working with you and watching your progress.
Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
P. .
Monique is an outstanding teacher. She is a person with a lot of energy, immense experience, structure and humor. I am very satisfied with her teaching methods. Monique has also expertise when it comes to career advices, proper motivation letter and CV. I am very happy with my lessons and I highly recommend her!
Monique M.
A. W.
Linda is a nice, flexible and professional teacher. She is always well prepared for the lesson and she can explain Dutch grammar very well. I enjoy learning with Linda because I can also choose the topics that interest me the most.
Linda R.
Maybe you need to learn French or Romanian and the momentum is missing. Maybe you are an expert in another area, and you don’t feel to learn a foreign language. I understand it very well because I noticed it many times in my 6 years experience as a teacher and examiner. Though, allow me to communicate with you not as a teacher, but as a permanent and impassioned language learner. Allow me to transfer to you a part of my enthusiasm and my conviction that anyone can learn a foreign language in a funny way. Firstly, I promise you that a foreign language is an open door to another mentality, to another culture. I’m writing from my experience; I’m Romanian and I’m learning French since I was 8 years old. It’s not an easy language, especially at advanced levels, yet in my opinion, it’s the most elegant language. French transferred to me not only an elegant way to express myself - even in my mother tongue but also a different way of thinking; I read in French many classical French writers. During my master studies, I had also the chance to live among French students and I borrowed from them a great way to schedule a working day. I honestly think that learning French or Romanian could mean for you adding value to yourself.
P. D.
I am very happy to be able to take some Romanian lessons with Daniela. She has a lot of experience and is very focused, it helps me to understand the structure of the language and to remember the vocabulary more easily. Romanian is an interesting language, and I am looking forward to discovering the culture of the country.
Daniela C.
I am Senna Slangen. I teach Dutch and English to non-native speakers in Utrecht and Den Bosch. The classes are from A1 to C1 level. The people I teach are refugees (integration exam and state exam), or expats who have to learn Dutch for work or school. Then it's more about business in Dutch. I would like to help you learn the Dutch language.
I. L.
I can really recommend Senna as a Dutch teacher! She is always on time, there is no problem with communication(I had a few teachers before so I see a difference;)) The material is very diverse - we do a lot of grammar and speaking exercises but also discuss articles from newspapers which contain also more informal Dutch. After 4 months of lessons I see a big progress in my Dutch. Moreover Senna is just a nice and patient person so there is no stress during the lesson :)
Senna S.
Learn to communicate in Dutch from the first lesson! Enjoyable classes with teaching materials tailored to your needs. First 15 min. class for free. My name is Karin and I'm from Holland, but I live on the Canary Islands. I love teaching DUTCH and have done so for more than 20 years. I have a Diploma in English Philology. I also have two methodology degrees: the CELTA (Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults of the University of Cambridge) and the FCTBE (Foundation Certificate for Teachers of Business English of the London Chamber of Commerce and Industry).
I have taught at a Business School and ten companies. In the last two years I've mainly been giving private lessons and I've developed a variety of online self-study DUTCH courses. My schedule is flexible and I adapt myself to the needs and interests of my students so that they reach their objectives in the shortest possible time.
Enjoyable classes, with teaching materials tailored to your needs.
How do the classes work? A class lasts 45 minutes. I'll send you the materials we are going to use in class beforehand so you can print them. After the class I'll send you audios of the notes we made, vocabulary etc. My speciality is communication, from beginner level to advanced. So, you will speak some Dutch in the first class already! Why wait any longer? Let's get started! :-)
A. B.
I had my first lesson a couple of days ago and everything went super good! Karin was attentive, transmiting her positivism and helping me with every doubt I had. She really focus on teaching how to pronounce and talk a language, so this is really interesting for me, to practise it & be able to use it in my day by day. I really recommend her to everyone willing to learn a new language :)
Karin L.
Hi Alba! Thank you so much for your wonderful review! I enjoyed our class too & I wish you the best of luck with all your future projects :-)
Hello! My name is Emilia and I am an experienced language tutor and translator from/to Bulgarian, Spanish, English and Dutch. My biggest passion are foreign languages and I have passed this passion to many of my students throughout the years. Despite the fact I have a Master degree in Economics and International Business and I have worked few years as an economist, my heart always takes me back to my teaching and translation jobs. With 20 years of teaching experience, a great level of patience and dedication to my work, and a great number of happy students, I am here to help you learn Bulgarian and Spanish at your own pace and convenience. Hope to hear from you soon! Best regards, Emilia
V. V.
My daughter really loves her lessons with Emilia and feels more and more confident in the Dutch language. I would definitely recommend Emilia if you need to learn Dutch.
Emilia I.
Hello,
I'm offering informal Dutch and English lessons based on conversation and will conduct my lessons for as much as possible in the target language.
I use text, weblinks to tv shows to get us talking and am a fan of the TPRS method.
There's a lot of information on that method online. Basically it's getting to know the structure Dutch and English through simple conversation. (questions about 1 or several sentences on any topic)
I have some useful weblinks to tv shows in Dutch (with subtitles in Dutch) adjusted to your level and the shows are entertaining too. :-)
We can discuss the shows preferably in the target language of course.
I can explain some grammar too if needed and have articles and books ready to read from. This again will be adjusted to your proficiency. But of course if you'd like to focus on a topic which has your interest that is possible as well. This makes it more personal and more fun.
I've been teaching for about a year now on another platform to students from all over the world and really enjoy having the experience again as I used to be a vocal coach back in the days when I attended conservatory in the Netherlands.
I hope to see you here on Co language. :-)
E. C.
Since when I started following lessons with Les, I find my Dutch skills improving much faster than just studying on my books. I really like his teaching method, flexible and spontaneous but indeed useful to improve my speaking and reading skills.
Less J.
English teacher with 13 years teaching experience in Italy. Speaks English and Italian.
Hi, I'm Jason, I'm English and live in Central Italy where I teach English to students of all levels, all ages and all abilities. English for school, for exams or tests, for work or for business.
My methods are based on building your confidence to speak English, developing your listening skills so you can understand English and helping you understand the grammar rules of the English language.
Why in this way? Because my students have the best results when they are able to speak in English as soon as possible. Then, when you can converse in English and understand simple conversation you can develop all your language skills very quickly.
Of course, for some students, grammar and written English is a priority and I can help you develop these skills first if that is what you need.
For others they need to learn specific vocabulary for their work, I have given courses in business, medicine and tourism that can be adapted for all types of work situations.
I am teaching students from 3 to 70 years old and my lessons are adapted for every individual so they have the best opportunity to realize their goals.
If you are interested then please contact me for a chat and a free trial lesson.
A. V.
I have started with English courses because I needed to improve my English language for work. After two weeks of lessons with Jason, I have noticed that my langauge skills have improved a lot. Jason is always well prepared for each lesson and he has a great, interesting and useful teaching materials. Jason has a good speaking and teaching style which keeps me interested during lessons. Thanks Jason for the great lessons ! I highly recommend Jason as great teacher which gives his best for the students !
Jason H.
E. C.
We focused a lot on pronunciation of words and Linda was very helpful, particularly on all those Dutch sounds so difficult for foreigners!
Linda R.
Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
M. P.
Monique is a very sweet and very encouraging teacher. She is very clear in her language and has a good sense of her student's ability and progress. I enjoy studying and learning Dutch with her:)
Monique M.
My mother language is Dutch and I mainly teach Dutch nowadays.
However, I have a Master's degree in Spanish and I am also fluent in English.
I offer interactive classes, often focused on speaking skills. I am patient and helpful.
My students come from all over the world, all levels and ages.
I look forward to meeting you!
L. .
Elvira is a wonderful Dutch teacher! Not only she has lots of very useful study material but she also gives great explanations and adds context to make it easier to understand and remember. She explains to me in English but also in Spanish which makes it even easier for me because those are the two languages that I speak.
Elvira V.
Hello! My name is Emilia and I am an experienced language tutor and translator from/to Bulgarian, Spanish, English and Dutch. My biggest passion are foreign languages and I have passed this passion to many of my students throughout the years. Despite the fact I have a Master degree in Economics and International Business and I have worked few years as an economist, my heart always takes me back to my teaching and translation jobs. With 20 years of teaching experience, a great level of patience and dedication to my work, and a great number of happy students, I am here to help you learn Bulgarian and Spanish at your own pace and convenience. Hope to hear from you soon! Best regards, Emilia
Y. .
Emilia is a very kind and supportive teacher. With a reasonable amount of lessons I am now able to conduct business meetings completely in Dutch and feel more confident after each lesson. I would highly recommend Emilia as a teacher to anyone interested in learning a new language. Learning a new language is a journey of self improvement and opens you up to new cultures and friends since you can have more authentic conversations. Do yourself a favor and learn a new language!
Emilia I.
Do you want to improve your Dutch for work and daily life in the Netherlands? I help young expats enhance their Dutch skills, so you can speak and write with more confidence. Not because you have to, but because you want to! My lessons are practical and focused on what you truly need, whether you’re a beginner or already at a higher level.
What you can expect:
Lessons for beginners to advanced learners (B2 to C1), with a methodical and structured approach
Exercises that fit your work and life in the Netherlands
Focus on building confidence and keeping your self-respect, as you find your place as a new resident
Long-term collaboration, aimed at lasting progress and making the most of your new country
In my lessons, you’ll not only learn the language but also how to communicate your unique value and fully use the opportunities in your new home. This way, you’ll get to know the Netherlands better and make your own special contribution!
Ready to improve your Dutch? Contact me and let’s explore the possibilities!
J. V.
Monique is very sweet and attentive to my needs. It has been a pleasure to navigate the Dutch language with her help!
Monique M.
Hello, my name is Michel and I'm a Dutch primary school language teacher. I lived in France for 7 years and I worked for an international school that is well known all over France. I moved to Madeira, Portugal and started to work as online Dutch language teacher 4 years ago. Teaching children and adults is my passion aswel as having fun with learning a new language.
My lessons are adapted to your level and due to my job and experience I have acces to teaching methodes to learn you the basics of the Dutch language or to improve your level. I can help you to improve your level of writing and speaking or help you learn your first words and phrases.
H. M.
Michel / Johannes is really nice, he adapted to my needs and understood my type of learning. Result: really targeted courses that allow me to make rapid progress.
Michel B.