An imperative verb gives a command. An imperative sentence, likewise, is a command in distinction from a declarative sentence which is a statement.
I went to the store.
The verb here is indicative.
Go and get the mail.
Here the verbs are both imperatives. In English, the subject of an imperative verb is rarely stated. It is an implied “you.” For example, in the above sentence, the subject is
(you) go and get the mail.
Greek:
See here.
Hebrew:
Begin here. Imperative verbs are used to express positive commands or instructions directed to another person(s). Thus, they are always in the second person. Imperative verbs can express actions with varying degrees of desirability, including instructions, requests, permissions, invitations, assurances, wishes, etc. The context must determine the meaning of each instance.
Hebrew does not use the Imperative form to express negative commands; see here.
Qal imperative:
|
Parsing |
Hebrew |
Gloss |
|
masculine singular |
כְּבַד |
you must be heavy |
|
feminine singular |
כִּבְדִי |
you must be heavy |
|
masculine plural |
כִּבְדוּ |
you must be heavy |
|
feminine plural |
כְּבַדְנָה |
you must be heavy |
Nifal imperative:
|
Parsing |
Hebrew |
Gloss |
|
masculine singular |
הִקָּטֵל |
you must be killed |
|
feminine singular |
הִקָּטְלִי |
you must be killed |
|
masculine plural |
הִקָּטְלוּ |
you must be killed |
|
feminine plural |
הִקָּטַלְנָה |
you must be killed |
Hifil imperative:
|
Parsing |
Hebrew |
Gloss |
|
masculine singular |
הַקְטֵל |
you must cause to kill |
|
feminine singular |
הַקְטִילִי |
you must cause to kill |
|
masculine plural |
הַקְטִילוּ |
you must cause to kill |
|
feminine plural |
הַקְטֵלְנָה |
you must cause to kill |
Piel imperative:
|
Parsing |
Hebrew |
Gloss |
|
masculine singular |
קַטֵּל |
you must slaughter |
|
feminine singular |
קַטְּלִי |
you must slaughter |
|
masculine plural |
קַטְּלוּ |
you must slaughter |
|
feminine plural |
קַטֵּלְנָה |
you must slaughter |
Hitpael imperative:
|
Parsing |
Hebrew |
Gloss |
|
masculine singular |
הִתְקַטֵּל |
he must kill himself |
|
feminine singular |
הִתְקַטְּלִי |
she must kill herself |
|
masculine plural |
הִתְקַטְּלוּ |
they must kill themselves |
|
feminine plural |
הִתְקַטֵּלְנָה |
they must kill themselves |