5.6 Imperatives

Imperative forms are used for giving commands, orders, instructions and making requests. The subject “you” (ਤੂੰ and ਤੁਸੀਂ) a second person pronoun is dropped in the sentence like in English. In Punjabi, there are five types of imperatives using pronouns ਤੂੰ and ਤੁਸੀ these are formal, informal/familiar, intimate, neutral and dialect polite. The form ਤੂੰ is used for instruction, and command. Whereas, the form ਤੁਸੀਂ is used for request.

In order to conjugate/form imperatives, first we need to make verb stem. All the verbs end with ਨਾ/ਣਾ in Punjabi. For example: ਖਾਣਾ (to eat), ਕਰਨਾ (to do).

To make a verb stem, remove ਨਾ/ਣਾ from the verb form. For example: ਖਾ, ਕਰ.

Verbs with roots ending in the vowel combination like ਆਉਣਾ, ਨਹਾਉਣਾ, and ਵਜਾਉਣਾ need ਉਣਾ removed from the verb form to make a stem verb. For example: ਆ, ਨਹਾ, ਵਜਾ.

Five Types of Imperatives

1. Formal and Super Formal Imperative with ਤੁਸੀਂ

The formal and super formal imperative with ਤੁਸੀਂ is used in formal situations, used for someone who is older in age, and higher socio-economic class. It is used for anyone who wants to show respect.

Formation

• If the verb stem ends with a vowel, the formal imperative formation would be: verb stem + ਓ ਜੀ
• If the verb stem ends with a consonant, the formal imperative formation would be: verb stem + ੋ ਜੀ
• If the verb stem ends with a vowel, the super formal imperative formation would be: verb stem + ਇਓ ਜੀ
• If the verb stem ends with a consonant, the super formal imperative formation would be: verb stem + ਿਓ ਜੀ

Examples

• (ਤੁਸੀਂ) ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾਓ ਜੀ। ਖਾਇਓ ਜੀ। (Eat roti please.)
• (ਤੁਸੀਂ) ਇਹ ਕੰਮ ਕਰੋ ਜੀ। ਕਰਿਓ ਜੀ। (Do this work please.)

2. Informal/Familiar Imperative (ਤੁਸੀਂ)

The informal/familiar imperative is used for someone who is of the same age group and same socio-economic class like colleagues, wife to husband, etc.

Formation

• If the verb stem ends with a vowel, the formation would be: verb stem + ਓ
• If the verb stem ends with a consonant, the formation would be: verb stem + ੋ

Examples

• (ਤੁਸੀਂ) ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾਓ। (Eat roti please.)
• (ਤੁਸੀਂ) ਇਹ ਕੰਮ ਕਰੋ। (Do this work please.)

3. Intimate Imperative (ਤੂੰ)

The intimate imperative is used in following situations:

• It is used for someone who is younger in age, lower socio-economic class.
• It is also used with someone who is very intimate to the speaker such as close friends and God.
• It is also used to express anger, insult.

Formation

• The verb stem is used for intimate imperative.

Examples

• (ਤੂੰ) ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾ। ((You) Eat roti.)
• (ਤੂੰ) ਇਹ ਕੰਮ ਕਰ। ((You) Do this work.)

4. Neutral Imperative

The neutral imperative is used for commands which are not supposed to be carried out right away, public notices, instructions and announcements. It is also used to invite people.

Formation

• The infinitive form of the verb is used for neutral imperatives.

Examples

• ਇੱਧਰ ਖਾਣਾ। (Eat here.)
• ਜਲਦੀ ਕਰਨਾ। (Hurry please.)

5. Dialect Polite (ਤੂੰ)

The dialect polite imperative is used in day-to-day life. It is a polite way to give commands and to make requests. It is not used in formal writing.

Formation

• If the verb stem ends with a vowel, the formation would be: verb stem + ਈਂ/ਵੀਂ
• If the verb stem ends with a consonant, the formation would be: verb stem + ੀ

Examples

• (ਤੂੰ) ਰੋਟੀ ਖਾਈਂ/ਖਾਵੀਂ। (Please eat roti.)
• (ਤੂੰ) ਇਹ ਕੰਮ ਕਰੀਂ। (Please do this work.)

Five Types of Imperatives Summary

More on Imperatives

Irregular Verb Forms for (Formal & Informal) Imperatives

Uses of ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ (Please)

The adverb ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ is used with formal, informal and neutral imperatives. The use of ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ is not common in day-to-day life. It is used in formal situations and formal writing such as petitions, public notices, official letters, etc.

• ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਪੰਜਾਬੀ ਬੋਲੋ ਜੀ (Please speak Punjabi.)
• ਕਿਰਪਾ ਕਰਕੇ ਇੱਥੇ ਕੂੜਾ ਨਾ ਸੁੱਟੋ ਜੀ (Please don’t throw garbage here.)

Negation in the Imperative

In order to make negative imperatives, ਨਾ is used before the verbs.

• ਉਧਰ ਨਾ ਜਾਣਾ (Don’t go there.)
• ਇਹ ਕੰਮ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ (Don’t do this work.)
• ਇਸ ਕੁਰਸੀ ਤੇ ਨਾ ਬੈਠੋ ਜੀ (Please don’t sit on this chair.)
• ਇਹ ਕਿਤਾਬ ਨਾ ਖਰੀਦ (Don’t buy this book.)

Test Yourself

Activity 1: Translate and Conjugate the Verbs

1. Translate the following verbs into their infinitive forms in Punjabi. You can use a dictionary for help.
2. Write verb stem for each verb.
3. Write the formal/informal/intimate/neutral/dialect polite forms for each verb.

Activity 2: Choose the Form

Choose the correct form of the pronoun “you.”

Activity 3: Listening

Pre-Listening Activity

Learn/review the following vocabulary.

Listening

Watch the following video carefully.

Post-Listening Activity

Based on the video, fill in the blanks. Use Google input tool to write in Punjabi.

ਧੰਨਵਾਦ!