The verb form used both in English and Greek to give commands is called imperative (Προστακτική). In Greek the imperative is expressed by special verb endings, which can be used to form the imperative.

Πρόσεχε τα λόγια σου! Βγες από το μπάνιο!

Formation

Active Ιmperfective Perfective

-ε γράφε γράψε

–ετε γράφ(ε)τε γράψε(ε)τε

Active Imperfective

–α μίλα

-ατε μιλάτε

medio-passive

–ου ετοιμάσου

-είτε ετοιμαστείτε

The imperative of active verbs like γράφω or μιλάω has two different forms: γράφε / μίλα (on the basis of the imperfective stem) and γράψε / μίλησε (on the basis of the perfective stem).The forms γράφε or μίλα are usually used to express repetition or duration and they denote advice rather than a direct command.

Γράφε κάθε καινούρια λέξη που μαθαίνεις για να την θυμάσαι καλύτερα. Μίλα ελληνικά όσο πιο συχνά μπορείς.

•Passive verbs like ετοιμάζομαι form imperatives in -ου / -είτε on the basis of the perfective stem. The singular form contains the active perfective stem (ετοιμασ-) while the plural form contains the passive perfective stem (ετοιμαστ-).

•Verbs of the B2 group do not have special imperfective forms.

•The endings -α, -άτε (αγάπα, αγαπάτε) normally appear with verbs of group B1. There are also other forms, used in everyday language, such as τρέχα, φεύγα, ανέβα, κατέβα (verbs of group A) and οδήγα, τηλεφώνα, συ(γ)χώρα (verbs of group B2), which take these endings.

• A small group of verbs (μπαίνω, βγαίνω, βλέπω, λέ(γ)ω, πίνω, βρίσκω) form the active perfective imperative differently.

μπες-μπείτε, βγες βγείτε, δες, δείτε, πες, πείτε, πιες, πιείτε, βρες, βρείτε

The same holds true of έρχομαι: έλα, ελάτε

You can also read: Subjunctive

Are you looking for Greek Lessons/ courses in Manchester or online with a professional teacher? Click here: Modern Greek Language courses to learn more about our Greek lessons. You can choose either face to face lessons – if you live in Manchester- or online courses