The imperative
Giving orders and advice: continuous vs aorist imperative (γράφε / γράψε), polite plural and negation with μην.
Two stems
The imperative is built on two stems: the continuous stem for repeated action (γράφε! “keep writing”) and the aorist stem for a single action (γράψε! “write it now”). The singular ending is -ε.
- Γράψε το όνομά σου εδώ.Write your name here.
- Πίνε νερό κάθε μέρα.Drink water every day.
Plural and politeness
For several people, or to be polite, add -τε to the aorist stem: γράψτε, περιμένετε. This is the form used in instructions and announcements.
- Ανοίξτε τα βιβλία σας, παρακαλώ.Open your books, please.
- Περιμένετε ένα λεπτό.Wait a minute.
Negation with μην
The imperative has no negative form of its own: use μη(ν) + subjunctive. Μην γράφεις (don’t write, in general); μην γράψεις (don’t write it, this time).
- Μην ανησυχείς, όλα θα πάνε καλά.Don’t worry, everything will be fine.
- Μην γράφεις εδώ.Don’t write here.
- Μην το γράψεις!Don’t write it!
Common irregular forms
A few very frequent imperatives are irregular and monosyllabic: έλα (come), πες (say), δες (look), βρες (find). Learn them by heart — you hear them every day.
- Έλα εδώ γρήγορα!Come here quickly!
- Πες μου την αλήθεια.Tell me the truth.
- Ελάτε να δείτε!Come and see!
| ρήμα | εσύ | εσείς |
|---|---|---|
| γράφω | γράψε | γράψτε |
| έρχομαι | έλα | ελάτε |
| λέω | πες | πείτε |
| βλέπω | δες | δείτε |
| βρίσκω | βρες | βρείτε |
Pyetjet e bëra shpesh
What is the difference between «γράφε» and «γράψε» in the imperative?
Aspect. «γράφε» comes from the continuous stem: a repeated or lasting action («Πίνε νερό κάθε μέρα» — drink water every day). «γράψε» comes from the aorist stem: one single action, now («Γράψε το όνομά σου εδώ»).
How do you say “don’t do…” in Greek?
The imperative has no negative form of its own: use «μη(ν)» + subjunctive. «Μην ανησυχείς, όλα θα πάνε καλά» (don’t worry), «Μην γράφεις εδώ» (don’t write here, in general), «Μην το γράψεις!» (don’t write it, this time).
Which Greek imperatives are irregular?
The commonest ones are short and irregular: «έλα» (come), «πες» (say), «δες» (look), «βρες» (find). You hear them every day: «Έλα εδώ γρήγορα!», «Πες μου την αλήθεια», «Ελάτε να δείτε!».