Verbs in imperative

[henrike406]

How to conjugate japanese verbs in imperative form?

[QuackingShoe]

The straight-up 'imperative' form involves conjugating the verbs to an -e ending, with the exception of 'iru' and 'eru' verbs which conjugation to -ro endings. IE, 聞け、泳げ、飛べ、見ろ、etc.
This is rather impolite though. There are number of ways to give commands that avoid the imperative. ください is of course one, which is technically imperative but is so nice it functions like a request. Because of this, you can also give orders by leaving off the ください altogether and just finishing in the て form. Careful to make the distinction for some: for instance, 待つ is 待って in the -te form, and 待て in the straight imperative.

Another actual order, though, is なさい, which attaches to the stem of a verb, IE 待ちなさい. Following this, you can give a less polite order (but more polite than a plain imperative) by using stem+な alone, dropping the さい. IE 待ちな. Don't confuse this with dictionary form + な, which is actually the negative imperative, ordering someone not to do something. 待つな.