Imperative Sentence - Giving orders or instructions

Category
Basic Grammar
Premium
Keyword #
-으세요, 명령문, -지 마세요
Lesson
5

TL;DR

  • Use -(으)세요 to give polite commands or instructions (like "Please do this!") 💁‍♀️
  • Use -지 마세요 to tell someone politely NOT to do something (like "Please don't do that!") 🙅‍♂️
  • These are the go-to polite forms for giving directions, advice, or gentle orders in Korean! ✨

Making Polite Commands with -(으)세요 🎯

Want to tell someone to do something politely? Just add -(으)세요 to the verb stem! 🌟
The pattern:
  • If the verb stem ends in a vowel → add -세요
  • If the verb stem ends in a consonant → add -으세요

Examples 💬

→ 앉으세요.
(Please sit down.) 🪑
→ 천천히 드세요.
(Please eat slowly.) 🍽️
→ 여기에 이름을 쓰세요.
(Please write your name here.) ✍️
→ 내일 다시 오세요.
(Please come again tomorrow.) 👋
→ 전화하세요.
(Please call.) 📞

Telling Someone NOT to Do Something with -지 마세요 🚫

To politely tell someone to stop doing something or not to do it, use -지 마세요! 🛑
This one is super easy because it works the same way for ALL verbs—no vowel/consonant rules to worry about! 🎉
The pattern:
  • Verb stem + -지 마세요

Examples 💬

→ 걱정하지 마세요.
(Please don't worry.) 😌
→ 늦지 마세요.
(Please don't be late.) ⏰
→ 문 열지 마세요.
(Please don't open the door.) 🚪
→ 만지지 마세요.
(Please don't touch.) 🙌
→ 울지 마세요.
(Please don't cry.) 😢

When to Use These Forms 🤔

These polite imperative forms are perfect for: 💯
  • Giving instructions (like in a recipe or manual) 📖
  • Making requests (asking someone to do something nicely) 🙏
  • Offering advice or suggestions (recommending what someone should do) 💡
  • Giving directions (telling someone where to go) 🗺️
They sound respectful and polite, so you can use them with anyone—strangers, customers, older people, or even friends when you want to be gentle! 🌸

Exceptions ⚠️

Irregular Verbs with -(으)세요 🔄

Some verbs don't follow the regular pattern perfectly! Watch out for these common ones: 👀
ㄹ-dropping verbs:
When the stem ends in ㄹ, drop the ㄹ before adding -세요!
→ 살다 (to live) → 사세요 🏠
→ 만들다 (to make) → 만드세요 🛠️
ㅂ irregular verbs:
When the stem ends in ㅂ, change ㅂ to 우 before adding -세요!
→ 돕다 (to help) → 도우세요 🤝
→ 춥다 (to be cold) → 추우세요 (This one means "Are you cold?" not a command, but same pattern!) ❄️
ㄷ irregular verbs:
When the stem ends in ㄷ, change ㄷ to ㄹ before adding -으세요!
→ 듣다 (to listen) → 들으세요 👂
→ 걷다 (to walk) → 걸으세요 🚶‍♀️
That's it! Now you can give polite commands and tell people (nicely!) what not to do! 🎊 Practice using these in real situations and you'll sound super natural! 화이팅! 💪✨
 
Try the following exercise.
Fill in the blanks using -으세요 or -지 마세요 to give polite commands or prohibitions. 📝
 
  • 여기에 이름을 ___. (쓰다)
      • Answer
      쓰세요
 
 
  • 늦게 ___. (오다)
      • Answer
      오지 마세요
 
 
  • 천천히 ___. (걷다)
      • Answer
      걸으세요
 
 
  • 여기서 담배를 ___. (피우다)
      • Answer
      피우지 마세요
 
 
  • 문을 ___. (닫다)
      • Answer
      닫으세요
 
 
  • 큰 소리로 ___. (말하다)
      • Answer
      말하지 마세요
 
 
  • 이 약을 하루에 세 번 ___. (먹다)
      • Answer
      드세요
 
 
  • 걱정하지 ___. (걱정하다)
      • Answer
      마세요
 
 
  • 창문을 ___. (열다)
      • Answer
      여세요
 
 
  • 핸드폰을 ___. (사용하다)
      • Answer
      사용하지 마세요
Vocabulary
쓰다 - to write
오다 - to come
늦게 - late
걷다 - to walk
천천히 - slowly
담배 - cigarette
피우다 - to smoke
문 - door
닫다 - to close
큰 소리로 - loudly
말하다 - to speak
약 - medicine
하루 - day
번 - times
먹다/드시다 - to eat/take
걱정하다 - to worry
창문 - window
열다 - to open
핸드폰 - cell phone
사용하다 - to use
Common mistakes
  • 🚫 Forgetting to drop the 다 before adding -으세요 or -지 마세요
  • 🚫 Using -으세요 after verb stems ending in a vowel (just use -세요 instead)
  • 🚫 Mixing up positive commands (으세요) with negative commands (지 마세요)
  • 🚫 Forgetting to use the honorific form 드세요 instead of 먹으세요 when speaking politely about eating or drinking