Imperatives are the language forms that we use to tell people to do things. This may mean giving commands, making requests, offering, inviting, urging, or advising. We also use imperatives to tell people not to do something (prohibiting). These are called negative imperatives.

If the imperative verb is intransitive it has the same form as in a statement. So if it has prefix ber- or meN- this remain.  If the verb is transitive the prefix meN– drops.  Thus the meN– remains if verbs is intransitive, like ‘menyanyi‘ ‘sing’ (base nyanyi), but drops if the verb is transitive, like buka ‘open’ (which is membuka in a statement) *)

*)James Sneddon

1. Giving Commands

Commands using intransitive verbs

In intransitive sentences, the form of the verb does not change.

Examples:

Berdiri!	Stand up.
Berangkat besok!	Leave tomorrow.

 

Membaca dulu, kemudian menulis!	Read first, then write.
Menginap di tempat teman saja!	Just stay the night at one friend’s place.

 

Pulang jam 10 malam!	Go home at 10.00 PM.
Keluar sekarang!	Go out now.

Commands using transitive verbs

In transitive sentences, the prefix “me-” is dropped if the object is specific.

Examples:

Lihat dokumen perjalanan ini!	Look at this travel document.
Buka halaman 15!	Open page 15.

 How to make Commands more polite and formal

To make Commands more polite and formal, add different words or part words, such as – lah, harap, hendaklah or hendaknya and mohon.

Using suffix – lah

Examples:

Berhenti!	To stop ( be stationary)
Berhentilah!	Please stop.

 

Menyanyi bersama!	Sing together.
Menyanyilah bersama!	Please sing together.

 

Mulai sebentar lagi!	Start in a moment.
Mulailah sebentar lagi!	Please start in a moment.

 

Tawar ongkos taksinya!	Bargain the taxi fare.
Tawarlah ongkos taksinya!	Please bargain the taxi fare.

 

Using “harap”

The use of harap in imperatives means something like “ You are expected to do this”, even though it is usually translated into English as “please”.

Harap is usually placed at the beginning of the command, if the addressee is not mentioned. When the addressee is mentioned, harap is usually placed after it.

Examples:

Antre di sini!	Line up here.
Harap antre di sini!	Please line up here.
Turis-turis harap antre di sini!	Tourists please line up here.

 

Using “hendaklah” or “hendaknya”

The word hendak forms a part of the noun kehendak, meaning ”a will or wish (to do something)”. By itself, without the prefix, it is used to indicate future action; for example, Mereka hendak pergi ke Bali (They are going to go to Bali).

When used in Commands, either – lah or – nya  is attached to it. Because of their very formal nature, hendaklah or hendaknya are not common in everyday spoken Indonesian and are suitable for telling people to do abstract actions.

Examples:

Hendaklah/hendaknya hal ini menjadi perhatian kita.

Let this matter become our attention.

Hendaklah/hendaknya can also be used for reprimanding very formally.

Hendaknya Anda mengerti betul peraturan ini.

You should really understand this regulation.

 

Using “mohon”

Mohon, which also translates as”please”, is similar to harap in its formality. However, unlike harap, mohon has a sense of urgency and pleading.

Like harap, mohon, can be placed at the beginning of the sentence, to produce a more direct command, or after the mention of the addressee, to make the command a little more indirect.

Examples:

Balas surel/email itu!	Reply that email.
Mohon balas surel/email it!	Please reply that email.
Saya mohon Anda balas surel/email itu!	Literally: I ask you to reply that email. Please reply that email.