When giving direct instructions or commands to one person, Finnish uses the imperative mood.
To create the command form, take the minä (I) form of the present tense and drop the final -n. This automatically handles any consonant gradation or stem changes.
| Verb Type | Infinitive | Minä form | Command |
|---|---|---|---|
| Type 4 | paeta (to flee) | minä pakenen | Pakene! |
| Type 5 | valita (to choose) | minä valitsen | Valitse! |
Verb Type 4 Commands
Type 4 infinitives end in a vowel plus -ta/-tä (like paeta or suojata). Dropping the -n from the minä form always leaves a vowel at the end of the command.
| Flee immediately if you notice a fire. | Pakene heti, jos huomaat tulipalon. |
| Protect the child, because the situation is bad. | Suojaa lasta, koska tilanne on paha. |
| Answer the doctor and be calm. | Vastaa lääkärille ja ole rauhallinen. |
Verb Type 5 Commands
Type 5 infinitives end in -ita / -itä (like valita or harkita). Because their minä form adds -tse-, their commands consistently end in -tse.
| If there is a fire in the house, choose the stairs. | Jos talossa on tulipalo, valitse portaat. |
| Consider which route is safe. | Harkitse, mikä reitti on turvallinen. |
Combining Safety Instructions
You can string multiple direct commands together to form clear step-by-step instructions.
| Choose the stairs and flee outside, but forget the elevator. | Valitse portaat ja pakene ulos, mutta unohda hissi. |
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