The Imperative Future
When a head chef issues an order, it isn't a request—it's a fact. To express this absolute level of authority, German speakers often use the future tense.
To issue an indisputable command—telling someone exactly what they will do—use Futur I. Conjugate werden (usually for du or ihr) in the second position, and place the action verb as an infinitive at the end of the clause.
- Du wirst [something] [infinitive]! (You will do [something]!)
Here is how a head chef speaks to a Lehrling (apprentice):
| You will obey me immediately, because you are the apprentice! | Du wirst mir sofort gehorchen, denn du bist der Lehrling! |
Notice how wirst is in the second position, and the infinitive gehorchen is pushed to the end of the first clause. This leaves no room for argument.
As the dinner rush begins, the orders become more specific:
| You will clean the work surface, apprentice! | Du wirst die Arbeitsfläche putzen, Lehrling! |
| You will chop the truffle quickly! | Du wirst den Trüffel schnell hacken! |
To command multiple people, simply conjugate werden for ihr (werdet):
| You will obey the head chef; you see, that is important to him! | Ihr werdet dem Chef gehorchen, das ist ihm nämlich wichtig! |
Finishing the Dish
Before a dish leaves the kitchen, there are strict final steps to follow:
| You will plate the fillet perfectly! | Du wirst das Filet perfekt anrichten! |
| You will season the broth again; you see, it is too spicy! | Du wirst die Brühe noch einmal abschmecken, sie ist nämlich zu scharf! |
By using Du wirst..., the chef guarantees that every plate meets their exacting standards.