Questions & Answers about Bleiben Sie bitte ruhig!
Why is the verb Bleiben at the beginning of the sentence?
In German, when you give a command or make a request (the imperative mood), the verb comes first. Since this is a formal command, it uses the infinitive form of the verb, Bleiben, right at the start.
Why is the pronoun Sie included? Don't commands usually drop the word "you"?
In English, we drop the "you" (we say "Stay calm!" instead of "You stay calm!"). In German, however, when you give a command to someone you address formally, you must include the formal pronoun Sie. It always comes directly after the verb.
I thought ruhig meant "quiet". Does it mean "calm" here?
Yes! The word ruhig can mean "quiet" (like a quiet room) or "calm" (like a calm person). In an emergency or stressful situation, telling someone to stay ruhig means you want them to stay calm.
Could I put bitte at the very beginning of the sentence instead?
Absolutely. You can say Bitte bleiben Sie ruhig! Putting bitte (please) in the middle of the sentence after the pronoun, as seen here, is just as common and sounds very natural.
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