Questions & Answers about Bitte beenden Sie das Programm und starten Sie es neu.
Is this sentence formal or informal? What role do Sie and Bitte play?
- It’s formal. Sie is the formal “you,” used with strangers, customers, or in instructions.
- Bitte softens the command into a polite request. Without Bitte, it’s still polite because of Sie, just a bit more direct.
How would I say this to a friend or a coworker I use du with?
- du-imperative: Beende das Programm und starte es neu.
- ihr-imperative (to several people you use ihr with): Beendet das Programm und startet es neu.
- You can place bitte as desired: Beende bitte …, … bitte.
Why is Sie capitalized? How do I know it’s not “she/they”?
- Capital Sie = formal “you.” Verb ends in -en: beenden Sie, starten Sie.
- Lowercase sie can mean “she” or “they.” The verb ending shows which:
- sie beendet = she ends
- sie beenden = they end (same ending as formal you, but lowercase)
Why is there no comma before und?