Slovak · Verb Aspect

Aspect in Commands

In commands, the aspect depends on whether the command is positive or negative.

A positive request for one concrete action uses the perfective: Zavri okno! (Close the window!) Zavolaj mi! (Call me!)
A negative command, when you forbid something, switches to the imperfective: Nezatváraj okno! (Don't close the window!) Nekupujte to! (Don't buy it!)
A warning about something that could happen by accident stays perfective: Nezabudni kľúče! (Don't forget the keys!) Nespadni! (Don't fall!) Nestrať to! (Don't lose it!)

The rule is the same for ty (Zavri, Nezatváraj), vy (Zavrite, Nezatvárajte) and my (Zavrime, Nezatvárajme).

Examples

(Zavrieť) okno, prosím! (ty)Show answer

Zavri okno, prosím! (ty)

(Nezavrieť) okno, je tu dusno! (ty)Show answer

Nezatváraj okno, je tu dusno! (ty)

(Zavolať) mi večer! (ty)Show answer

Zavolaj mi večer! (ty)

(Nezavolať) mi po desiatej večer! (ty)Show answer

Nevolaj mi po desiatej večer! (ty)

(Kúpiť) v obchode mlieko, prosím! (vy)Show answer

Kúpte v obchode mlieko, prosím! (vy)

(Nekúpiť) mi nič, prosím! (vy)Show answer

Nekupujte mi nič, prosím! (vy)

(Nezabudnúť) si dáždnik! (ty)Show answer

Nezabudni si dáždnik! (ty)

(Otvoriť) dvere, prosím! (vy)Show answer

Otvorte dvere, prosím! (vy)

(Neotvoriť) to víno, je na oslavu! (ty)Show answer

Neotváraj to víno, je na oslavu! (ty)

(Nespadnúť), je tam šmykľavo! (ty)Show answer

Nespadni, je tam šmykľavo! (ty)