The Dutch imperative (gebiedende wijs) is formed from the bare verb stem — the infinitive minus -en: komen → Kom! (Come!), gaan → Ga! (Go!), stoppen → Stop! (Stop!), eten → Eet! (Eat!), werken → Werk! (Work!). The stem form is used for both informal singular and plural — unlike English, Dutch does not distinguish these in the imperative. For formal address with u, the infinitive form is sometimes used: Wilt u alstublieft wachten (Would you please wait).
Softening commands: the modal particle maar makes commands warmer: Kom maar binnen (Do come in), Ga maar zitten (Please sit). Adding alsjeblieft (please — informal) or alstublieft (please — formal) is standard. Using the question form Wil je…? or Kun je…? (Will you…? / Can you…?) is more polite than a bare command: Wil je even wachten? (Would you mind waiting a moment?). Zou je… kunnen (Could you possibly…) is the most polite form.
Negative imperatives use Niet + imperative: Niet doen! (Don’t do it!), Niet roken (No smoking), Niet storen (Do not disturb). Or the construction: Loop niet zo hard (Don’t walk so fast). Written instructions and recipes use the infinitive as an impersonal imperative: Voeg de eieren toe en roer goed door (Add the eggs and stir well — infinitive form for written instructions). Signs use the noun form: Verboden toegang (No entry — literally Forbidden access).