When to use these plain Te-Forms?


I've studied the use of a polite(?) te-form conjugation that is used to
enumerate actions or for a request (adding `ください`). Examples would be `聞いて`,
`死んで`.

But what about non-polite(?) te-form conjugations? `聞け`, `死ね`, when do you use
them? They rather seem imperative, as if the speaker were giving an order with
an angry tone, but I believe that's actually the case of the `〜なさい` suffix.




Let's talk about the imperative in Japanese: an imperative is a way to give
orders and/or commands. However, the form of these utterances decides whether
they are humble requests to barked orders.

You can find a quite complete reference
[here](http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/requests)

In general you can use a number of forms:

  * ます-stem+`なさい`: this is a polite yet firm request. It is often used to soften orders, between parents and child or boss/employee.

> よく聞｛き｝きなさい！

  * て-form+`ください` or noun+`ください`: This also a polite way of expressing a request, think of "Please do this". This is widely used, I hear it all the time in classrooms:

> 座｛すわ｝ってください！

  * The imperative form that is made from either turning the last syllable of a godan verb to the corresponding `e` pair or by adding `ろ` to the stem of a ichidan verb. This one is used for strong orders, such as those you give to your dog:

> 走｛はし｝れ！ しっかりしろ！

There are other variations, but these are the main imperative forms. Note that
the て-form is one imperative form among many others. Usage of those forms
depends a lot on the context, mainly the current situation and relationship
between the speakers.

An interesting example is `頑張｛がんば｝る`, to do one's best, to strive for
perfection.

  * 頑張りなさい would typically be used by soccer moms encouraging their children.
  * 頑張ってください would be used to encourage a co-worker.
  * 頑張って may be used by friends encouraging you
  * 頑張れ (often written ガンバレ) will be used by sports fan cheering on their favorite team/player.

Unfortunately there is no set rule, so it will take some time to recognize in
which situation which form of imperative is to be used.




Let's talk about the imperative in Japanese: an imperative is a way to give
orders and/or commands. However, the form of these utterances decides whether
they are humble requests to barked orders.

You can find a quite complete reference
[here](http://www.guidetojapanese.org/learn/grammar/requests)

In general you can use a number of forms:

  * ます-stem+`なさい`: this is a polite yet firm request. It is often used to soften orders, between parents and child or boss/employee.

> よく聞｛き｝きなさい！

  * て-form+`ください` or noun+`ください`: This also a polite way of expressing a request, think of "Please do this". This is widely used, I hear it all the time in classrooms:

> 座｛すわ｝ってください！

  * The imperative form that is made from either turning the last syllable of a godan verb to the corresponding `e` pair or by adding `ろ` to the stem of a ichidan verb. This one is used for strong orders, such as those you give to your dog:

> 走｛はし｝れ！ しっかりしろ！

There are other variations, but these are the main imperative forms. Note that
the て-form is one imperative form among many others. Usage of those forms
depends a lot on the context, mainly the current situation and relationship
between the speakers.

An interesting example is `頑張｛がんば｝る`, to do one's best, to strive for
perfection.

  * 頑張りなさい would typically be used by soccer moms encouraging their children.
  * 頑張ってください would be used to encourage a co-worker.
  * 頑張って may be used by friends encouraging you
  * 頑張れ (often written ガンバレ) will be used by sports fan cheering on their favorite team/player.

Unfortunately there is no set rule, so it will take some time to recognize in
which situation which form of imperative is to be used.

