59 Imperative Mood

Advertising

Introduction

The imperative is a structure used to give an order or command.

Form

Usually imperatives use a second person (singular/plural) subject.

We usually find this structure in two forms, affirmative and negative:

Affirmative

Its structure, in the affirmative form, is:
Verb (infinitive without to) + …

Infinitive Positive Imperative
To eat Eat!
To dance Dance!
To run Run!
To sleep Sleep!
To work Work!

Negative

Its structure, in the negative form, is:
Don’t + verb (infinitive without to) + …

Infinitive Negative Imperative
To eat Don’t eat!
To dance Don’t  dance!
To run Don’t  run!
To sleep Don’t sleep!
To work Don’t work!

Example

  1. Give orders
    • Come back to the classroom!
    • Don’t play on the computer!
    • Don’t listen to your classmate!
  2. Give instructions
    • Open your book on page 40.
    • Collect your school timetable tomorrow morning.
    • Don’t open that webpage. It has a virus.
  3. Give advice
    • Talk to your maths teacher. He will understand.
    • Don’t study at the party. Go to the library.
    • Don’t send that email. It will only cause further problems.
  4. On signs/notices
    • Pull.
    • Insert 1 Euro.
    • Do not disturb.
  5. Make an invitation
    • See for yourself.
    • Have a magazine.
    • Don’t be afraid to contact your university professor.

Use

We use imperative mood  in affirmative and negative forms. Affirmative imperatives are used to motivate or force someone to do something while negative imperatives are used to prevent someone from doing something.

We use imperatives to:

  1. Give orders (in most cases, with the exclamation mark at the end of the sentence);
  2. Give instructions;
  3. Give advice;
  4. On signs/notices;
  5. Make an invitation (it is only used in the affirmative form).

NOTE: We omit the subject pronoun in imperative sentences.

Summary

The imperative mood implies the use of the second person (singular and plural) and its structure has two forms:

  • Affirmative (base form of the verb): orders, advice or instructions and invitations to motivate or force someone to do something.
  • Negative (don’t followed by the base form of the verb): orders, suggestions, advice or instructions to prevent someone from doing something.

For example:
— Affirmative: “Buy some food for lunch!”
— Negative: “Don’t buy food for lunch!”

NOTE: We usually omit the subject pronoun in imperative sentences.

Let’s revise this content within the {Form} section. Take a look at the {Example} section that shows its use within a context.

Related

The subject pronoun is omitted from imperative sentences.

At B2 level, you can learn more about imperative in passive voice.

Exercises


The exercises are not created yet. If you would like to get involve with their creation, be a contributor.



Ambassadors

Open TextBooks are collaborative projects, with people from all over the world bringing their skills and interests to join in the compilation and dissemination of knowledge to everyone and everywhere.

Become an Ambassador and write your textbooks.

Online Teaching

Become a Books4Languages Online tutor & teacher.

More information here about how to be a tutor.

Translations


Contributors

The Books4Languages is a collaborative projects, with people from all over the world bringing their skills and interests to join in the compilation and dissemination of knowledge to everyone, everywhere.

License