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Using The Imperative Form in Sentences

The document discusses the imperative form in sentences. It defines the imperative sentence as one that gives advice, instructions, requests or commands, with an implied subject of "you." Imperative sentences typically begin with the base form of a verb and end with a period or exclamation point. To negate an imperative sentence, "don't" is placed before the verb. The bare imperative can come across as impolite, so it is softened with words like "please", "just", or using auxiliary verbs with "do". Everyday examples of the imperative include following directions, medicine instructions, recipes, and advertisements.

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Michelle Funes
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198 views

Using The Imperative Form in Sentences

The document discusses the imperative form in sentences. It defines the imperative sentence as one that gives advice, instructions, requests or commands, with an implied subject of "you." Imperative sentences typically begin with the base form of a verb and end with a period or exclamation point. To negate an imperative sentence, "don't" is placed before the verb. The bare imperative can come across as impolite, so it is softened with words like "please", "just", or using auxiliary verbs with "do". Everyday examples of the imperative include following directions, medicine instructions, recipes, and advertisements.

Uploaded by

Michelle Funes
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© © All Rights Reserved
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Using the Imperative form in sentences

1. Definition
An imperative sentence is a type of sentence that gives
advice or instructions or that expresses a request or
command. (Compare with sentences that make a statement,
ask a question, or express an exclamation.) An imperative
sentence typically begins with the base form of a verb , as in
Go now! The implied subject you is said to be "understood"
(or elliptical): (You) go now! It can be used to talk to one
person or more people.
An imperative sentence ends with a period or an exclamation
point.
Come in. Sit down! Read the paragraph in page
seven. George and Hannah! Do that exercise on the board.
Imperative sentences usually occur in speech acts such as
orders, requests and pleas. However, they are also used to
give advice, and to grant permission, and are sometimes
found in advertisements, good wishes and conditional
constructions.

2.
Negating an Imperative Sentence
To negate a declarative sentence, do is absent and not is
contracted with the verb.

In the corresponding imperative, the auxiliary do is combined


with not and placed at the beginning of the sentence before
the verb.

Declarative Sentence: You aren't lazy.


Imperative Sentence: Don't be lazy.
(Ron Cowan, The Teacher's Grammar of English: A Course
Book and Reference Guide. Cambridge Univ. Press, 2008)

3. Softening the Imperative


The bare imperative is a very direct form in English and
should be used with great care in order to avoid the
perception of impoliteness. It is not generally used to make
requests/commands or give instructions (e.g. in service
encounters in shops or restaurants) except in cases where
people are very familiar with one another, and except where
accompanied by please. . . .
Just
please

and/or can
also
imperative:

[customer and market trader]


A: And some peppers, please.
B: Yeah. How many?

soften

an

A: Just give me two big ones, please.


Imperatives with emphatic do auxiliary verbs are perceived
as more polite than
bare imperatives:
[to guests who have just arrived] Do take your coats off."
(Ronald Carter and Michael McCarthy, Cambridge Grammar
of English Cambridge University Press, 2006)
4. Everyday and real life uses for the Imperative
Everyone uses the imperative form every day. It has a special
place in the exchanges with people that we talk to or in the
most unexpected places. If you ask for directions and
locations, people will use the imperative.
A: Where is the pharmacy?
B: Go two blocks down this street. Its on the right.
A: Is there a bus stop near here?
B: Yes. Turn left and walk one block. Its next to the
supermarket.
When you take some medicine, the usage directions use the
imperative. Take two caplets every six hours with a full glass
of water.
Place two drops in each ear. It is also used when we cook.
You can search for a recipe in a cookbook, on the Internet or

ask your grandmother. Mix the flour with two cups of milk.
Add one tablespoon of butter to the pan. Advertisements use
it to sell their products.
Enjoy Coca-Cola.

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