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Using The Imperative Voice For Giving Directions in English

The document discusses using the imperative voice when giving directions in English. The imperative voice uses the base form of verbs without conjugation to give commands. It is necessary for giving directions as you may not have time for polite requests. Some examples of the affirmative imperative are "turn left" and "keep going straight." The negative uses "don't" plus the base verb, like "don't take the next right." While direct, the imperative voice is needed for directions. Phrases can soften it, such as "you will need to." Vocabulary for directions includes terms like "continue," "turn," "intersection," and "speed limit."

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28 views4 pages

Using The Imperative Voice For Giving Directions in English

The document discusses using the imperative voice when giving directions in English. The imperative voice uses the base form of verbs without conjugation to give commands. It is necessary for giving directions as you may not have time for polite requests. Some examples of the affirmative imperative are "turn left" and "keep going straight." The negative uses "don't" plus the base verb, like "don't take the next right." While direct, the imperative voice is needed for directions. Phrases can soften it, such as "you will need to." Vocabulary for directions includes terms like "continue," "turn," "intersection," and "speed limit."

Uploaded by

Natasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Using the Imperative Voice for Giving Directions

in English
To give or receive directions, you must understand the Imperative Voice. This is what we use to give commands (like
directions) in English.

Overview of the Imperative Voice


The Imperative Voice is simply the base form (infinite without the “to”) of any verb. You do not have to
conjugate the verb to match the subjects, as with English tenses. As you can see from the examples below, it
is used to give commands.

Examples:

 Call me when you get home.

 Turn off the car.

 Look over there!

 Come here.

 Stop it.

The Imperative Voice (Affirmative)


When we use the Imperative Voice in the affirmative, we are giving instructions or commands.

Examples:

 Turn left.

 Take the next right.

 Turn in here.

 Keep going straight.

The Imperative Voice (Negative)


For the negative form of the Imperative Voice, we use DO + NOT + BASE VERB. Usually we make DO +
NOT into a contraction.

Examples:

 Don’t take the next right.

 Don’t turn here.

 Don’t drive too fast.


Tips for Using the Imperative Voice
The Imperative Voice is very direct. In normal conversation, it isn’t always the best way to express yourself
because it can seem very impolite. However, in a situation like giving directions, the Imperative Voice is
necessary: you might not have a lot of time to give the directions before you miss a turn!

If you have a little more time, you can “soften” the language a little by adding phrases like “it’s a good idea
to” or “you will need to” before the verbs.

Examples:

 You will need to turn left up here.

 It’s a good idea to take the next left.

 Try to take the next street.

 If you can, turn left up here.

Helpful Vocabulary
The vocabulary words listed below are very helpful for giving directions. How many do you know?

General vocabulary

 continue

 turn

 keep going

 go straight

 on ramp

 off ramp

 highway/freeway

 intersection

 stoplight

 stop sign

 to speed

 speed limit

 corner

 park/parking
 turnoff

Collocations

 take a left/right

 take the next street/turn

Phrasal Verbs

 turn in (to a place)

 pull in (to a place)

 pull over (stop the car and park it on the side of the road)

 slow down

 speed up

 go ahead

 go over (the speed limit)

Practice giving imperative voice directions


Ovde ide vežbanje sa onih stranica što si mi poslao i gore nabrojanih izraza – na bazi mape – pitanja i odgovori:

Excuse me. Could you please tell me how to get to the.. (zoo, hospital, pet shop, motel..)

Sure. Walk down/walk up/walk along .. street ...Museum is on the left, hospital is on the right between the hotel and
the park...
Нова објашњења..
What are 'imperatives'?
Compare these two sentences:

1) 'Could you close the door?'


2) 'Close the door.'

You probably think that the first sentence is more polite than the second – and you are right.

1) is a request. We are asking someone to do something.


2) is an instruction. We are telling some what to do.

Sentence two uses an imperative to tell someone what to do.

The Imperative Voice is very direct. In normal conversation, it isn’t always the best way to express yourself
because it can seem very impolite. However, in a situation like giving directions, the Imperative Voice is
necessary: you might not have a lot of time to give the directions before you miss a turn!

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