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Likes, abilities and requests, part 6 of 6
The Imperative in English: Giving Commands (Open the Door, Don't Run)
For orders, instructions, or advice: the base verb with no subject (Open the door). To say no, put Don't first: Don't run.
The idea
What the imperative is
It is the form to tell someone what to do: just the verb, with no subject. To say no, put Don't first.
- No subject. The verb goes first: Open your books.
- Don't to say no. Don't run in the house.
- The same for one or many. Sit down works for everyone.
When to use it
To give orders, instructions, advice, and warnings, at home, on the street, or in a recipe. These expressions go with it:
At home
- Wash your hands.
- Turn off the TV.
- Be quiet.
Instructions
- Turn left.
- Add salt.
- Press the button.
To encourage or calm
- Don't worry.
- Take care.
- Have fun!
- Hurry up!
Examples
- An order
Close the door, please.
- An instruction
Turn right at the bank.
- In the kitchen
Mix the eggs and the milk.
- Saying no
Don't touch the stove!
- Advice
Don't forget your umbrella.
- With be
Be nice to your sister.
How to build it
3 steps
- Start with the verbNo you and no -s:Sit down.
- To say no, Don'tDon't and the base verb:Don't sit there.
- Add please to sound politeAt the start or at the end:Sit down, please.
Affirmative
- base verbWash
- complementthe dishes.
Negative
- Don'tDon't
- base verbopen
- complementthe window.
The rule
With be, never, and please
| Word | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| be | Be careful. | a warning |
| don't be | Don't be sad. | comfort |
| never | Never give up. | strong advice |
| please | Please wait here. | a polite request |
How to pronounce it
don't
/doʊnt/The o glides, as in go; the t is often silent before a consonant.
Check
(blank) the stove. It is hot! Which one goes in the blank?
Don't confuse it with let's
Go home.
You go
Let's go home.
We go together
Go home is an order for the other person. Let's go home includes you: we go together.
Part 5: let'sIn real life
An order without please can sound rude. With please, or with Can you...?, it sounds polite: Please sit down. Can you sit down, please?
Frequently asked questions
Does the imperative change for one person or many?
No: Sit down works for one person or a group.
Can you use you in the imperative?
Sometimes, to show who you are talking to: You sit here, and you sit there. Usually there is no subject.
How do you say never in an order?
Put never first: Never touch the stove. It is stronger than Don't touch the stove.
In short
- An order or instruction: the base verb, no subject: Open the door.
- To say no: Don't + verb: Don't run.
- With an adjective, be: Be careful. Don't be late.
- Please makes it polite: Please sit down.