A1Grammar

Let’s Learn Imperatives in English!

Posted on by adminatlingofrnd

Hello everyone! Welcome to your easy English grammar lesson. Today, we are going to learn about imperatives. Don’t worry, it sounds like a big word, but it’s actually very simple and super useful for speaking English every day. Imperatives are all about giving commands, instructions, and making requests. Ready to learn how to use them? Let’s go!

What are Imperatives?

Imperatives are sentences that we use to tell someone to do something. Think of them as commands or instructions. We use imperatives when we want someone to take action. In English grammar, imperatives are very direct and to-the-point. They are used a lot in daily conversations, especially when we want to guide someone or ask them to do something quickly.

Here are some simple examples of imperatives:

  • Stop! (A very direct command)
  • Listen to me. (An instruction)
  • Open the door, please. (A polite request)

Notice something important: In imperative sentences, we usually don’t use a subject like ‘you’, ‘he’, or ‘she’. The subject ‘you’ is understood. We are always talking to someone and telling them to do something, even if we don’t say “you”.

How to Make Imperatives

Making imperatives is very easy! You just need to use the base form of the verb. The base form is the simple form of the verb, like ‘go’, ‘eat’, ‘speak’, ‘write’. No extra endings like -s, -ed, or -ing!

Here’s the basic structure:

Base Verb + (Optional: Object or more information)

Let’s look at some examples to understand this better:

  • Sit down. (Verb: sit)
  • Come here. (Verb: come)
  • Eat your vegetables. (Verb: eat, Object: your vegetables)
  • Speak English. (Verb: speak, Object: English)
  • Write your name. (Verb: write, Object: your name)

See how simple that is? Just use the verb! This makes imperatives a very basic English grammar point, perfect for beginners learning English.

Positive and Negative Imperatives

So far, we’ve looked at positive imperatives – telling someone what to do. But what if you want to tell someone not to do something? That’s when we use negative imperatives.

To make a negative imperative, we use “Do not” or the short form “Don’t” before the base verb.

Structure for negative imperatives:

Don’t / Do not + Base Verb + (Optional: Object or more information)

Let’s see some examples of negative imperatives:

  • Don’t shout. (Verb: shout)
  • Do not touch that. (Verb: touch, Object: that)
  • Don’t be late. (Verb: be, Adjective: late)
  • Don’t speak loudly in the library. (Verb: speak, Adverb: loudly, Prepositional Phrase: in the library)
  • Do not write on the walls. (Verb: write, Prepositional Phrase: on the walls)

Remember, “Don’t” is more common in spoken English and informal writing. “Do not” is a bit more formal.

Polite Imperatives

Sometimes, when we give commands or make requests, we want to be polite. We can make imperatives more polite by adding the word “Please”.

You can put “Please” at the beginning or at the end of the imperative sentence.

Examples of polite imperatives:

  • Please, sit down. (At the beginning)
  • Help me, please. (At the end)
  • Please be quiet. (At the beginning)
  • Open the window, please. (At the end)
  • Please don’t go there. (In negative imperatives, ‘please’ usually comes before ‘don’t’ or at the end of the sentence – “Don’t go there, please.”)

Using “Please” makes your requests and instructions much softer and more friendly. It’s very important to use “Please” to be polite in English speaking cultures.

Using Imperatives in Daily Life

Imperatives are used everywhere in English! You’ll hear them and use them all the time. Here are some common situations where we use imperatives:

Giving Instructions

When you tell someone how to do something, you often use imperatives. Think about recipes, game instructions, or directions.

  • For a recipe: “Add two eggs. Mix well. Bake for 30 minutes.”
  • For a game: “Roll the dice. Move three spaces. Take a card.”
  • Giving directions: “Turn left at the corner. Go straight for two blocks. Turn right.”

Giving Commands

Sometimes we need to give direct commands, especially in emergencies or when we need someone to act quickly.

  • In an emergency: “Call the police! Help! Stop!“
  • To children: “Clean your room. Do your homework. Be quiet.“

Making Requests

We use imperatives to ask people to do things for us. Remember to use “Please” to be polite!

  • Asking for help: “Help me, please. Pass me the salt, please. Open the door, please.”
  • Asking for information: “Tell me your name. Show me your ticket, please. Explain this again, please.”

Giving Advice

Imperatives can also be used to give advice, especially in a friendly or informal way.

  • Health advice: “Eat healthy food. Drink plenty of water. Get some rest.”
  • General advice: “Be yourself. Don’t worry too much. Have fun!“

Let’s Practice!

Now it’s time to practice using imperatives! Try these exercises:

Exercise 1: Make these sentences into imperatives.

Example: You should be quiet. -> Be quiet.

  1. You should open the window. -> _________
  2. You should not run in the hallway. -> _________
  3. You should listen to your teacher. -> _________
  4. You should close the book. -> _________
  5. You should not eat too much candy. -> _________

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with the correct imperative form of the verb in brackets.

Example: _______ (be) quiet! -> Be quiet!

  1. _______ (come) here, please.
  2. _______ (not touch) that!
  3. _______ (help) me with this bag, please.
  4. _______ (listen) carefully to the instructions.
  5. _______ (do) your best!

Answers to Practice

Answers to Exercise 1:

  1. Open the window.
  2. Don’t run in the hallway. / Do not run in the hallway.
  3. Listen to your teacher.
  4. Close the book.
  5. Don’t eat too much candy. / Do not eat too much candy.

Answers to Exercise 2:

  1. Come here, please.
  2. Don’t touch that! / Do not touch that!
  3. Help me with this bag, please.
  4. Listen carefully to the instructions.
  5. Do your best!

How did you do? Great job! You are now starting to understand and use imperatives in English. Keep practicing!

Practice Speaking Imperatives with Lingofrnd

Learning grammar is important, but speaking is even more important! To really get comfortable using imperatives, you need to practice speaking them. How can you do that?

We recommend Lingofrnd.com, your AI spoken English teacher! Lingofrnd is a fantastic tool that helps you practice speaking English and improve your confidence. You can practice using imperatives in conversations with the AI, and get instant feedback on your speaking.

Imagine practicing giving directions, asking for help, or giving instructions to an AI friend. It’s a fun and effective way to learn!

Ready to start speaking English confidently?

Visit Lingofrnd.com today and Download App to begin practicing imperatives and many other English topics. Start speaking English fluently with Lingofrnd – your AI English speaking partner!

Keep learning and keep practicing. You’re doing great!