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What Are Imperatives in English?

Imperatives are a special type of verb form. We use them when we want to tell someone directly what to do.

Think of them as direct messages to one person or a group of people. They are very common in daily life.

• They give commands: “Stop!”
• They give instructions: “Mix the ingredients.”
• They offer advice: “Eat healthy food.”
• They give warnings: “Be careful!”

How Do We Form Positive Imperatives?

Forming positive imperatives is very easy in English. You simply use the base form of the verb.

The base form is the verb without 'to' and without any subject like 'I', 'you', 'he', 'she', 'it', 'we', or 'they'.

• Verb (base form)

For example:

• "Open the book." (The verb is open)
• "Listen to me." (The verb is listen)
• "Go straight." (The verb is go)

How Do We Form Negative Imperatives?

To tell someone NOT to do something, we use negative imperatives. This form is also simple.

You add "Don't" before the base form of the verb.

• Don't + Verb (base form)

For example:

• "Don't touch that!"
• "Don't be late."
• "Don't forget your keys."

Using 'Be' in Imperatives

The verb "be" follows the same rules for imperatives.

For positive imperatives, use "Be":

• "Be quiet!"
• "Be careful."
• "Be honest with me."

For negative imperatives, use "Don't be":

• "Don't be silly."
• "Don't be afraid."

When Do We Use Imperatives?

Imperatives are very useful in many everyday situations. Here are some common uses:

• Giving instructions: "Turn left at the traffic lights."
• Giving commands: "Sit down!"
• Giving advice: "Try to relax."
• Making suggestions: "Let's go to the park." (This uses Let's, which is a form of imperative for suggesting to a group.)
• Giving warnings: "Watch out!"
• In recipes: "Add the sugar."
• On signs: "Stop.", "No parking."

How to Make Imperatives More Polite

Sometimes, imperatives can sound too direct or impolite. You can make them softer by adding "please".

You can put "please" at the beginning or at the end of the sentence. If it's at the end, use a comma before it.

• "Please close the door."
• "Close the door, please."
• "Please don't make noise."
• "Don't forget your passport, please."

Summary of Imperative Forms

Type	Form	Example
Positive	Verb (base form)	"Read the sign."
Negative	Don't + Verb (base form)	"Don't run."
Positive (with 'be')	Be + adjective/noun	"Be patient."
Negative (with 'be')	Don't be + adjective/noun	"Don't be late."

Examples

• Come in!
• Wait for me.
• Don't worry about it.
• Be quiet, please.
• Don't open that box.
• Listen carefully.
• Take a deep breath.
• Don't forget your umbrella.

Practice

Common mistakes for Spanish speakers

Spanish speakers sometimes make specific mistakes with English imperatives:

• Adding 'you': In Spanish, you often use 'tú' or 'usted' with commands. In English, we do not use 'you' with imperatives.
  Wrong: "You close the door."
  Correct: "Close the door."
• Using 'to' with the verb: The base form of the verb is used directly, without 'to'.
  Wrong: "To wait here."
  Correct: "Wait here."
• Incorrect negative form: Sometimes learners might use 'not' alone or 'no' before the verb. Always use "Don't".
  Wrong: "Not go there."
  Wrong: "No smoke."
  Correct: "Don't go there."
  Correct: "Don't smoke."

Frequently asked questions

What is the main use of imperatives?

The main use of imperatives is to give direct commands, instructions, advice, or warnings to one or more people. For example, "Come here!"

How do I make an imperative polite?

To make an imperative more polite, you can add "please" at the beginning or end of the sentence. For example, "Please sit down." or "Sit down, please."

Can imperatives be used for suggestions?

Yes, imperatives can be used for suggestions, especially with "Let's" (short for "Let us"). For example, "Let's go to the cinema."

How are imperatives used in the A2 Key (KET) exam?

In the A2 Key exam, you might see imperatives in various parts. For example, in Reading and Writing Part 6 (Open Cloze), you might need to complete a sentence with an imperative. In Part 7 (Short Communicative Message), you might write a message giving instructions or advice, using imperatives like "Meet me at..." or "Don't forget to..."

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