What Is The Imperative

What is the Imperative?
An imperative is a command or order. It can also be used to give

instructions, advice or a warning. Some examples include the following:
 Walk to the corner.

 Sit down please.
 Don’t lose your key.
The base form of the verb is used without a subject. However, the implied
subject is “you.”
It can also be used to make a suggestion using “let’s.” For example:
 Let’s get sushi tonight.

 Let’s not do too much work this weekend.
Imperative Sentence (command)

Get out.Terminator
Imperative sentences are one of the four sentence
types (declarative, interrogative, imperative, exclamative).
Imperative sentences give commands.
form function example
verb.. give a command Stop!

.
What is the form of an imperative sentence?
The typical form (structure) of an English imperative sentence uses the base
verb with no subject. In fact, many imperative sentences consist of nothing but
the verb. Look at these example structures:
verb
Stop
!
...verb..
.
Please sit here.

The final punctuation is usually a full-stop/period (.) or an exclamation
mark/point (!).
Imperative sentences can be in positive or negative form, and can refer

to present or future time.
What is the function of an imperative sentence?
The usual function (job) of an imperative sentence is to give a command or

instruction. It tells us to do something.
Look at these examples:
 Help!
 Go now!
 Don't sit there.
How do we use an imperative sentence?
Although we use imperative sentences to give direct commands, we can also

use them to give instructions more politely than a straight command.
Instructions like this are quite common, for example in a user guide to explain
how to operate a machine. Imperatives can also be used with words like
"please" or "kindly" to add politeness.
Look at these positive and negative examples. You will notice that some of
them refer to present time, some to future time and some to both:
example positive negative

context
army Shoot! Don't move!
user guide Remove the packaging. Open the Do not dispose of

blue box and connect the two wires. battery in the trash.
school Now wash your hands! Don't forget your
homework.
airplane Please remain seated until the Do not smoke in the

seatbelt sign is off. toilets.
hotel Kindly help yourself to fruit. Please don't

forget your
belongings.
friends Please be waiting when we arrive. Don't be late!
Imperative special cases

Imperative with subject
Normally when we use the imperative there is no subject because the subject
is obvious—it's YOU! Sometimes, however, to make the subject clear, we do
use a subject, for example:
 Everybody look!
 Relax, everybody.
 Nobody move!
 John sit down; the rest of you go home.
 Somebody answer the phone!
 You keep out of this!
We can also use you as the subject to imply anger, as in:
 You watch your mouth, young man!

 You be quiet!
 Don't you talk to me like that!
Unreal commands
We often express hope and make suggestions with the imperative form, but
these are not real commands:
 Have a good trip. (hope)

 Enjoy the meal. (hope)
 If there's no olive oil try almond oil. (suggestion)
Imperative with do
If we put do before the imperative the effect is to make requests, apologies
and complaints more emphatic but also more polite:
 Do take a seat. (request)

 Do forgive me. I didn't mean to offend you. (apology)
 Do try to keep the noise down, gentlemen. (complaint)
Imperative with always, never, ever
The words always, never, ever come before imperatives, as in:
 Always remember who's boss.

 Never speak to me like that again.
 Don't ever speak to me like that again.
Passive imperative
We sometimes make passive imperatives with get, for example:
 Get vaccinated before your holiday.

Imperative with and
We can sometimes use the imperative + and instead of an if-clause, for
example:
 Go now and I'll never speak to you again. (If you go now, I'll never
speak...)
Imperative with question tag
We sometimes use these question tags after imperatives: can you? can't you?
could you? will you? won't you? would you? Look at these examples:
 Lend me a dollar, can you?

 Help me with this, will you?
 Keep still, won't you?
GAINING ATTENTION
INFORMING THE OBJECTIVES
STIMULATING RECALL OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE
PRESENTING INFORMATION
PROVIDING GUIDANCE
ELICITING PERFORMANCE
PROVIDING FEEDBACK
ASSESSING PERFORMANCE
ENHANCING RETENTION & TRANSFER

What Is The Imperative

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What is the Imperative?

An imperative is a command or order. It can also be used to give

 Walk to the corner.

It can also be used to make a suggestion using “let’s.” For example:

 Let’s get sushi tonight.

Imperative Sentence (command)

Imperative sentences give commands.

form function example

verb.. give a command Stop!

Please sit here.

Imperative sentences can be in positive or negative form, and can refer

What is the function of an imperative sentence?

The usual function (job) of an imperative sentence is to give a command or

Look at these examples:

Although we use imperative sentences to give direct commands, we can also

example positive negative

army Shoot! Don't move!

user guide Remove the packaging. Open the Do not dispose of

airplane Please remain seated until the Do not smoke in the

hotel Kindly help yourself to fruit. Please don't

friends Please be waiting when we arrive. Don't be late!

Imperative special cases

We can also use you as the subject to imply anger, as in:

 You watch your mouth, young man!

 Have a good trip. (hope)

 Do take a seat. (request)

 Always remember who's boss.

 Get vaccinated before your holiday.

 Lend me a dollar, can you?

INFORMING THE OBJECTIVES

STIMULATING RECALL OF PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

ENHANCING RETENTION & TRANSFER

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