Imperative Mood
If you're wondering what the word 'imperative' means, in grammar, imperatives are verbs that are used to tell somebody what to do or not to do.
What Is Imperative Mood?
The imperative mood is a verb form used to give commands, make requests, or express a sense of urgency or obligation. It is used to convey a direct and forceful message to the listener or reader, and is often used to tell someone what to do or how to do something with a sense of authority or urgency.
Imperatives: Structure
Imperatives: Negation
To create a negative imperative sentence, you can add the phrase 'do not' or 'don't' before the imperative verb. This structure is used to express a prohibition or instruct someone not to do something.
Imperatives: Uses
Imperatives can be used:
- to give orders
- to give directions
- to give instructions
- to give advice or suggestion
- to give warnings
- to make a request
- to make an invitation
To Give Orders
The imperative form is used to give orders or commands, and is often used to tell someone what to do or what not to do. For example:
To Give Directions
The imperative form is often used to give directions or instructions when guiding someone to a particular place or location. For example:
Here, the speaker is helping, not giving orders.
To Give Instructions
The imperative form is often used to give detailed instructions on how to do something or how to operate something, such as a cooking recipe or electronic device manual. Look at the example:
To Give Advice and Suggestion
The imperative form can be used to offer advice or suggestion on what someone should or should not do in a particular situation.
Consider your options carefully before making a decision.
a sentence in the imperative mood
To Give Warnings
The imperative form can be used to warn someone about potential negative consequences in the future and encourage them to take action to avoid them. For example:
To Make a Request
A request is a formal and polite way of asking for something. It is different from an 'order' or 'command' in that it includes the terms like 'please' or 'and 'if you don't mind'. When you use 'please' in an imperative sentence, it adds politeness and formality to the request. For example:
Pass the salt,
Open the window,
To Make an Invitation
In a very informal or friendly context, the imperative form can be used to make an invitation for someone to do something. For example:
Imperatives with Do
Imperatives with Subject Pronouns
We can add a subject pronoun, such as 'you', to emphasize the imperative sentence. However, it is important to be mindful of tone and avoid sounding rude. This structure is typically used for giving strong and decisive orders. Pay attention to the examples:
Imperatives with Indefinite Pronouns
In some situations, we need to address a group of people. In that case, we use imperatives with indefinite pronouns like 'somebody', 'everybody', and 'all'. In these cases, the verb does not take the 's' form for the third person singular.
Because it's an imperative sentence, we did not say 'calls'.
Imperatives: Exhortative
Exhortatives refer to the act of strongly persuading someone to do something. The exhortative imperative is a type of formal imperative that implies the subject of the sentence is the first person plural. Its structure is 'Let's (or Let us) + the base form of the verb'. By using the exhortative imperative, the speaker can encourage collective action and motivate others to work towards a common goal. For example:
The speaker is trying to encourage the audience to review the points.
To create a negative exhortative imperative, you can simply place the word 'not' between 'let' and the verb.
'Let's' is the contracted form of 'Let us'.
Tip
When the subject following the verb 'let' is anything other than 'us', the structure is no longer the exhortative imperative and instead means 'to allow'. This structure is often used for offering assistance or give permission to someone.
Review
The imperative is a verbal mood in English grammar. It is the most direct way one can give orders or make somebody do or not to do something.
Imperative Structure
The imperative is actually the base form of the verb at the beginning of the sentence.
Remember we do not mention the subject because it is always the pronoun 'you.'
Uses
| To give orders |
|
|---|---|
| To give directions |
|
| To give Instructions |
|
| To give Advice and Suggestions |
|
| To give Warnings |
|
| To make Requests |
Please |
| To invite Somebody |
|
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