The Imperative Mood: Form Affirmative Negative Number Pers

LEC, curs, II, s. 2, Lecture nr.
THE IMPERATIVE MOOD

The Imperative Mood is used to give commands and orders or invitations and recommendations;
the action/state expressed by this mood is not real, it is either possible or opposed to reality.
FORM
Rule. The imperative is formed with the help of the short indefinite infinitive of the verb to be
conjugated for the second person and the subject in the second person is not normally expressed. For
the first and third person the auxiliary Let is used, followed by the subject and the short indefinite
infinitive of the verb to be conjugated.
The Negative imperative is formed with the help of the auxiliary DO + the negative particle NOT
followed by the short indefinite infinitive of the verb to be conjugated for the second person.
For the first and third person there are two ways to form the negative: a. the auxiliary DO + the
negative particle NOT followed by the auxiliary LET + the subject + the short indefinite infinitive of
the verb to be conjugated; b. the auxiliary Let + by the subject + the negative particle NOT and the short
indefinite infinitive of the verb to be conjugated.
Full forms
Form Affirmative Negative
number pers
singula 1st Let me go! Do not let me go!

r Let me not go!
2nd Go! Do not go!
3rd Let him/her/it go! Do not let him/her/it go!
Let him/her/it not go!
plural 1st Let us go! Do not let us go!
Let us not go!
2nd Go! Do not go!
3rd Let them go! Do not let them go!
Let them not go!
Contracted forms
Form Affirmative Negative
number pers
singula 1st - Don’t let me go!

r -
2nd - Don’t go!
3rd - Don’t let him/her/it go!
-
plural 1st Let’s go! Don’t let us go!
-
2nd - Don’t go!
LEC, curs, II, s. 2, Lecture nr. 7
3rd - Don’t let them go!

-
Notes on form
Topic Explanation Examples

1. Emphatic do For emphasis, do may be used in the second Do sit down! Do be careful!
person affirmative, too.
2. Expressing the The subject you is indirectly expressed when Listen to me, will you! Behave
second person implied we add a tag or a reflexive pronoun. yourself!
The subject of the imperative occurs You two go to the blackboard!
subject
especially for clear specification of the Tom and Alice, sit down!
addressees of the command. (with the possible Come here, Paul!
forms: you, name, you + name)
3. Indefinite subject The indefinite pronouns everybody, Someone give us a helping
somebody, someone can be subject of the hand!
imperative and they can be placed either Answer the phone, somebody!
before or after it.
4. Intonation A plain imperative may sound more polite if Be careful!
the intonation is rising or fall-rise, while the Go there, please!
falling tone can change a polite formula into
am impatient command.
5. Double imperative When a particular command or suggestion Come and have lunch with us!
involves a double action, the pattern used (NOT Come to have…)
contains an imperative + the conjunction and Go and return him this book!
+ another verb in the imperative (NOT (NOT Go to return …)
imperative + long infinitive!!! )
6. Imperative + long Imperative + long infinitive can be used to Fight to survive in this jungle!
infinitive express purpose
7. The continuous The continuous imperative is rarely used. Be working on the project
imperative when I return!
8. Modal verbs Modal verbs are not conjugated in the
imperative.
USES
Main uses
Use Examples
1. To give a direct order or to express Go away! Stop that! Keep quiet!
request and wish Lend me your dictionary, please! Have a nice weekend
2. To give instructions or directions Don’t use this spray near a naked flame!
Apply the glue thinly and leave it for ten minutes!
3. To give advice or warnings, to Don’t forget to take your passport with you! Be careful!
make suggestions Don’t go on the ice! Look out! There’s a car coming!
4. To make an offer or an invitation Have a piece of cake!
Come round and see me some time!
Other uses
Form Uses Examples
1. Do + a main verb For polite emphasis Do take your coat off!
To be persuasive Do try to eat a little of this; it will be good for you!
is used:
To show irritation Do stop talking! I’m trying to work!
2. More urgent To express advice Hurry up, otherwise you’ll be late for the exam!
To express request Come earlier and we’ll try to solve the problem!
alternative
To express threat Do that and I’ll never forgive you!
conditional clause of
Do that, or I’ll never forgive you!
the real type
3. Commonly used To express Have a walk in the park while I’m doing my homework!
with have suggestions, offers or Have some rice pudding! Have fun!
wishes (frequent in set Have a good time!
phrases)
4. More natural with in causative Get your hair styled for the party!
get constructions
5. More frequent in passive Get dressed!
with get constructions (Be seated! Be prepared!)
(Be is only used in a
few orders)
OTHER WAYS OF EXPRESSING COMMANDS

Type of command Explanation Example
1. Impatient command Will construction Will you come here!
Tag questions will you, won’t you, Stop talking during the lecture, will
can’t you you?
2. More polite or friendlier Please + imperative Please speak louder!
command Don’t interrupt him, please!
Imperative + Tag questions: Listen carefully, won’t you!
will you, won’t you, shall I, shall
we, can you, can’t you, could you,
would you, why don’t you
3. When something is just + Imperative + will you Just look at the painting, will you!
considered unusual or Just watch the football player!

remarkable
4. Declarative or - I’m certainly not going to get it –
interrogative sentences you get it.
Would you get it, then? I’m busy.
☺ USING REQUESTS INSTEAD OF COMMANDS

It is more tactful in many cases to use a request Will you show me the way to the station? Can you possibly
instead of a command in spoken English, that is help me? Would you read the last line again? Could you pass
to ask your interlocutor whether he is willing or me the salt, please? Would you mind opening that window?
he is able to do something. Such requests are Would you be so kind as to repeat that word? Would you be
made up of a modal auxiliary (will/would or kind enough to translate that sentence to me? I wonder if
can/could) and the Infinitive. you’d mind going there next week. I wonder if you would
kindly speak to her about our plans.
In formal written English, the following I would appreciate if you answered our letter immediately.
constructions are preferred for using a request I would be very grateful if you managed to buy all those books.
instead of a command:

The Imperative Mood: Form Affirmative Negative Number Pers

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Imperative Mood: Form Affirmative Negative Number Pers

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

The Imperative Mood: Form Affirmative Negative Number Pers

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

LEC, curs, II, s. 2, Lecture nr.

THE IMPERATIVE MOOD

singula 1st Let me go! Do not let me go!

singula 1st - Don’t let me go!

3rd - Don’t let them go!

Topic Explanation Examples

OTHER WAYS OF EXPRESSING COMMANDS

considered unusual or Just watch the football player!

☺ USING REQUESTS INSTEAD OF COMMANDS

You might also like