Imperatives

Imperatives are used when we need to say what to do and not to do. the Imperative form is not a tense, it is a mood, a way to express yourself.

According to the website dicionário Cambridge, imperative means something important, urgent. So, let’s see when to use them.

We can tell someone what to do as a suggestion, advice, an order, a request, a command or an instruction.

It is important to know that the voice tone is really important here. depending on how you put your voice you can make a polite request become an order, and vice-versa.

Imperative sentences, usually don’t take a subject. “You” is implicit in the sentence.

Suggestion:

• Drink some water.
• Go for a walk! 

Invitation:

• Come in, sit down!
• Sit with us!

Command:

• Turn on the lights!
• Don’t open the door.

Advice:

• Don’t take this medicine.
• Do it.

Order:

• Get out!
• Leave!

Request:

• Close the window, please!
• Think about it, please!

 Warning:

• Watch out!
• Be careful!

Instruction:

• Open the box.
• Turn right.

Affirmative form

The verbs in imperative form stay in the infinitive form: get, come, open, sit.

• Get out!
• Come here.
• Open the book.
• Sit down!

Negative form

Em frases negativas utilizamos “do not” ou “don’t” antes do verbo.

• Don’t step on the grass.
• Don’t say anything.
• Don’t cross the line.

When we give instructions and commands in sequence, usually we use the words “first”, “then”, “next”, “after that”, and “finally” to organize the actions.

Attention: The use of the imperatives may sound rude depending on how you speak to people. Therefore, it is always advisable to add: “please”, “just”, “if you don’t mind” to make your request more polite.

You + imperatives

We use the pronoun “You” before the verb to emphasize to the person that we are talking to her. Usually, we use the pronoun brings a negative connotation to the situation. Check these sentences:

• You, come here!
• You, get out!
• You, stop!

Now, compare these three sentences:

• Open the door, please. ( polite request )
• Open the door. ( direct request, not polite )
• You open the door. ( shows lack of courtesy, bad mood, or a very angry person ).

Do + imperatives

We use the auxiliar “Do” before the verb to emphasize the request:

• Do talk to her.
• Please, do come it!
• Do help me!

Time to practice!