Verbs · Beginner (A1)
Imperatives
Give instructions, directions, warnings and invitations: Turn left. Don’t touch. Come in!
The rules
The imperative is the base verb with no subject: Open the door. Sit down. Turn right. Negative: Don’t + verb: Don’t worry. Don’t be late.
Use it for instructions (recipes, directions), warnings (Be careful!), advice (Take an umbrella) and invitations (Come in, have a seat).
It can sound direct. Make it softer with please or use a request: Please sit down. Could you sit down? Let’s + verb makes a suggestion including you: Let’s go!
Examples
- Take the second street on the left.
- Don’t forget your passport!
- Please wait here.
- Let’s have a break.
Common mistakes
✗ Not touch that!
✓ Don’t touch that!
Negative imperative = don’t + verb.
✗ You go straight and you turn left.
✓ Go straight on and turn left.
Directions usually use the imperative without you.
Practice
___ quiet, please. The baby’s sleeping.
Quiz
1.Which is an imperative?
2.Correct the mistake in this sentence.
3.Imperatives normally have no subject.
4.Complete the sentence.