{"id":4765,"date":"2015-04-21T09:00:16","date_gmt":"2015-04-21T13:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/?p=4765"},"modified":"2015-03-16T18:57:55","modified_gmt":"2015-03-16T22:57:55","slug":"you-need-to-read-this-post-on-english-imperatives","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/you-need-to-read-this-post-on-english-imperatives\/","title":{"rendered":"You need to read this post (on English imperatives)!"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Image<\/a>

Image “Listen to your Heart” by Olivia Alcock on Flickr.com.<\/p><\/div>\n

It is time for a good old-fashion grammar review; in this post we will be looking at the use of the imperative tense in English. For beginner learners, this post will be a comprehensive introduction to the imperative tense.\u00a0 For more seasoned ESL learners this post will hopefully be more than just a review, as more advanced aspects of using the imperative will be addressed as well.<\/p>\n

Imperatives are formed using the base form of a verb, i.e. the present simple verb tense. Imperative sentences always address someone else, and the subject of imperative sentences is always \u2018you.\u2019\u00a0 Here is the tricky part, the subject is almost never written, or spoken, in imperative sentences. We call this \u2018the understood you.\u2019 Since commands are always spoken to someone or something, the subject just doesn\u2019t need to be included; it is understood or implied. When a command begins with a noun or direct address, like a name, you might get confused, because didn\u2019t I just say the subject is always \u2018you\u2019? Don\u2019t be confused! In this case the subject \u2018you\u2019 is simply being named, we are picking a specific \u2018you\u2019 to address. Here take a look.<\/p>\n

Examples:
\nHey James, get me that paper.\u00a0<\/em> This is the same as:\u00a0 Hey you<\/strong>, James, get me that paper.<\/em><\/p>\n

Kelly, please read aloud.<\/em>\u00a0 This is the same as:\u00a0 You<\/strong>, Kelly, please read aloud.<\/em><\/p>\n

The imperative tense in used for the following purposes:<\/p>\n

To give direct orders or commands.
\nExamples:
\nHand that over.<\/em>
\nGive it to me straight.<\/em><\/p>\n

To give instructions or directions.
\nExamples:
\nOpen your books to page 45.<\/em>
\nTurn right at the corner.<\/em><\/p>\n

To give friendly informal advice.
\nExamples:
\nTalk to her. You\u2019ll feel better afterwards.<\/em>
\nDo something nice for yourself.<\/em><\/p>\n

To give an invitation.
\nExamples:
\nHave as much tea and coffee as you like.<\/em>
\nStart without me. I’ll be there shortly.<\/em><\/p>\n

On signs or notices.
\nExamples:
\nPull or Push (on a door)<\/em>
\nPay before you pump. (at a gas station)<\/em><\/p>\n

Of course, English imperatives, or commands, can also be made in the negative. Here is how we do that.<\/p>\n

do + not + base verb<\/em><\/p>\n

Example:
\nDo not come in here.<\/em>
\nDon’t start without me!<\/em><\/p>\n

Imperative sentences usually end with a period, but they can also end with an exclamation point (!) to give emphasis.<\/p>\n

As I\u2019m sure you have noticed from the examples, imperative sentences are direct. Sometimes imperatives are used by people who are angry, but even when they are used simply as commands, they can seem too direct or harsh in English. In using imperatives, native English speakers tend to make their commands as polite as possible whenever they can. Too much directness in English is sometimes seen as impolite. One way to make imperatives more polite is to just add the word \u201cplease\u201d the beginning of an imperative statement.<\/p>\n

Examples:
\nPlease close the door.\u00a0 <\/em>vs.\u00a0 Close the door.<\/em>
\nPlease wait for me.\u00a0 <\/em>vs.\u00a0 Wait for me.<\/em><\/p>\n

In English \u2018please\u2019 is called \u2018the magic word.\u2019 This is because when you use it people are more likely to listen to you and do what you want. Remembering to use the word \u2018please\u2019 with the imperative tense in English is an important cultural custom.<\/p>\n

Another way to make commands more polite or \u201csofter\u201d is to use modal verbs. When you do this you are no longer using the imperative tense. It is very common to give indirect \u201ccommands\u201d with modals in English, so let me show you what this looks like.<\/p>\n

Examples:
\nCould you close the door?\u00a0 <\/em>vs.\u00a0 Close the door.<\/em>
\nWould you please sit down?\u00a0 <\/em>vs.\u00a0 Sit down.<\/em>
\nCan you open your books now?\u00a0 <\/em>vs.\u00a0 Open your books now.\u2028<\/em><\/p>\n

Here is a review of what we have covered in this post.<\/p>\n

An imperative sentence begins with the base form of a verb. The subject \u2018you\u2019 is implied or \u2018understood\u2019 most of the time. Sometimes though the subject \u2018you\u2019 is specified by name, but he subject is still \u2018you.\u2019 Imperative sentences end with either a period or an exclamation point, for emphasis. The imperative tense is used to give commands, advice, instructions or makes a request. Imperatives can be made negative by adding \u2018do + not\u2019 at the beginning of the sentence. Imperatives can, and at times should, be made polite by adding \u2018please\u2019 to the beginning of the sentence.<\/p>\n

Now, here is some \u201cimperative advice\u201d about learning English.<\/p>\n

Study.<\/strong>
\nPractice often.<\/strong>
\nReview.<\/strong>
\nDon\u2019t be afraid of making mistakes.<\/strong>
\nUse Transparent Language as a resource!<\/strong>
\nHave fun.<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

It is time for a good old-fashion grammar review; in this post we will be looking at the use of the imperative tense in English. For beginner learners, this post will be a comprehensive introduction to the imperative tense.\u00a0 For more seasoned ESL learners this post will hopefully be more than just a review, as…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":85,"featured_media":4781,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[134956],"tags":[366905,8472,366910,366909,366907,35157],"class_list":["post-4765","post","type-post","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-english-grammar","tag-commands","tag-directions","tag-english-imperatives","tag-informal-advice","tag-instructions","tag-orders"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/85"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=4765"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":4792,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4765\/revisions\/4792"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=4765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=4765"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/english\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=4765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}