The imperative
Objective: Giving orders, advice using the imperative
Teacher: Open your book on page 60.
Pupils: What shall we do next madam?
Teacher: Read silently the text in front of you. Underline the new vocabulary and look it up in the dictionary.
Pupils: All right madam.
Open – read – underline – look up are verbs in base form.
The teacher starts the sentences with verbs in base form. These sentences are in the imperative. They express instructions.
To form the imperative we use the base form (infinitive) of the verb.
We use the imperative to give:
- order: Take that chewing gum out of your mouth.
- instruction: Open your book.
- invitation: Have a piece of cake. It’s delicious.
- direction: Go along this street. The hotel is opposite the bank.
- making suggestion: Let’s go to the zoo.
- requests: Help me please.
- warning: Don’t play with fire. It’s dangerous.
- sign and notice: Don’t pick up the flowers