While conversing with others, you might have found yourself in a situation where you need to request or order someone. So, what is the right way to do so without sounding rude? To know this, you need to learn about imperative sentence types. Hence, this blog will help you gather all the necessary details about this type of sentence.
Table of Contents
Imperative sentences are essential English sentence structures that have a particular communication function. The definition of imperative sentence states that statements that convey instructions, request something, or issue a command are known as imperative sentences. They are used to convey a necessary course of action. Although they can sometimes end with an exclamation mark, imperative phrases generally end with a period. Moreover, they are never interrogative sentences because they always conclude with a period or an exclamation point. Further, because they give instructions to the person being addressed, these sentences are frequently called directives. The verb is always in the base form with no inflexion, and they normally lack a subject. Since they are always in the second person, the speaker speaks directly to the audience.
The imperative sentences can further be divided into three types based on the situation in which they are being used. The following are the three types of imperative sentences in the English language:
Affirmative imperatives give instructions on what to do. They are created to be straightforward and precise so that the person is aware of the specific question being posed. They convey a clear order or directive to take action. In daily life, positive imperatives are often used to give specific instructions, motivate action, or promote productive behaviour.
For example:
Sentences with negative imperatives tell a person not to do something. Usually, they start with "do not" or "don't" and then the verb's base form. Negative imperative statements are used in a wide range of places, including technical writing, navigational instructions, and clearly showing expectations.
For example:
Different types of conditionals, such as the first conditional, are used to talk about possible future situations and outcomes. These structures help form expressions that reflect likely events and their consequences. The present simple is used in the 'If' clause and the future simple in the main clause of a first conditional phrase. To provide instructions or advice in the main phrase, however, imperative verbs or modal auxiliaries like "can" and "should" can also be used. "If" clauses and other conditional words are frequently used in these statements.
For example:
These are the types of imperative sentences that are used in English grammar. Let's learn their structure now.
An imperative sentence structure usually consists of a verb placed at the start of the sentence, often without a subject, as the subject is implied to be "you." The verb is also in its base form, followed by an object and modifiers if needed.
In the case of positive or affirmative imperative sentences, we generally use the formula.
Moreover, for negative imperative sentences, the following imperative sentence structure is used:
Also, in imperative sentences, voice change is possible, but the formula changes a bit as follows:
Now, let's see how we can use these sentences to improve our English skills.
It is crucial to know how to use a particular type of sentence in English. Hence, the following are the situations where imperative sentences can be used:
Imperative statements are used in the following basic contexts:
Let's now see how we can use imperatives in sentences.
Examples can help you better understand the concept and structure of a sentence. Hence, the following are some examples of imperative sentences for you to explore:
These are just a few examples of imperative sentences that you can go through. Next are some tips for using these sentences in a daily context.
The following are some pointers that can come in handy when you are new to the domain of the imperatives. They will help you learn how to use these sentences effectively.
If you want to test how much you have understood, an imperative sentence exercise can be a good way for you to do so. Moreover, it will enforce your learning and help you assess your performance. Thus, here is a sample practice exercise that you can undertake.
In this imperative sentence exercise, you’ll complete the sentences using imperative verbs. These statements usually start with a verb, directly telling someone what to do.
Fill in the blanks with the correct verb form.
Answers
To sum up, these are the types of imperative sentence and their examples, along with the tips for using them in the English language. Other than that, if you want to know more about the other daily use English sentences, you can seek expert guidance at Gradding. Here, you will get tutors who are always ready to support and guide their students. In addition, they can also help with every aspect of language skills, such as paragraph writing, reading, listening, etc. So, do not miss your chance to enrol.
1. Give some examples of imperative sentences.
The following are some examples of imperative sentences in English:
2. How do you make a sentence imperative?
If you wish to form an imperative sentence, then you need to first start the sentence with a base form of the verb. You also need to omit the subject as it is already implied.
3. What are the uses of imperative sentences?
The uses of an imperative sentence are as follows:
4. What are imperative verbs?
Imperative verbs are action words that are used to make a request, give a command or provide instruction. Some of these words include Stop, Listen, Read, etc.
We are available in :
BangaloreAhmedabadJaipurHyderabadKeralaPuneChandigarhMumbaiGurgaonChennaiKolkataTrivandrumNoidaKochiCalicutKottayamKollamThrissurIndoreUdaipurdisclaimer:logos and other registered trademarks of universities used on this platform are held by their respective owners. Gradding does not claim ownership or association on them, and their use is purely for informational and illustrative purposes.