When we want to tell someone to do something in English, we use a
command. This can also be
called the imperative form or the imperative mood.
Giving
commands in English is quite simple! We can use this form to give instructions,
orders, commands, or requests. Let's take a look.
Giving a
command to someone else
In English, whether you are giving a command to a single
person or to a group of people, the form is the same. We just use the infinitive form of the verb without "to" and use no subject.
Here is how it works. Below is an example of a regular indicative
sentence with the subject and the verb.
Example in indicative:
- Ned gets on the
plane.
Now, if we
want to tell Ned to get on the plane, we use the command form with no subject
and the verb in infinitive. This means that the verb will be the first word of
the sentence.
Command form:
- Get on the plane.
Notice that there is no subject before the verb and we
removed the final -s from the verb.
If we want Ned to be sure we are talking to him, we can use his name at the beginning or end of the sentence, but it will always be separated by a comma.
This means it is not the subject of the sentence. We are just getting Ned's attention.
For example:
If we want Ned to be sure we are talking to him, we can use his name at the beginning or end of the sentence, but it will always be separated by a comma.
This means it is not the subject of the sentence. We are just getting Ned's attention.
For example:
- Ned, get on the
plane.
- Get on the plane, Ned.
If we want to be polite, we can also use the word
"please."
For example:
For example:
- Ned,
please get on the plane.
- Please get on the
plane, Ned.
Here are some more commands. Notice that the verb is always
in the infinitive form. It does not matter if we are talking to one person or
to a group of people:
- Clean your room, boys.
- Angela, answer the
phone, please.
- Help me carry these boxes up the stairs.
- Walk down the street for two blocks, then turn right.
- Get out of bed, Paul!
Negative
commands
When we want to tell someone not to do something, we simply
add "do not" or the shorter form "don't" before the
verb. This shorter form is much more common.
For example:
For example:
- Don't smoke. It is very
bad for your health.
Here are some more examples. Just like we saw above, these negative
commands will be the same if we are talking to just one person or to a group of
people.
For example:
For example:
- Don't forget to call
me after work.
- Don't take the
highway. There is too much traffic.
- Do not park your car
on the grass, please.
- Don't use too many
plastic bags. They are bad for the environment.
- Kids, don't fight!
Commands with
"let's"
When we want to make a suggestion to a group of people and we are
included in that group, we use the word "let's" and then the
verb in infinitive.
This is like giving a command to a group of people and to ourselves at
the same time. We often use it when we are making a suggestion for ourselves
and one other person.
For example:
- It
is a beautiful day. Let's go to the
park for a picnic.
- Let's take a moment
to think about this before we give them an answer.
- Let's finish this
project before lunch.
- Let's go to the
supermarket this afternoon.
- Let's get married!
Negative
commands with "let's"
When we want to say that we should not do something, we can
use "let's" and the word "not" and then the
verb in infinitive.
For example:
- Let's not have chicken
for dinner again tonight.
- Let's not watch television
tonight.
- Let's not worry about
that until it becomes a real problem.
- Let's not ask ask
Angela about her thesis.
- Let's not play tennis
together again!
So, giving instructions, commands, suggestions, and directions in
English is really very easy! Be sure to carefully review these rules and write
your own examples to practice.
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