What is an imperative sentence?

Imperative sentences are used to express orders, requests, suggestions, warnings, prohibitions, etc. It is called imperative sentence. Imperative sentences are most commonly used to express commands, so they are often called imperative sentences in school grammar.

Imperative sentences are usually omitted because the object (that is, the subject) is the second person. The verbs in imperative sentences are all simple present tense, and the sentence ends with an exclamation point.

Example:

Go wash your hands. Go and wash your hands. -command)

Be quiet,please. Please be quiet. ) Please be quiet. -Request)

Be kind to our sister. -Recommendation)

Watch your step. (Watch your step. -Warning)

Watch out! Danger! (Be careful! Danger! -Strong warning, such as exclamation point)

Please don't trample on the lawn. Don't mow the grass. -Prohibited)

No parking. (No parking. -Prohibited)

Don't eat or drink. (Don't eat or drink. -Prohibited)

No littering. (No littering. -Prohibited)

Imperative sentences often indicate the subject "you", which mainly emphasizes and determines the object.

For example:

You tell him, Chris. Chris, go and tell him. )[ 1]

Related password

Imperative sentences have no subject, and the subject you is often omitted;

The prototype of the verb is the predicate, so don't add negative changes at the beginning of the sentence;

Read aloud in a falling tone and mark the end of the sentence with an exclamation point.

Expression form

● Front structure:

(1)Do type (that is, verb prototype (+object)+other components). Please sit down here. Please sit here.

Some imperative sentences can be omitted when the meaning is clear. This way, please Please go this way. This way, please

(2)Be type (that is, Be+ predicative (noun or adjective)+other components). Be a good boy! Be a good boy!

(3)Let type (that is, Let+ object+verb prototype+other components). Let me help you. Let me help you.

● Negative structure:

(1)Do-type and Be-type negation are both formed by adding don at the beginning of a sentence:

For example:

Don't forget me! Don't forget me!

Don't make such noise. Don't be so noisy.

Don't be late for school! Don't be late for school! Don't be can be used in the system structure-that is, the one with no action verbs and only adjectives. Don't be can't be used in the case of action verbs, only in the case of action verbs. )

(2) There are two negative forms of "Let+ object+verb prototype+other components" and "let+object +not+ verb prototype+other components".

Don't let him go. /Tell him not to go. Don't let him go.

(3) some can start with no, which is used to express forbidden imperative sentences. No smoking! No smoking! No fishing! No fishing!

I. Affirmative imperative sentences

A. sentence pattern: verb prototype ~. (The second person calls it the imperative sentence of the subject, omitting the subject)

Stand up. Stand up.

Be quiet,please. Be quiet,please.

Be careful! Watch out!

B. Sometimes, do can be added before verbs in order to strengthen the mood.

Please sit down. Be sure to sit down.

Be sure to study hard. You must study hard.

C. When expressing imperative sentences in a polite tone, please can be added at the beginning or end of the sentence, but if please is added at the end of the sentence, a comma must be added before please.

This way, please This way, please

D. If there are occupations in imperative sentences, they must be separated by commas and placed at the beginning or end of the sentence.

Li Ming, come here. Li Ming, come here.

Come here, Li Ming. Come here, Li Ming.

E. comparison between imperative sentences and declarative sentences:

Statement: You sit down. You sit down.

Imperative sentence: sit down. Sit down (omit your topic)

B, negative imperative sentences

Sentence pattern: Don't /Never+ verb prototype ~

Do not swim in the river.

Don't be late. Don't be late.

Please don't make any noise. Please don't make noise.

Never answer the phone while driving. Never answer the phone while driving.

pay attention to

"No+ noun/gerund" can also be used to indicate prohibition, especially slogans.

No smoking! No smoking!

No parking! No parking!

No entry! No entry!

Don't litter! No littering!

"Rang" imperative sentence

I. Affirmative imperative sentences

Sentence pattern: let+ first person (me, us) ~.

Let+ third person pronoun (objective: he, she, it, them) or noun ~.

Let's go at once. Let's start at once.

Let me try that one more time. Let me try that one more time.

Let Tom go there by himself. Let Tom go there by himself.

pay attention to

Let us be tolerant of each other, and let us not be tolerant of each other. It is most obvious when using interrogative sentences.

Let's go, shall we? Let's go, shall we?

Let's go, shall we? Let's go, shall we? (Ask for the other party's opinion)

The imperative sentence headed by "let" is a common verb sentence pattern, and its main usage is as follows:

(1) means "suggestion".

The "let" in this sentence pattern is followed by the first person pronoun object.

For example:

Let me try.

Let's get started.

Let me look for it.

This sentence is euphemistic and more polite than the direct imperative sentence. Compare the following sentences a and b:

A. don't disturb him.

B.let's not disturb him.

(a) It is a direct order, and its tone is strong, so it is not as gentle as (b).

(2) indicating "indirect orders" or "wishes".

The verb object in this sentence is a third-person noun or pronoun.

For example:

Put Robert in charge of the marketing department.

Let her join our choir.

(3) It means "warning", "contempt" and "threat".

The object in this imperative sentence is also dominated by the third person. In addition to the fierce tone, there is sometimes irony.

For example:

Let him have a try, and he will expose that he can't work independently.

Let the invaders come, and our armed forces will destroy them immediately.

B, negative imperative sentences

Sentence pattern: let's (us, me)+not+ verb prototype ~

Don't let+third person pronoun or noun+verb prototype accusative.

Let's not say anything.

Let's not say anything.

Don't let them play with fire.

Don't let them play with fire.

C, when using the imperative sentence of "let", we must pay attention to the following points:

(1) If the object is a third person, use "Don't let ..." (see example (c))；); ); If the object is the first person, use "Let ... no" (see example (d)):

C. Don't let this happen again.

D. it's raining now. Let's not go out until after the rain.

(2) "let" only applies to the present tense and can have the passive voice.

For example:

Let recalcitrant criminals be sent to prison.

Let all the dedicated and capable employees be promoted.

(3) "let" is followed by an infinitive without "to", or it can be some appropriate adverbs, such as out, in, down, alone, etc.

Let the puppy out.

Open the window and let in fresh air.

The room is too sunny. Put down the blinds.

Please leave me alone.

(4) When "Let's" is used, it includes the object of the speaker; When "let's" is used, the other party is not included.

For example:

E.let's have a try, shall we?

F. Let's do it ourselves, shall we?

It is not difficult to know from "will we" in (e) and "will you" in (f) that the former includes the hearer and the latter does not. Imperative sentences express requests, orders, suggestions and so on. Predicate verbs always use the original form. Sentences generally have no subject, and there is an exclamation point or a period at the end of the sentence, falling tone.

Sentence pattern conversion

A. Rewriting imperative sentences and declarative sentences

(1) imperative sentence = You must ... (declarative sentence)

Come here. Come here. You have to come here. You have to come here.

2 please+imperative = will you (please) ~? (declarative sentence)

Please help me. Please help me.

Will you help me? Will you help me?

Please come here on time. Please be here on time.

Would you please come here on time?

(3) Imperative sentences with first and third person subjects

Let's say goodbye here. Let's say goodbye here.

Don't let him do that again. Don't let him do that again. ..

B, imperative sentences and conditional sentences

Imperative sentences are sometimes equivalent to a conditional adverbial clause guided by "if".

Imperative sentence: Use your head and you will find a way.

Conditional sentence: If you use your head, you will find a way.

C, the interrogative form of imperative sentences

(1)Let's means that the speaker makes suggestions to the other party, the subject of short answer questions is expressed by we, and the questions are expressed by shall we or shan't we.

For example:

Let's have a cup of tea, shall we

(2) Let me or let us show that the listener makes a request, and the question is whether you are willing or not.

Give me a break, will you?

pay attention to

Answer the question of let's ~ with Yes, let's. No, we don't.

(3) You can add a short question after other imperative sentences to make the tone more polite.

For example:

Take a break, okay?

Stand up, will you?