Meaning & use
imperative sentence
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Meanings
nouncountable
A sentence that tells someone to do something, gives an order, or makes a request.
Grammar: Countable: 'an imperative sentence,' 'two imperative sentences.' The verb is in the base form and the subject is usually omitted.
Patterns
- an imperative sentence
- write an imperative sentence
- turn something into an imperative sentence
Please sit down is an imperative sentence because it tells someone to do something.
The teacher asked us to write an imperative sentence starting with a verb.
In an imperative sentence, you often cannot see the subject, but it is understood as 'you.'
nouncountable
A sentence used to give instructions, directions, or advice.
Grammar: Often used in recipes, manuals, and signs: 'Mix the flour and water.'
Patterns
- use an imperative sentence
- an imperative sentence in a recipe
- begin with an imperative sentence
Recipes are full of imperative sentences like 'Add two eggs' and 'Bake for 20 minutes.'
The sign uses an imperative sentence: 'Keep off the grass.'
If you want to sound direct, use an imperative sentence.
Word forms
| plural | imperative sentences |
|---|
Common combinations
- write an imperative sentence
- For homework, write an imperative sentence for each picture.
- a direct imperative sentence
- 'Stop that!' is a direct imperative sentence.
- turn a statement into an imperative sentence
- Turn 'You should close the window' into an imperative sentence: 'Close the window.'
Synonyms and how they differ
- command
- A command is the action or order itself; an imperative sentence is the grammatical form that expresses it.
- instruction
- An instruction is a piece of information telling you how to do something; it may or may not be an imperative sentence.
Word family
- imperative adjective
- Extremely important or urgent; also used for the verb form used in commands.
- imperative noun
- The grammatical mood used for commands.
Commonly confused: imperative sentence or exclamatory sentence? imperative sentence or interrogative sentence?
imperative sentence vs exclamatory sentence
An exclamatory sentence expresses strong emotion and ends with an exclamation mark, but it does not necessarily give a command. An imperative sentence gives a command or request.
imperative sentence vs interrogative sentence
An interrogative sentence asks a question, while an imperative sentence tells someone to do something.
Practice
Which of these is an imperative sentence?
Choose one answer.
Option A gives a command or request, so it is imperative. B is a statement, C is a question, and D is an exclamation.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “imperative sentence”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.