Imperative sentences are used to give orders, instructions, make requests, or offer invitations. They always use the base form of a verb and do not require a subject because “you” is understood.

How Imperative Sentences Are Formed

Imperative sentences use the base form of the verb. The subject “you” is implied and never written. For example: “Sit down,” means “You sit down.”
  • Use the base verb form (e.g., go, eat, listen).
  • Do not write the subject — it is always understood to be “you.”
  • The verb comes first in the sentence.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example (Base + Object/Ending)</th> <th>Usage</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Open</td> <td>Command</td> <td>Open + the door</td> <td>Giving a direct order or command</td> <td>Open the window.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Eat</td> <td>Command/Request</td> <td>Eat + your + food</td> <td>Giving a polite request or order</td> <td>Eat your vegetables.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Listen</td> <td>Instruction</td> <td>Listen + carefully</td> <td>Giving advice or instruction</td> <td>Listen carefully.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Don’t + verb</td> <td>Negative Instruction</td> <td>Don’t + touch + that</td> <td>Giving a negative command</td> <td>Don’t touch the stove.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Types of Imperative Sentences

Imperative sentences fall into several categories depending on their purpose: commands, requests, instructions, invitations, or warnings.

Commands

Commands are direct orders using the base verb form.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Close the door.</td> <td>Order to close the door.</td> <td>Close the door.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Stand up.</td> <td>Order to stand up.</td> <td>Stand up.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Requests

Requests use polite words like “please” or modal verbs.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Pass me the salt, please.</td> <td>Polite request for the salt.</td> <td>Pass me the salt, please.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Please sit down.</td> <td>Polite request to sit.</td> <td>Please sit down.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Instructions

Instructions explain how to do something step by step.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Turn left at the corner.</td> <td>Instruction to turn left.</td> <td>Turn left at the corner.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Mix the ingredients well.</td> <td>Instruction to mix ingredients.</td> <td>Mix the ingredients well.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Invitations

Invitations use “let’s” to include the speaker and the listener.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Let’s go to the park.</td> <td>Invitation to go together.</td> <td>Let’s go to the park.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Let’s have dinner.</td> <td>Invitation to eat together.</td> <td>Let’s have dinner.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Warnings

Warnings use words like “be careful” or “watch out” to alert someone.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Be careful with the knife.</td> <td>Warning to be cautious.</td> <td>Be careful with the knife.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Watch out for cars!</td> <td>Urgent warning to look out.</td> <td>Watch out for cars!</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Negative Imperatives

Use “don’t” + base verb to form negative commands (telling someone not to do something).
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Don’t run in the hallway.</td> <td>Order not to run in the hallway.</td> <td>Don’t run in the hallway.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Don’t touch the painting.</td> <td>Order not to touch the painting.</td> <td>Don’t touch the painting.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Using “Let’s” for Suggestions

“Let’s” is a special form used to make suggestions and includes both the speaker and the listener.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Let’s study together.</td> <td>Suggestion to study together.</td> <td>Let’s study together.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Let’s take a break.</td> <td>Suggestion to take a break.</td> <td>Let’s take a break.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Which sentence correctly uses “let’s” for a suggestion?


Let’s go to the park.

“Let’s go to the park” is correct; it suggests going together. The other options are ungrammatical.

What does “Let’s” mean in imperative sentences?


It means “let us” and includes both speaker and listener.

“Let’s” is a contraction of “let us” and is used to suggest that both speaker and listener do something together.

Polite Imperatives

Add “please” at the beginning or end to make a command more polite.
<table> <thead> <tr> <th>Imperative Sentence</th> <th>Meaning</th> <th>Example</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td>Please close the door.</td> <td>Polite request to close the door.</td> <td>Please close the door.</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Pass the salt, please.</td> <td>Polite request for the salt.</td> <td>Pass the salt, please.</td> </tr> </tbody> </table>

Summary

Imperative sentences:
  • Use the base verb form.
  • The subject “you” is understood, not written.
  • Can be commands, requests, instructions, invitations, or warnings.
  • Use “don’t” + verb for negative imperatives.
  • Use “let’s” + verb for suggestions including yourself.
  • Add “please” to be more polite.

Which of these is a correct imperative sentence?


Sit down.

Imperative sentences use the base verb without a subject, so “Sit down.” is correct.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

Loco