ImperativeImperativo
Learn Imperative in English with clear rules, polite requests, and real-life instructions. Start giving direct commands confidently.
Aprende el Imperativo en inglés con reglas claras, solicitudes educadas e instrucciones de la vida real. Comienza a dar órdenes directas con confianza.
The imperative is a verb form for telling someone what to do. It is used for commands, instructions, warnings, and suggestions. The imperative speaks directly to one person or to a group.
El imperativo es una forma verbal para decirle a alguien qué hacer. Se usa para órdenes, instrucciones, advertencias y sugerencias. El imperativo se dirige directamente a una persona o a un grupo.
Use the base form of the verb in the imperative. You do not use a subject before the verb in most imperative sentences. The verb stays the same for one person and for many people.
Utiliza la forma base del verbo en el imperativo. No se usa un sujeto antes del verbo en la mayoría de las oraciones imperativas. El verbo se mantiene igual para una persona y para varias personas.
| RuleRegla | |
|---|---|
 Use the base verb for an imperative sentence.Utiliza el verbo base para una oración imperativa. | |
 Do not add he, she, or they before the verb in most imperative sentences.No añadas él, ella o ellos antes del verbo en la mayoría de las oraciones imperativas. | |
 Use the same verb form for one person and for a group.Utiliza la misma forma verbal para una persona y para un grupo. |
To make a negative imperative, use do not or don't before the base verb. This form tells someone not to do something. Do not is more formal, and don't is more common in everyday English.
| Rule | |
|---|---|
 Use do not before the base verb to make a negative imperative. | |
 Use don't before the base verb in everyday English. | |
| Use the same negative form for one person and for a group. |
Please makes an imperative more polite. It changes a command into a request. Please can go at the beginning or at the end of the sentence.
| Rule | |
|---|---|
 Use please to make an imperative more polite. | |
 Put please before the verb for a polite request. | |
 Put please at the end of the sentence for a polite request. |
The imperative has several common uses in daily English. It can give directions, state warnings, and tell steps in instructions. It can also make simple suggestions to another person or to a group.
| Word or Phrase | Definition | |
|---|---|---|
| Command |  It tells someone to do something directly. | |
| Instruction |  It tells the steps or actions to follow. | |
| Warning |  It tells someone about danger or care. | |
| Suggestion |  It tells an idea for what to do. | |
| Direction |  It tells where to go or how to move. |
You can now use the imperative to speak directly to people in English. You can give commands and instructions with the base verb, make negative imperatives with do not or don't, and use please for polite requests. You can also use the imperative for warnings, directions, and suggestions.