CHAPTER II THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK
A. Imperative Sentence
1. Definition of Imperative Sentence
There are some definitions of imperative sentences. The first definition,
“imperative sentence is the sort typically used to give a command, or order. In English, imperatives are normally missing a subject,
though all other normal parts of the sentence are present. The verb in an English imperative is the base form of the verb, without endings of any
kind, thus identical to a second person, present tense form ”.
1
Another definition “imperative is about speaker manipulation.
They may be used as actual commands, such as those a military officer or a parent issues to a soldier or a child. They may also be used as more gentle
directives or as quasi directives, in which the speaker merely expects or envisions some behavior on the part of someone else and casts that
1
James R. Hurdford, Grammar a Student’s Guide, Cambridge: Cambridge University,
1994, p. 95.
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expectation in terms of a directive, although not actually demanding anything
”.
2
Next, “imperative is the base form of a verb used to give orders,
make suggestion, etc ”.
3
And “the use imperative in many different ways,
for example, to give orders, to make offers suggestions, direction and instruction, warning, and request
”.
4
From those definition that imperative sentences are used in several utterances. It can be use for giving orders;
making offers suggestion, request, giving direction and instruction, giving warning and prohibition.
2. Kind of Imperative Sentences
a. Give orders and Command
Imperative can be use for giving order and giving command, it can be shown in examples 1a, 1b, 1c, and the speaker expects the persons
addressed to do what he or she has said. If the persons addressed do not do what the speaker says, they can expect that some kind of retaliation may be
taken against them. For example, the person to whom the command in 1a is addressed may expect to be pushed aside if he does not comply. The
imperative in 1d is a highly stylized command that used only in opening ceremonies.
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Examples: 1.a Get out of my way
1.b Right face Forward, march 1.c Keep off the grass.
1.d Let the games begin
2
Ron Cown, t he Teacher’s Grammar of English: a Course Book and Reference Guide,
Cambridge: Cambridge University, 2008, p. 115.
3
Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980, p. xvii.
4
Digby Beaumont and Colin Granger, English Grammar, Oxford: Heinemann, 1989, p.52.
5
Ron Cown, the Teacher’s Grammar of English …, p. 115.
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