8 Based on the definitions above it can be assumed that
imperative sentences are sentences that request the person we are speaking to do or not to do something, or imperatives sentences are
sentences that used by someone to give commands, request, directions etc to other people for doing something.
A command is usually a sentence with an imperative verb, the base form of the verb, without endings for number or tense. Leech and
Svartvik distinguish commands into two types: 1. 2
nd
person commands, example: shut the door. 2. 1
st
and 3
rd
person commands, 1
st
person command begin with let me in the singular, or let’s in the plural, example: let me have a
look at your essay, let’s go and eat.
7
According to Thomson and Martinet commands expressed by the imperative divided into three kinds:
8
1. The second person imperative, this has the same form as the infinitive without to, example: Hurry Wait Stop
2. The first person imperative Form: let us let’s + infinitive without to: Let’s wait for Bill.
3. The third person imperative Form: let himheritthem+ infinitive without to: Let them go by train
Based on the explanations above the researcher concludes that commands can be used in three ways, they are: command of the first
person, command of the second person and command of the third person.
2. The Form of Imperative Sentence
The simple form of a verb is used in imperative sentences. The understood subject of the sentence is you meaning the person the
speaker is talking to.
9
7
Geoffrey Leech and Jan Svartvik, A Communicative Grammar of English: third edition London: Longman , 2002, p. 265.
8
A. J. Thomson and A. V. Martinet, A Practical English Grammar: third edition, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1981, p.246.
9
Betty Schrampfer Azar, Fundamentals of English Grammar, Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice hall, 1985, p.70.
9 The simple imperative, as in see, give, antedates inflection form
which along with interjection, like O Ouch Belongs to the oldest forms of spoken speech.
10
Though the oldest imperative form, it is still widely used, but now it is only one of many forms, for today the
expression of one’s will is no longer a simple mater as in the earliest period when men were less differentiated and less sensitive.
Traditional grammarians have referred to the underlying subject of imperative sentences as the “understood you.” In other
words, the subject of unmarked form of an imperative is the second person singular or plural subject pronoun, you.
11
The basic forms of imperatives are: a. The imperative does not usually have a subject, but it can be used
with one a noun or pronoun if it is necessary to make it clear who is being spoken to.
12
Example : Mary come here,
Somebody answer the phone etc
b. An imperative can be made more emphatic by putting do before it. The form with do is also employed in entreaties and as an emphatic
prohibition or negative command, here usually with stressed
13
Example : Do go, please
Do sit down
Do forgive me
c. Negative imperatives are constructed with do not or don’t. Example
: Don’t worry Do not
lean out of the window.
14
10
George O. Curme. English Grammar, New York: Barnes and Noble, inc, 1966, p.249.
11
Marianne Celce-Murcia, and Diane Larsen Freeman, The Grammar Book: An ESLEFL Teacher’s Course: second edition, New York: Heinle and Heinle Publishers, inc. 1999, p.228.
12
Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980, p.314.
13
George O. Curme. English Grammar New York: Barnes and Noble, inc, 1966, p.250.
14
Michael Swan, Practical English Usage, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980, p.314.
10 Negative imperatives are somewhat more complicated than their
affirmative counterparts. Three types of negative imperatives occur:
15
1.Don’t you runcontracted negative; subject present 2.Don’t run contracted negative; subject absent
3.Do not run uncontracted negative; subject absent The use of don’t before an imperative provides a request or
suggestion not to do something, and you is used after don’t for emphasis.
16
Example : Don’t make so much noise
Don’t you dare do that again
d. Always and never come before imperative
17
. A final observation is that it is possible to produce negative imperative by using the
preverbal adverb of frequency, “never” in initial position without the do verb.
18
Example : Always remember to smile
Never speak to me like that again
Never be
late again Don’t you ever be late again
e. Although do is not normally used with be to make questions and negatives, do is used to make negative and emphatic imperatives of
be. Example : Don’t be stupid
Don’t be late Do be
quite f.
Some languages have a first person plural ‘imperative’ form used to suggest that the group one is with should do something. English
15
Marianne Celce-Murcia and Diane Larsen Freeman, The Grammar Book: An ESLEFL Teacher’s Course: second edition …, p.229.
16
A S Hornby, Guide To Patterns and Usage in English :second edition, New York : Oxford University Press, 1975, p.195.
17
Michael Swan Practical English Usage, Oxford: Oxford University Press, 1980, p.314.
18
Marianne Celce-Murcia and Diane Larsen Freeman, The Grammar Book: An ESLEFL Teacher’s Course: second edition ..., p.231.
11 does not have this, but there is a structure with Let us or Let’s +
infinitive which has a similar meaning.
19
Example : Let’s go to the movies
Let’s have a party
And here is its negative form
Let’s not go to the movies Don’t let’s get angry.
An imperative with let’s is a kind of suggestion, example: let’s have coffee.
20
g. Passive imperatives are often constructed with get. Example
: Get vaccinated as soon as you can
h. After imperatives, the question tags are will you? Won’t you? Would you? Can you? Can’t you? And could you?
Example : Give me a hand, will you?
Be quite, can’t you?
i. There is a special way of using the imperative followed by and…
in which it is similar to and if-clause.
21
Example : Walk down our street any day and you’ll see kids
playing football.
3. The uses of Imperative Sentences
