What is an Imperative Sentence? A Detailed Note

An imperative sentence is a type of sentence that is used to give a command, order or instruction or make a request, suggestion or offer. The usual structure of interrogative sentences is verb1 [base verb]+ any other element. 

There're a lot of things about imperative sentences that have been covered in this article. Continue to read to learn imperative sentence definition, meaning, uses, types, example sentences with clear explanations. 

This article covers:

• Imperative Sentence Definition and Meaning
• What is an Imperative Sentence?
• Definition of Imperative Sentence 
• Imperative Sentence Examples 
• Imperative Sentence Vs Imperative Mood 
• Types of Imperative Sentence 
• FAQs - What is an Imperative Sentence 

What is an Imperative Sentence?

The word "imperative" means an authoritative command or order. The same meaning is found in the definition of an imperative sentence; as a result, an imperative sentence is a sentence that gives a command or order.

What is an imperative sentence? In simple language, an imperative sentence, as the name suggests, is a type of sentence that acts as a command; that is, imperative sentences are used to give someone a command, order or instruction or make a request, offer or suggestion to them.

The common word order or structure of an imperative sentence is the base form [1st form] of a verb + any other element. However, there're more other essential structures of imperative sentence that we'll discuss later in this article.

Imperative Sentence Examples:

1. Come here, John.

2. Submit your homework today.

3. Write an essay on the importance of education.

4. Write an article on hostel life.

5. Please help me.

6. Produce the criminal within 24 hours. 

7. Go and sleep immediately.

8. Learn grammar to speak English.

9. Help the needy. 

Now that you've gone through the definition of an imperative sentence and that you know that a sentence consists of a subject and a predicate, you must be thinking about the following question. 

Why is an Imperative Sentence Called a "Sentence"?

The question is simple, so is the answer. You all know that a sentence must contain a subject and a predicate, because a sentence is a group of words that consists of a subject and a predicate. 

However, in the above-mentioned examples of imperative sentences, you've seen that only a verb plus other element is used in them. The question is why we call an imperative sentence a "sentence", because it doesn't have a subject?

The answer is very simple. An imperative sentence has an implicit [hidden] subject that is understood and hidden in the base form of the verb; therefore, we can call an imperative sentence a "sentence". 

Types of Imperative Sentences in English 

Like declarative and interrogative sentences, imperative sentences can be classed into two categories. There're two types of imperative sentences:

 

1. Affirmative or positive imperative sentence
2. Negative imperative sentence

What is an affirmative imperative sentence?

1. An affirmative imperative sentence, also known as positive imperative sentence, is a type of imperative sentence that is used to give an order or instruction or make a request or suggestion. 

The usual structure of an affirmative imperative sentence is base form of a verb plus any other element. 

Affirmative Imperative Sentence Examples:

• Come here quickly. (come = base form of verb, here and quickly = adverbs)
• Do your homework. (do = base form of verb, your homework = noun phrase)
•  Speak in English. (speak = base form of verb, in English = prepositional phrase)

What is a negative imperative sentence?

2. A negative imperative sentence is used to stop someone from doing something. It can make a suggestion or express strict prohibition. 

The usual structure of a negative imperative sentence is don't + base form of a verb + any other element. 

Negative Imperative Sentence Examples:

• Don't go there. (don't + go = base form of verb + adverb)
• Don't forget it. (don't + forget = base form of verb + object pronoun)
• Don't sleep in the room. (don't + sleep = base form of verb + prepositional phrase)

Structures of Imperative Sentences

The normal structure or word order of an imperative sentence has been mentioned earlier in the article. However, there're more structures of imperative sentences that we use in both spoken and written English. They're given below with uses and examples. 

1. Imperative Sentence with the Verb Do 

In a very formal context, the verb "do" is used with an imperative sentence to emphasize the statement. So, the structure would be do + base form of verb + any other element. 

Examples of Imperative Sentence with Do

• I'm getting married next week. Please do come. 
• Do get up early in morning so that we don't miss the flight.
• Do submit your assignment quickly.  

2. Imperative with the Verb Let 

When we want to make a suggestion, we use the imperative sentence structured with the verb let. The verb let is used with the first person plural object pronoun us as in let us or let's.

So, the structure of such imperative sentences would be let's or let us + base form of a verb + any other element. 

Examples of Imperative Sentence with Let 

• Let's go to the movies this weekend.
• Let us discuss the political theory prescribed in the syllabus.
• Let's see what happens. 

3. Imperative with the Subject Pronoun You

If you've read the question and answer to it mentioned in the beginning portion of the article, then you know that an imperative sentence doesn't have an explicit subject. However, there's a situation when we can use the subject pronoun (you) in an imperative sentence. 

The subject pronoun you is used with an imperative sentence to actually emphasize the statement in informal language. 

Examples of Imperative Sentence with You

• Don't you worry. I'm with you. 
• Don't you ever use my phone.
• Don't you ever come to my house.

The subject pronoun you can also be used with an imperative sentence when we use two contrasting ideas. Look at the examples:

• You do this, I'll do that. 
• You sit here, he'll sit there. 
• You eat chocolate, I'll eat candy. 

 

4. Imperative Sentence with Indefinite Pronouns 

 

Indefinite pronouns such as no one, someone, everybody, etc., can be used with imperative sentences. So, the structure would be indefinite pronoun + base form of a verb + any other element. 

Examples of Imperative Sentence with Indefinite Pronouns

• Everybody enjoy the party. 
• Someone help him please.
• No one sit here. 

Uses of Imperative Sentence

Imperative sentences can be used to express different purposes such as authoritative command, order, instruction, offer, request, suggestion, etc. 

a. Imperative Sentence for Authoritative Command

• Produce the accused in the court. (Judge)
• Get up at exactly 4 o'clock in the morning. (Army general)

b. Imperative Sentence for Order

• Submit your homework within a week. (Teacher)
• Enter the classroom on time. (Principal)

c. Imperative Sentence for Instructions 

• Take this route to reach your destination.
• Have one pile of each packet after your breakfast.

d. Imperative Sentence for Request 

• Please tell me the name of the movie.
• Please show me how I can go to the market.

e. Imperative Sentence for Suggestion 

• Let us have dinner now. 
• Let's go to the movies.

f. Imperative Sentence for Offer

• Have this apple and eat it.
• Take my pen and write. 

FAQs - What is an Imperative Sentence

What does imperative sentence mean?

An imperative sentence means a sentence that gives you a command or order or stop you from doing something.

What is an imperative sentence? 

An imperative sentence, as the name suggests, is a type of sentence that acts as a command; that is, imperative sentences are used to give someone a command, order or instruction or make a request, offer or suggestion to them.

Imperative sentence examples 

1. Come here, John.

2. Submit your homework today.

3. Write an essay on the importance of education.

4. Write an article on hostel life.

5. Please help me.

6. Produce the criminal within 24 hours. 

7. Go and sleep immediately.

8. Learn grammar to speak English.

9. Help the needy. 

Imperative Sentence Vs Imperative Mood

An imperative sentence is a group of words that has a hidden subject and a mentioned predicate used to give order, whereas an imperative mood is grammatical mood, present within an imperative sentence, that demands that an action be performed.

The main difference between an imperative sentence and an imperative mood is that an imperative sentence is a group of words having a hidden subject and a mentioned predicate, whereas the imperative mood tells you how you should regard a sentence (as a command)