Imperative Mood in English

By Author Giljonnys Dias da Silva 

 

The imperative mood in English is used to give commands, instructions, requests, advice, or warnings. It is a direct way of telling someone to do something. The subject "you" is understood and therefore not stated — the verb comes first, making the structure clear and straightforward.

 

How to Form the Imperative Mood

 

The imperative is formed using the base form of the verb (infinitive without "to"). There is no need to include the subject "you," because it is implied.

 

Affirmative Form

 

sleep 

durma

 

do sleep 

durma

 

let's sleep 

vamos dormir

 

Negative Form

 

do not sleep 

não durma

 

don't sleep 

não durma

 

Uses of the Imperative Mood in English

 

1. Giving Orders or Commands

 

This is the most direct use of the imperative mood. It’s often used by people in authority or in situations requiring quick action.

 

Stop right there!

Pare aí mesmo!

 

Close your books.

Fechem seus livros.

 

2. Giving Instructions or Directions

 

Imperatives are frequently used in recipes, manuals, or instructions for using devices.

 

Turn on the machine.

Ligue a máquina.

 

Add two cups of sugar.

Adicione duas xícaras de açúcar.

 

3. Making Requests (Polite Imperatives)

 

Sometimes, the imperative is softened to make it sound polite, especially with the use of "please."

 

Please sit down.

Por favor, sente-se.

 

Pass me the salt, please.

Passe-me o sal, por favor.

 

4. Offering Suggestions or Advice

 

The imperative mood is also used to suggest an action someone should take.

 

Try the chocolate cake, it’s delicious.

Experimente o bolo de chocolate, está delicioso.

 

Take an umbrella, it might rain.

Leve um guarda-chuva, pode chover.

 

5. Issuing Warnings

 

The imperative can be used to warn someone about danger or consequences.

 

Watch out!

Cuidado!

 

Be careful with that knife.

Cuidado com essa faca.

 

Final Thoughts

 

The imperative mood is simple yet powerful. It’s essential for daily communication, from casual conversation to written instructions. Understanding how and when to use it — whether to give commands, make polite requests, or offer advice — will greatly improve your fluency and confidence in English.

 

Bibliographic References 

 

Azar, Betty Schrampfer. Understanding and Using English Grammar. 5ª ed. Pearson Education, 2009.

 

Murphy, Raymond. English Grammar in Use. 4ª ed. Cambridge University Press, 2014.

 

Swan, Michael. Practical English Usage. 4ª ed. Oxford University Press, 2016.

 

Quirk, Randolph; Greenbaum, Sidney; Leech, Geoffrey; Svartvik, Jan. A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language. Longman, 1985.

 

Celce-Murcia, Marianne; Larsen-Freeman, Diane. The Grammar Book: An ESL/EFL Teacher's Course. 3ª ed. National Geographic Learning, 2019.

 

Thornbury, Scott. How to Teach Grammar. Pearson Education, 2008.

 

Biber, Douglas; Conrad, Susan; Leech, Geoffrey. Longman Grammar of Spoken and Written English. Longman, 2002.