Imperative Sentences: Few Words About Them

An imperative sentence distinctly says what one needs to do, in one statement. Exclamation marks or periods may be used depending on the tone and level of emphasis of the speaker. There must be the main verb in the imperative moods. In grammar, the mood of a sentence is how verbs express what they mean (like an order or a desire or a question). In English, there are three moods: imperative, indicative, and subjunctive, which are all different types of mood. However, how can one change an imperative sentence? How can one change imperative sentences from active to passive? This is the quest for today.

A good rule of thumb is that an imperative sentence starts with a word that does something. For example, “order” is a word that does something (or verb). Subjects aren’t always in these sentences. They don’t say who, where, or what is doing the main thing. These sentences tend to focus on the person who is being talked to or told to do something. When you do an imperative sentence narration change for class 7, then these are the things you need to think about.

Implied Subject

An implied subject is not explicitly stated in a sentence but can be understood or derived from the subject. Because this pattern is well known, the subject is usually left out and suggested (understood by the audience to be there without having to be said). “Eat your meal” comes to mind. People should eat because it’s the first word in the sentence. Even if it doesn’t say so, you are the subject of the sentence. You will find such tasks in the imperative sentence narration change questions.

Helper Words

Verbs are not always necessary to start an essential statement. To make your message less rude, you can use words like “please” in your sentences. There is no need to say more than “please eat your meal.” To be clear, this command is still essential, even though it doesn’t start with a verb.

When you read the following lines, what is one thing they all have in common?

• Enjoy some good mangoes
• Grant me a few months to make up my mind
• Feel free to send mail to me afterwards

There are many types of imperative sentences, like requests, recommendations, advice, and demands. Subjects are often left out of imperative sentences. These sentences usually start with a verb. It is really about the listener or the audience. If an imperative statement is directed at you, then you are its audience.

The examples above have the verb written in the affirmative, which is what we want to do, demand or request. In a situation where you know, there is a possibility of something happening but you do not want it to, use a negative imperative sentence instead of an affirmative one.

• Don’t eat my mangoes
• Don’t wait for my reply
• Don’t mail me

The word “don’t” can be used to say something that should not happen. Think about the following:

Person A: I want to give you some good mangoes.

Person B: Do not. I am allergic to them.

This is the process followed to change imperative sentences from active to passive.

What are the Narration Change Rules for Imperative Sentences?

There is a change in the form of the verb in the reported sentence. Usually, punctuation marks like commas or inverted commas are not used. Instead, the word “to” joins them. This is applicable to the narration change rules for imperative sentences.

Rule 1: If the command is negative and the word “do not” is used in the command, it changes to “not to” in indirect speech. ‘To’ can also be followed by ‘forbidden/prohibited.’

Rule 2: Reporting verbs can change depending on their moods, like “told” and “said” can be replaced with “recommended,” “ordered,” and so on.

Rule 3: All inverted commas are removed and replaced with “to.” The rest of the reported speech will come as it is.

Conclusion

A sentence that is used to direct, command, order, invite, or request an implied second person is known as an imperative sentence. While there is no subject in the sentence, it is implied and the same should be kept in mind while changing the imperative sentence into some other form. There are various guidelines and rules of narrations that should be kept in mind while changing the imperative sentences.