Imperative Sentence

Imperative sentences are generally used to communicate when we tell or ask someone to do something. For example, suppose you are in your classroom or office. You need a pen to borrow. How will you do that? Generally, you request your friend saying ‘please lend me your pen.’ Such kinds of sentences are examples of imperative sentences. We can command, request, or ask for something from others.

What is an Imperative Sentence?

An imperative sentence starts with an action word to portray the mood of command, request, instruction, etc. to a second person. Such a sentence defines the imperative (or important/urgent) mood of a person.

Through this type of sentence, we can ask someone to do something. Generally, we communicate with the second person with these types of sentences. Here the second person can be anyone including your pet. You can command your pet. ‘Sit down, Bozzo’ with this sentence you generate the imperative mood.

Imperative Sentence: Explanation

If you pay attention to the format of these types of sentences, you might find that the sentences do not start with a subject. The verb or the action word starts the sentence. Here we find the subject is missing. What is the reason behind it?

The basic idea behind the imperative sentence is to instruct someone. When we do so, we generally ask the second person or ‘you’ to do something. Here ‘you’ is the subject. In these types of sentences, the subject remains implied. 

Let’s understand this concept with some examples. Say we ask our friend ‘buy me that chocolate.’ In this example of an imperative sentence, the subject must be ‘you’ that remains implied. In the format of this sentence, ‘you’ is omitted while the mood of the sentence is clear to the audience.

The Idea of ‘Imperative’

To understand why it is called an imperative sentence, we must understand the meaning of imperative. 

‘Imperative’ is the word that can be used as both a noun and an adjective.

As an adjective, it means something that is very important. On the other hand, necessity is the meaning of imperative when it is used as a noun. 

Some examples of imperative sentences:

• Finish your task as soon as possible.

• Explain the reason.

• Get me those beautiful flowers.

Kinds of Sentences

When we are discussing imperative sentences, we must know the root. Where do we bring this topic from? Well, it is a part of many kinds of sentences. There are many kinds of sentences, namely:

• Assertive sentence

• Interrogative sentence

• Imperative sentence

• Exclamatory sentence

What is an Assertive sentence?

When we write or talk about some facts, we use the general statement mode. In this type of sentence, we generally declare something. That is why it is also called a declarative sentence.

Examples:

The sun rises in the east.

Mike loves to eat fish.

I had some toys in my childhood.

Sentence formation:

We generally start this type of sentence with the subject, and we put other elements of sentences like verbs and objects. The format should be:

Subject→ Verbs→Objects

What is an Interrogative Sentence?

With the name, we can understand, that this type of sentence is based on interrogation. When we ask something from someone, it generates interrogative sentences.

Examples:

• Do you have a car?

• Why did you do this?

• How is your mother now?

Sentence formation:

This type of sentence starts with a verb, but it has a subject. The formation should be:

Helping verb-subject→Main verb→Object→Question mark (?)

What are Exclamatory Sentences?

When we express our emotions with words, such sentences are called exclamatory sentences.

Examples:

• How beautiful the car is!

• Hurray! We won the match.

• Alas! She is no more.

Formation:

In this type of sentence, we start with ‘what a’ or ‘how’ or some other expression. The exclamation mark is important here.

Kinds of Imperative Sentences

Imperative sentences can be expressed in two forms. They are:

• Affirmative imperative sentences

• Negative imperative sentences

Affirmative Imperative Sentences

In this type, the command or request demands a positive outcome. 

Examples are:

• Do it.

• Go to your bed.

• Please, give me some food.

Negative Imperative Sentences

Here the tone is negative. Some examples are:

• Do not run in the sun.

• Stop criticising the person.

• Never judge a book by its cover.

Formation of Imperative Sentences

When we start an imperative sentence, we generally start with some verbs. Those verbs are called imperative verbs, such as ‘do’, ‘give’ etc.

Examples of different kinds of imperative sentences:

•  Get back to your work.

• Please let us do our work.

• Run!

• Turn on the light.

Conclusion

Imperative sentences are unique in their style. We generally use these types of sentences to communicate better with others. These types of sentences are used daily in order to hold a conversation at our home or at our workspace. This is used to ask something, demand or request something in order to be done.