Imperative Exercises
Do more with this exercise
The Imperative: Open the door. Don't run. Let's go.
We use the imperative to tell someone to do something. An affirmative imperative usually starts with the base verb and has no subject: Sit down. Open your books.
- Affirmative:
- Start with the base verb: Open the door. Come here. Be quiet.
- Negative:
- Put don't (do not) before the verb: Don't run. Don't eat in class. Don't be late.
- Let's:
- Let's + base verb is an idea for you and me together: Let's go. Let's have lunch.
- Please:
- Add please to be polite, at the start or at the end: Please sit down. Sit down, please.
- One verb for everyone:
- The verb never changes. It is the same for one person or many people: Sit down, Tom. Sit down, children.
- Uses:
- Instructions, directions, classroom language and signs: Turn left. Listen and repeat. Do not touch.
Examples
Open the window, please.
Start with the verb. Please makes it polite.
Don't run in the classroom.
Don't + verb tells someone not to do something.
Let's go to the park.
Let's means you and me together.
Turn left at the bank.
We use the imperative for directions.
Listen and repeat.
Teachers use the imperative in class.
Do not touch.
On signs, we often see do not, not don't.
Practice exercises
Choose the Correct Form
Select the correct word to complete each sentence.
1.___ the door, please. It's cold.
2.___ eat in the classroom.
3.It's a nice day. ___ go to the beach!
4.___ quiet, please. The baby is sleeping.
5.Don't ___ your phone in class, please.
6.Where is the station? ___ left, and it's on your right.
Fill in the Blanks
Type the imperative of the words in brackets.
Build the Sentence
Click the words in the correct order to build the sentence.
13. Build the sentence:
14. Build the sentence:
15. Build the sentence:
16. Build the sentence:
17. Build the sentence:
True or False
Decide if each statement is true or false.
18.The imperative uses the base verb, with no subject: 'Open the door.'
19.For a negative imperative, we say 'No run.'
20.'Let's go' means you and me together.
21.For one person, the imperative verb has -s: 'Sits down, Tom.'
22.'Please' can go at the start or at the end: 'Please sit down.' 'Sit down, please.'
How the Imperative Works in English
Teachers say it every day: 'Open your books. Listen. Don't talk.' These are imperatives. We use them to tell someone to do something, or not to do something. These imperative exercises help you use them in short, real sentences.
An affirmative imperative is easy to make. Start with the base verb: open, sit, come, be. There is no subject and no -s, for one person or for many people. For the negative, put don't before the verb: Don't run. Don't be late.
Let's is a little different. It is for you and me together. 'Let's go to the park' means: you and I go to the park together. Please makes any imperative more polite: 'Please sit down' or 'Sit down, please.'
For many learners, the negative is a big problem. In Spanish and Portuguese, for example, 'no' or 'não' goes before the verb, so many learners say 'No run.' In English, we need don't: Don't run. Practice this in the exercises above, and you are ready for signs, directions and classroom English.
Frequently asked questions
Is the imperative rude?
Not always. With friends and family, it is normal: Come here! Sit down! With other people, add please: Please sit down.
What is the difference between 'don't' and 'do not'?
They mean the same. 'Don't' is normal when we speak. 'Do not' is more formal, and you often see it on signs: Do not touch.
What does 'let's' mean?
'Let's' is the short form of 'let us'. It is an idea for you and me together: Let's go. Let's eat. The negative is 'let's not': Let's not go.
Where do I see the imperative?
In many places: instructions (Open your books), directions (Turn left), recipes (Cut the onions), signs (Do not touch) and classroom language (Listen and repeat).
Is there a subject in the imperative?
No. We talk to 'you', but we do not say it: Sit down, not You sit down. The verb is the same for one person or many people.
Answer key
1. ___ the door, please. It's cold.
Answer: Close
The imperative starts with the base verb: close. It has no -s and no -ing.
2. ___ eat in the classroom.
Answer: Don't
The negative imperative is don't + verb: Don't eat. We never say Not eat or No eat.
3. It's a nice day. ___ go to the beach!
Answer: Let's
Let's + verb is an idea for you and me together: Let's go.
4. ___ quiet, please. The baby is sleeping.
Answer: Be
The imperative of the verb to be is be: Be quiet. We never say Are quiet or Is quiet.
5. Don't ___ your phone in class, please.
Answer: use
After don't, we use the base verb: Don't use your phone.
6. Where is the station? ___ left, and it's on your right.
Answer: Turn
For directions, we use the imperative with the base verb: Turn left.
7. ___ your books, please.
Answer: Open
The imperative is the base verb, with no subject: Open your books.
8. ___ the plate. It's very hot!
Answer: Don't touch
For a negative imperative, we put don't (do not) before the verb: Don't touch.
9. I'm hungry. ___ pizza tonight!
Answer: Let's eat
Let's + base verb is an idea for you and me together: Let's eat.
10. Dad, ___ me with my bag, please.
Answer: help
The imperative is the base verb: help. Please at the end makes it polite.
11. Children, ___ in the street. There are a lot of cars!
Answer: don't play
Don't + base verb tells people not to do something: Don't play in the street.
12. ___ careful! The floor is wet.
Answer: Be
The imperative of the verb to be is be: Be careful.
13. eat / in / library / don't / . / the
Answer: Don't eat in the library.
Don't comes first, then the base verb eat.
14. me / to / Sit / . / next
Answer: Sit next to me.
Instructions start with the verb: Sit. The object pronoun me goes after next to.
15. together / have / . / let's / lunch
Answer: Let's have lunch together.
Let's comes first, then the base verb have.
16. at / right / bank / . / turn / the
Answer: Turn right at the bank.
Directions start with the verb: Turn right.
17. here / your / . / write / name
Answer: Write your name here.
Instructions start with the verb: Write your name.
18. The imperative uses the base verb, with no subject: 'Open the door.'
Answer: True
The imperative uses the base verb, and there is no subject: Open the door.
19. For a negative imperative, we say 'No run.'
Answer: False
We use don't + verb: Don't run.
20. 'Let's go' means you and me together.
Answer: True
Let's is for you and me (and maybe other people too): Let's go.
21. For one person, the imperative verb has -s: 'Sits down, Tom.'
Answer: False
The imperative verb never changes: Sit down, Tom. Sit down, children.
22. 'Please' can go at the start or at the end: 'Please sit down.' 'Sit down, please.'
Answer: True
Both are correct and polite. At the end, we usually put a comma before please.