The Imperative (Don't Be So Bossy!)
Mac is sleeping after a big lunch.
We use the imperative when we tell somebody to do something.
Mac, wake up! You, my friend, are going to do an agility course!
What?
Suddenly...
To make the imperative, use the infinitive of verb with no pronoun.
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Get up!
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Eat your dinner!
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Put away your Ipad!
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Stop watching TV!
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Do your homework!
Right, Mac, go through the tunnel, jump through the hoop, then run through the poles.
No!
But, be polite when you use the imperative. Say "please" and "thanks".
What do you mean, "no"? Hey, don’t get angry.
Well, don’t be so bossy then!
We can tell someone not to do something by adding do not or don’t before the verb.
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Don't drink the water.
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Don't eat the cake.
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Don't watch TV.
You can make the imperative more polite by using please at the beginning or the end of the sentence.
OK, …please Mac, jump over the brush.
OK, OK! Move out of the way, please!
OK, start again and this time, go faster!
Ah Rory, do it yourself!
You can use the imperative to make an offer…
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Drink a cup of tea.
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Have a slice of cake.
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Come in and sit down.
Or you can make a suggestion by adding let’s... or let's not....
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Let's go to the movies.
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Let's buy some chocolate.
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Let's not go there.
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Let's not watch this show.
Come over here and sit down. We'll play football instead.
And Rory, let’s not do agility training again, OK?
agility training
Glossary
exercise
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pole
brush
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bossy: a bossy person who tells everybody else what to do
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rude: to be impolite, disrespectful and not nice
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