Telling someone to do something: the imperative mood

orders and instructions 4.31 When someone gives a very clear order or instruction, they usually use the imperative mood.

Stop her.

Put that gun down.

Tell your mother as soon as possible.

Written instructions are given in the imperative mood.

Boil up a little water with washing up liquid in it.

Fry the chopped onion and pepper in the oil.

An order can be made more forceful by putting 'you' in front of the verb.

You get in the car.

You shut up!

advice and warnings 4.32 You can use the imperative mood when you are giving advice or a warning.

Be sensible.

You be careful.

Often advice or a warning is expressed in a negative form. You form a negative imperative by putting 'don't' or 'do not' in front of the base form of the verb.

Don't be afraid of them.

Don't be discouraged.

Do not move out of your home without getting legal advice.

You can also form a negative imperative by putting 'never' in front of the base form of a verb.

Never open the front door without looking through the peephole.

Another way of giving advice or a warning is to use one of the modals 'should' or 'ought to' in a declarative sentence.

You should get to know him better.

You shouldn't keep eggs in the refrigerator.

This use is explained in detail in paragraph 4.219.

4.33 You use the imperative mood when you are appealing to someone to do something.

Come quickly... Come quickly... Hurry!

You can make an appeal more forceful by putting 'do' in front of the verb.

Do help me out.

And now, please do stop crying.

4.34 You can use the imperative mood with some verbs when you are explaining something and you want the listener or reader to think about a particular thing or possibility, or to compare two things.

Take, for instance, the new proposals for student loans.

Imagine, for example, an assembly line worker in a factory making children's blocks.

But suppose for a moment that the automobile industry had developed at the same rate as computers.

For example, compare a typical poor country like Indonesia with a rich one like Canada.

Consider, for example, the contrast between the way schools today treat space and time.

Here is a list of verbs which are used in this way:

compare consider

contrast imagine

look at picture

suppose take

4.35 'Let' is used in imperative sentences in four different ways:

• it is used to give an order or instruction

Let Phillip have a look at it.

• you use it followed by 'us' when you are making a suggestion about what you and someone else should do. 'Let us' is almost always shortened to 'Let's'.

Let's go outside.

Let's creep forward on hands and knees.

• you use it followed by 'me' when you are offering to do something

Let me take your coat.

• in very formal English, it is used to express a wish.

Let the joy be universal.

Let confusion live!

Let the best man or woman win.

Other uses of moods

4.36 You can confirm that something is true by asking a question using the declarative mood.

So you admit something is wrong?

Then you think we can keep it?

When you ask a question using the declarative mood, you expect the answer 'yes', unless you use a negative construction, in which case you expect the answer 'no'.

'You mean it's still here?'—'Of course.'

'You never learned the deaf and dumb alphabet?'—'No, never.'

Questions expressed in the declarative mood often begin with a conjunction.

So you're satisfied?

And you will listen dutifully?

instructing 4.37 You can give an instruction in a fairly informal way by using a declarative sentence with 'you' as the subject.

You put the month and the temperature on the top line.

You take the bus up to the landing stage at twelve-thirty.

You just bung it in the oven.

offers and invitations 4.38 When you are making an offer or an invitation, you usually use a 'yes/no'-question beginning with a modal such as 'can' or 'would'. This use is explained in detail in paragraphs 4.177 to 4.182.

Can I help you?

Can I give you a lift?

Would you like me to get something for you?

Would you like some coffee?

Would you like to go to Ernie's for dinner?

You can make an offer or invitation in a more informal way by using the imperative mood. Note that you can only do this when it is clear that you are not giving an order.

Have a cigar.

Come to my place.

Come in, Mrs Kintner.

You can add emphasis by putting 'do' in front of the verb.

Do have a chocolate biscuit.

Do help yourselves.

requests, orders, and instructions 4.39 When you are making a request, you usually use a 'yes/no'-question beginning with one of the modals 'could', 'can', or 'would'.

Could I ask you a few questions?

Can I have my hat back, please?

Would you mind having a word with my husband?

You can also give an order or instruction using a 'yes/no'-question beginning with a modal.

Will you tell Watson I shall be in a little late?

These uses are explained in detail in paragraph 4.160 to 4.170.

rhetorical questions 4.40 When you use a 'yes/no'-question to offer help or to make a request, you still expect the answer 'yes' of 'no'. However, people sometimes say things which seem like 'yes/no'-question, although do not expect an answer at all. They are using the 'yes/no'-question form to express a strong feeling, opinion, or impression.

For example, instead of saying 'That's an ugly building', someone might say 'Isn't that an ugly building?. Or instead of saying 'You never seem to get upset', someone might say 'Don't you ever get upset?'.

Questions like these are called rhetorical questions.

Doesn't the whole set-up strike you as crazy?

Can't you see that I'm busy?

Hasn't anyone round here got any sense?

Does nothing ever worry you?

Another kind of rhetorical question consists of a statement followed by an expression such as 'are you?' or 'is it?'. For example, someone might say 'So you are the new assistant, are you?' or 'So they're coming to tea, are they?'.

So you want to be an actress, do you?

So you came up to sit beside me, did you?

Rhetorical questions can also begin with 'how'. They usually express a feeling of shock or indignation. For example, instead of saying 'You are very cruel', someone might say 'How can you be so cruel?'.

How can you say such things?

How dare you speak to me like that?

Rhetorical questions are dealt with fully in paragraph 10.121.

4.41 You can ask a question consisting of 'what about' or 'what of' in front of a noun group, without a verb. You ask a question like this to remind someone of something, or to draw their attention to something. With this kind of question, you often expect an action, rather than a reply.

What about the others on the list?

What about your breakfast?

But what of the growing disadvantages of having too many children?

4.42 There are several ways in which you can make a suggestion:

• you can use the modal 'could' in a declarative sentence (see paragraph 4.187)

We could have tea.

You could get someone to dress up as a pirate.

• you can use a negative 'wh'-question beginning with 'why'

Why don't we just give them what they want?

Why don't you write to her yourself?

• you can use a question consisting of 'what about' or 'how about' in front of a non-finite clause

What about becoming an actor?

How about using makeup to dramatize your features?

• you can use the imperative mood.

'Give them a reward each,' I suggested.

You can also make a suggestion about what you and someone else might do by using 'let's'. This use is explained in paragraph 4.35.