Imperative Sentence

 In Grammar, Sentence Structure

An imperative sentence is one that is a command, a request or a suggestion.

“Think small.”  E F Shumacher

An imperative sentence is used to give a command, request or issue an invitation, or make a suggestion – it can end with a period or an exclamation mark, depending on how emphatically you want to make the command.  If you include ‘please’ in the sentence, an imperative sentence will end with just a period.  Anything stronger usually ends with an exclamation mark.

examples of the imperative sentence

 imperative sentence“Please brush your hair.”
“Answer the phone, please.
“Stop the car!”
“Don’t go!”
All the above sentences are commands, but the first two have a less forceful tone because the word ’please’ has been inserted.

Note that in an imperative sentence, the subject is always the same.  The subject, every time, is  YOU.  Commands are unique to spoken as opposed to written language, as they are used when you speak to somebody.  The subject, you, is not actually said in an imperative sentence, but it is understood to be you.

Here are some examples of famous imperative sentences:
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.” The Godfather
“Beam me up, Scotty.”  Star Trek, the TV series
An example of famous last words which doubled as an example of an imperative sentence was when Pancho Villa, the Mexican revolutionary leader, said
“Don’t let it end like this. Tell them I said something…”
Then there is the imperative sentence in this classic of reggae music:
“Get up, stand up! Stand up for your rights.
Get up, stand up, Don’t give up the fight.”
Bob Marley, Get Up, Stand Up!
Finally, the command to the consumer is a favorite technique in advertising:
“Just do it.”
Nike advertising slogan

To conclude, the imperative sentence can be found mostly in spoken English, as opposed to written English, and it is also used in oratory, advertising, signs and notices such as
“Stop”
“Give Way”
“No Parking”
“Trespassers will be Prosecuted”
The imperative sentence gives commands or requests or suggestions and is a powerful persuasive language too.

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