UNIT
15
Imperative The affirmative imperative of the second person, singular and plural, is formed with the infinitive of the verb without to. The subject is not expressed. Answer the door! Leave the room! The negative imperative of the second person, singular and plural, is formed with don’t + the infinitive of the verb without to. Don’t talk to me! Don’t touch!
The affirmative imperative of the first person plural is formed with let’s + the infinitive of the verb without to. Let’s have a party!
The negative imperative of the first person plural is formed with let’s not or don’t let’s + infinitive of the verb without to. Don’t let’s do our homework now! Let’s not leave late!
The imperative is used: to give instructions on how to do something Press the button! to give warning or advice Be careful!
to ask or tell someone to do something Call the police! Talk quietly!
to suggest what you and somebody else should or should not do Let’s take the car! (I think we should take the car.) Let’s not open the door! (I don’t think we should open the door.) Note! We can use let + pronoun + infinitive of the verb (without to) when we are asking permission to do something for someone or when we are telling someone to do something. Let me carry that for you. Let him tell the story.
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Change the sentences using the affirmative or negative imperative as in the examples. Then listen and check. 1 You must put on your coat. Put on your coat! _________________________________________________ 2 You mustn’t talk so loudly. _________________________________________________ Don’t talk so loudly! 3 You mustn’t take off your shoes. _________________________________________________! 4 You mustn’t point at people. _________________________________________________! 5 You shouldn’t chew gum in class. _________________________________________________! 6 You must clean up this mess. _________________________________________________!
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7 You should brush your teeth. _________________________________________________! 8 You mustn’t take away these folders. _________________________________________________! 9 You should wake up early tomorrow. _________________________________________________! 10 You mustn’t copy the person next to you. _________________________________________________! 11 You must leave the room. _________________________________________________! 12 You shouldn’t bite your nails. _________________________________________________!