Imperative Verb

Bossy Verbs

Do you ever wish you had a robot to do some of your chores for you? Think of what kind of commands you would want to give it. ''Clean my room,'' ''Do my homework,'' ''Wash the dishes!'' These sentences all use imperative verbs.

An imperative verb is an action word that gives a command. We use imperative verbs in sentences in which you tell someone what to do. If you seem bossy when you read a sentence, it often has an imperative verb in it! In this lesson, we'll look at imperative verbs and some examples.

Characteristics

Imperative verbs command others to do something, so many people playfully call them, ''bossy verbs.''

They come at the beginning of imperative sentences in the present, simple form - the base form of a verb.

Imperative verbs can also be paired with the word ''don't'' with the same use of the verb. So, we can say, ''Talk loud when you present your project,'' or ''Don't talk while someone else is presenting.''

They can also be paired with the word, ''please.'' We can say, ''Get me some water,'' or ''Please, get me some water.'' The word ''get'' in this sentence is still an imperative verb, even though it doesn't start the sentence.

Examples

Let's take a look at this shortlist of imperative verbs:

• Bake
• Bring
• Clean
• Do
• Move
• Open
• Shut
• Tell
• Throw
• Wash
• Write

We use each of these verbs in the base form. For example, the word ''bake'' changes forms in the past and future, ''baked,'' and ''will bake.'' We add an ''s'' if we talk about someone who does it in the present, like, ''She bakes cookies every day.''

When we tell someone to bake or instruct them to do so, however, we use the base form, ''bake.'' We would never say, ''Bakes the cake,'' or, ''Baked the cake.'' Instead we say, ''Bake the cake.'' Other examples of imperative verbs in use include:

• Don't forget to wash your hands before heading back to work. (forget)
• Drive slowly on the interstate. (drive)
• Turn here. (turn)
• Finish your work. (finish)
• Play nicely. (play)

In these sentences, the imperative verbs begin the sentence, are in the base forms, and instruct or command someone to do something.

Uses of Imperative Verbs

It's important to know that we don't use imperative verbs very often, especially with strangers. When you are trying to be polite but you want something done, it's better to ask in the form of a question.

For example, instead of saying, ''Carry these bags.'' To be polite, we would instead make a request, ''Can you carry these bags, please?''

We use the imperative form when a person in authority is trying to get something done, like a parent and child or teacher and student. The imperative form gives an instruction.

For example, ''Make your bed,'' or ''Be quiet in the hallway.''

We use the imperative form when we are angry, but we can also use them when we are giving instructions. Recipes and manuals use imperatives to list steps to do something.

For example, ''Set the oven to 350 degrees,'' or ''Insert AA batteries.''

We can also use the imperative form more freely with friends, such as, ''Send me the photo,'' or ''Come to my house tomorrow.''