imperatives

  • The ‘imperative’ mood of verbs is one of three possible.
  • Usually, imperatives do not have a subject, meaning ‘you’ is implied as the subject.

suppose | supposing CONDITIONAL

C1, CLAUSES, conditional, imagine, imperatives, introduce

‘Suppose‘ can mean let’s imagine or consider the following situation or example.  For example: Suppose they rejected an 18th-century classification system  and incorporated instead the most advanced knowledge  of human genetic diversity and unity,  that human beings cannot be categorized  into biological races. TED It’s almost as if this imperative subordinates the whole sentence.  And we are waiting for the following result clause or sentence.  ‘that‘ can be used or not used. Suppose that the variants reach a hypothetical isolated city of 1 million people  who are completely susceptible to both viruses on the same day. TED Supposing, for example,  …

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Don’t get me wrong

ADVERBS, C2, imperatives, informal, NEGATIVE, phrases

In the English Vocabulary Profile, Don’t get me wrong INFORMAL C2 used when you do not want someone to think that you do not like someone or something For example: Now, don’t get me wrong, I am incredibly grateful to be alive,  and I am painfully aware that this struggle is a privilege that many don’t get to experience. fsc.org.au   Collocates of ‘Don’t get me wrong‘ in the MOVIE corpus: 1 N’T 917 2 LOVE 72 Don’t get me wrong, I love it. listen …

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Note | Notice | See (focus)

C1, CLAUSES, FOCUS, imperatives, point, text

Within a text or speech, we can use imperatives to point to its parts for the reader or listener to focus on. For example:

SEE the section on the presence of issues below.
NOTE the lack of a safety manual.
NOTICE the difference between these two charts.

imperative

A2, affirmative, base, CLAUSES, imperatives, NEGATIVE, VERBS

Here are two A2 English Grammar Profile points in different categories that cover imperatives. Point 39 in the category of CLAUSES is defined: affirmative imperative with the base form of a main verb Point 7 in NEGATION:  negative imperatives of main verbs with ‘don’t’ + main verb. For example: Now, wait a minute. Sit down, Zero. listen …

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IF clause + imperative

A2, CLAUSES, conditional, hedging, imperatives, offer, PRESENT, simple, suggestion

Here are two English Grammar Profile points at A2 that overlap formally. Point 9 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined: ‘if’ + present simple, with an imperative in the main clause. Point 22 in the category of CLAUSES/conditional is defined as: HEDGING: ‘if-‘ clause (‘if you want’, ‘like’, ‘prefer’) to soften the directness of …

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anything (ellipsis)

C1, CLAUSES, conditional, ellipsis, imperatives, indefinite, PRONOUNS

Here are two examples of indefinite pronouns in ellipted conditional clauses: Anything we can do, anything you need, just tell us. listen Anything you want there, anything at all, just take it. Kings Row (1942) *They mean:  “if there is anything that we can do” or “if there is anything that you want” C1 point 100 in PRONOUNS/indefinite is defined as: ‘anything’ in an ellipted clause.   (‘if there is anything …’) When …

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Don’t you!

C2, CLAUSES, imperatives, instruction

Point 135 in CLAUSES/imperatives is defined as: you with an imperative form to make an instruction stronger. This overlaps with Point 31 NEGATION imperative instruction warning reprimand. iWeb doesn’t allow for a search for . Do n’t you COCA does but we must manually search for exclamations: 34 2011 FIC Bk:SilverGirlNovel “Freddy, wait! Don’t leave. …

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Let’s not

B2, CLAUSES, imperatives, NEGATIVE, suggestion

In the English Grammar Profile, B2 point 87 in the category of CLAUSES and related to imperatives is ‘let’s not’ + base form of a main verb to make a suggestion. 1 LET ‘S NOT FORGET 13135 1 LET’S NOT FORGET THAT THIS IS 65 2 LET (VM21) ‘S (VM22) NOT (XX) FORGET (VVI) THE …

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