An imperative sentence gives a command, instruction, request, or invitation. It uses the base form of the verb and has no visible subject.
Most sentences in English need a subject before the verb. Imperatives are the exception — the verb stands alone and the listener knows exactly who it is meant for.
How to form an imperative
Take the base form of any verb — the same form you find in a dictionary — and use it on its own. No endings, no auxiliaries, no subject.
| BASE VERB | IMPERATIVE |
|---|---|
| open | Open your books. |
| wait | Wait here. |
| be | Be careful. |
A single verb can be a complete sentence: Stop. Go. Listen. Adding an object or other details is optional — the verb alone is enough to form a grammatically complete imperative.
The invisible subject
Every imperative has an understood subject: you. It is never spoken or written, but it is always there.
This means you open your books. The listener fills in the subject automatically.
Because the hidden subject is you, the only reflexive pronoun that works in imperatives is yourself (or yourselves for a group).
Negative imperatives
To tell someone not to do something, put don't before the base verb.
The full form do not appears in formal writing — safety signs, legal notices, official instructions.
In everyday speech, don't is the standard choice.
Polite imperatives
A bare imperative can sound blunt. Adding please at the beginning or end softens the tone.
For extra politeness, do before the verb creates an emphatic but warm tone. This is more common in British English.
When even please is not enough, speakers often switch to a question with could or would: Could you close the window? This is technically not an imperative, but it serves the same function in everyday conversation.
Let's for group suggestions
Let's (short for let us) turns an imperative into a suggestion that includes the speaker.
The negative form is let's not.
In formal contexts, the full form let us appears: Let us begin by welcoming our new members.
Imperatives with always and never
The adverbs always and never go directly before the base verb. They turn an imperative into a general rule or piece of advice.
With don't, use ever instead of never — the two negatives would cancel each other out.
Common mistakes
Missing don't in negatives
Wrong verb form
Adding a subject
Wrong negative with let's
Double negative with never