Positive and Negative Imperatives

A1 · BeginnerImperatives

Close the door. Don't touch that! The imperative drops the subject entirely and uses the plain base form of the verb.

What you'll learn

An imperative uses the base form of the verb, with no subject at all
The negative imperative is formed with Don't + base verb, for every subject
'Please' can be added at the start or end to soften a command
Imperatives are used for commands, instructions, warnings, and requests

Dropping the subject

An imperative sentence gives a command or instruction directly to the listener. It drops the subject 'you' entirely and starts right with the base form of the verb.

"Close the door."

"Be careful!"

The negative imperative

To make an imperative negative, add Don't in front of the base verb — this works the same way for every verb, including be.

"Don't touch that!"

"Don't be late."

Softening with please

Adding 'please' at the start or end makes a command sound more polite, though it's still a fairly direct way to ask.

"Sit down, please."

"Please close the window."

Real English

"Wait here."

"Don't touch the stove."

"Be honest."

"Don't be afraid."

Watch out

✗You close the door.

✓Close the door.

An imperative drops the subject entirely — adding 'you' turns it into a statement, not a command.

✗Not touch that!

✓Don't touch that!

The negative imperative needs 'Don't' — 'not' can't negate the base verb by itself.

✗Be not late.

✓Don't be late.

Even with 'be', the negative imperative still uses Don't — 'be not' isn't how modern English forms it.

Real life — Giving quick directions

"How do I get to the station?"

"Turn left at the corner, then go straight for two blocks."

"Don't take the first left — that's a dead end."

"Got it, thanks!"

Practice

Exercise 1 · Choose the correct command

Choose the correct command.

Exercise 2 · Choose the correct command

Choose the correct command.

Exercise 3 · Choose the correct negative command

Choose the correct negative command.

Exercise 4 · Choose the correct negative command

Choose the correct negative command.

Exercise 5 · Choose the correct command

Choose the correct command.

Exercise 6 · Choose the correct negative command

Choose the correct negative command.

Exercise 7 · Choose the correct command

Choose the correct command.

Exercise 8 · Choose the correct negative command

Choose the correct negative command.

Exercise 9 · Make this a command

Make this a command: 'You should open the window.'

Exercise 10 · Make this a negative command

Make this a negative command: 'You should not run here.'

Exercise 11 · Sort into groups

Sit down.

Don't sit there.

Open the window.

Don't open that door.

Be quiet.

Don't be rude.

0 / 6 sorted

Quick challenge

Five quick questions to check what stuck.

Question 1 / 5

Score: 0/0

Choose the correct command.

You learned

An imperative uses the base form of the verb, with no subject.
The negative imperative is formed with Don't + base verb, for every verb including be.
'Please' at the start or end softens a command.
Imperatives are used for commands, instructions, warnings, and requests.

BeginnerImperatives

Let's

Learn 'Let's' — the imperative-family form for a suggestion that includes the speaker, with its own fixed negative, 'Let's not'.

ElementaryImperatives

Giving Instructions

Learn how to combine imperatives with sequencing words — first, then, next, after that, finally — to give clear, multi-step instructions.

ElementaryImperatives

Polite Requests

Learn two ways to soften a bare command into a polite request — adding 'please', and attaching a question tag like 'would you?' or 'will you?'

BeginnerNegatives

No, Never, Nobody and Nothing

Learn the 'no-words' — no, never, nobody, nothing, nowhere — a second, equally natural way to make an English sentence negative.