The imperative: How and When to Use in English

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The imperative

We use imperatives to give orders, advice, suggestions, instructions or encouragement. We use it when speaking directly to people to tell them what to do.

Come here! (order)

Try again. (suggestion)

We form the imperative with the infinitive of the verb without to. It is  addressed to you (singular or plural), but we just use the verb without the pronoun.

Eat less salt. (to eat, advice)

Put it in the oven. (to put, instruction)

Just do it! (to do, encouragement)

We form negative imperatives by putting don't before the infinitive without to:

Don't run!

Don't forget your keys.

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