PRACTICAS DISCURSIVAS EN

INGLES I
2023

Eje 2

Profesora Yanina Pisani

 Using the Imperative Form in English

You can use the imperative form to give an order or an instruction, to give a warning or
advice, and (if you use “please”) to make a request.

 To make the imperative, use the infinitive of the verb without ‘to’:
“Come here!”
“Sit down!”
To make a negative imperative, put “do not” or “don’t” before the verb:
“Don’t go!”
“Do not walk on the grass.”
The imperative can be used for all subjects (you, he, they and we), but you can also use
“let’s” before the verb if you are including yourself in the imperative:
“Let’s stop now.”
“Let’s have some lunch.”
The negative of “let’s” is “let’s not”:
“Let’s not argue!
“Let’s not tell her about it.”
a- Orders
Adults do not usually give each other orders, unless they are in a position of authority.
The intonation of an order is important: each word is stressed, and the tone falls at the
end of the sentence:
“Sit down now!” (‘Sit’, ‘down’ and ‘now’ are all stressed, and the tone falls on ‘now’.)
However, adults can give orders to children and to animals:
Here are some orders you could give your pet dog:
“Come here!”
“Sit!”
“Heel!”
“Fetch!”
b- Warnings
You can use the imperative to warn someone of danger. All the words in the warning
are stressed, but the last word has a higher tone than the first word:
“Watch out!”
“Look out!”
“Don’t cross!”

1 1
 c- Advice
When you give advice using the imperative, the words are stressed normally:
“Eat an apple – it’s much better for you than a biscuit!”
“Don’t tell him you’re resigning now! Wait until Monday when he’s in a better mood.”
You can often read articles in magazines that give advice on a subject. Sometimes, this
advice is presented as “Dos and don’ts”.
For example:
Travelling long-distance
Do try to sleep well the night before
Do drink plenty of water
Do try to walk about the plane during the flight
Don’t drink alcohol
Don’t eat heavy meals
Don’t wear restrictive clothing
d- Requests
You can also use the imperative to make a request, but you should use a polite word
before the verb:
“Please take a seat.”
“Please wait here.”
“Please hold the line.”
“Please don’t smoke here.”
e- Instructions
You often use the imperative form in instructions or when someone tells you how to do
something.
There are often “sequencing” words to show the steps in the process. For example,
“firstly”, “secondly” and “finally”.
 Simple instructions to replace a light bulb
Firstly, turn off the electricity.
Secondly, remove the light bulb.
Then, screw in the new light bulb.
Finally, turn the electricity on and switch on the light.
You can also say “after that” instead of “then” and “first” / “second” instead of “firstly”
and “secondly”.

2 2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
 Jumping Frog!

You will need:

• origami paper or square paper
• pen or pencil

1. Fold in half to make 2. Fold in half. 3. Fold down to 4. Fold down corners
a crease then unfold. crease line then to make crease lines
unfold. then unfold.

5. Fold down then tuck 6. 7. Fold in to

in where the pink line is. Fold up. meet in centre. 8. Fold up.

9. Fold down corners to make 10. Pull the inside corners 11. Fold down in the
crease lines then unfold. out (where the stars are). crease line.

16. Lastly,
draw the eyes
and finish.

14. Fold down.

13. Fold up. press

12. Fold in the here to
dotted line. make it
15. Flip
jump!
over.

The Japan Society

© The Japan|Society
Education Resources
(2021) 16
| education@japansociety.org.uk
| www.japansociety.org.uk | www.japansociety.org.uk
| education@japansociety.org.uk 32