Imperatives give orders, instructions, or advice. The affirmative form uses the base verb with no subject, as in open the door, and the negative form adds don’t before the base verb, as in don’t touch that. The verb never takes -s, even when speaking to one person.
Grammar Rule
Imperatives give orders, instructions, or advice. There is no explicit subject, so the verb never takes -s, even when speaking to one person.
Imperative Forms
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | base verb (no subject) | Open the door, please. Sit down, please. Wash your hands. |
| Negative | Don’t + base verb | Don’t touch that. Don’t run in the hallway. |
Remember: a subject is never used before the verb in the imperative.
Practice Test
Instructions
Answer each question in the test below using the correct imperative form. You will get a new random set of questions every time you retake the test, plus a downloadable results summary with your name and score at the end.
Imperatives – Affirmative and Negative (Come here! / Don't run!)
No necesitas registrarte para empezar. Al finalizar verás tu calificación de inmediato, y si quieres podrás agregar tu nombre para personalizar y descargar tu resultado.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you form an affirmative imperative?
Use the base verb with no subject, as in open the door, please or sit down, please.
How do you form a negative imperative?
Add don’t before the base verb, as in don’t touch that or don’t run in the hallway.
Does the imperative verb take -s?
No. The imperative verb never takes -s, even when you are speaking to one person.
What are imperatives used for?
Imperatives are used to give orders, instructions, or advice.