This document contains instructions and examples for using imperatives, or commands, in English. It provides examples of affirmative and negative imperatives used for directions, instructions, and requests. It also discusses using "please" to make imperatives more polite. Practice exercises are included for forming imperatives based on road signs and instructions. The overall purpose is to teach English learners how to properly structure and use imperative sentences.

1. Imperatives
Driving Safely
1
Focus on Grammar 1
Part 1, Unit I
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. Driving SafelyDriving Safely
Woman: Slow down, please! I’m nervous.
Driver: Relax. I’m a good driver.
Woman: Watch out for that bicycle!
Driver: Don’t worry. Listen to the music.
Woman: There’s a red light. Stop!
Driver: Close your eyes. I’m driving this cab.
Woman: Turn right! No, turn left! No, right.
Driver: OK, here we are. Next time, please take a bus.

3. Use 1Use 1
Use the imperative for directions.
Turn left.Turn left.Stop!Stop!

4. Use 2Use 2
Use the imperative for instructions.
Watch out for that bicycle.Watch out for that bicycle.
Close your eyes!Close your eyes!

5. Use 3Use 3
Use the imperative for requests.
Please slow down.Please slow down.Please take the bus.Please take the bus.

6. Practice 1Practice 1
Match the instructions with
the person who gives them.
doctor
police officer
pilot
teacher
Read page 23 for
homework.
Give me your
driver’s license.
Take a
deep
breath.
Get ready
for take-off.
Read page 23
for homework.
Take a
deep
breath.
Give me your
driver’s license.
Get ready
for take-off.

7. AffirmativeAffirmative
Use the base form of the verb for the
imperative.
Use a seat belt.Use a seat belt.Follow road signs.Follow road signs.

8. NegativeNegative
Use do not (don’t) + base form for the
negative form of the imperative.
Don’t drive
fast.
Don’t drive
fast.
Don’t use a
cell phone.
Don’t use a
cell phone.

9. Practice 2Practice 2
Make these imperatives
negative.
Don’t park here.
1. Don’t stop.
Example: Park here.
1. Stop.
2. Pass on the left.
3.Turn on your lights.
4. Exit here.
2. Don’t pass on the left.
3. Don’t turn on your lights.
4. Don’t exit here.

10. Please makes an imperative more polite. Please comes at the
beginning or at the end of a sentence.
PleasePlease
Please watch
out for animals.
Please watch
out for animals.
Watch out for
animals, please.
Watch out for
animals, please.

11. Practice 3APractice 3A
Look at the signs. Make
instructions with imperatives.
1. Go.
2. Walk.
Example:
Stop.
1.
2.

12. Practice 3BPractice 3B
Look at the signs. Write
instructions with imperatives.
3. Don’t park here.
4. Turn right.
3.
4.

13. ReferencesReferences
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its
licensors. All rights reserved.