imperative mode

Language

2022

We explain what the imperative mood is, how the conventional and the negative are conjugated. Also, examples of its use in sentences.

The imperative mood is used to exhort someone to do something.

What is the imperative mood?

In grammar, the imperative mood is one of the models of verb conjugation (along with the indicative and the subjunctive) of those who have Spanish and many other languages. It allows the sender to address the receiver directly, to give him instructions, exhort him in some way towards something, or express a request, a wish. The imperative mood is very common in everyday language.

Its name comes from the word latin I will rule, translatable as "have a power" or "command", also root of other Spanish words such as empire or emperor.

It is considered a defective mode, since it does not include all verbal persons, but is only conjugated in the second person, plural or singular, formal or informal. When the speaker is included in the group to which he addresses, the first plural is used, since no one gives orders to himself (unless he does it figuratively, metaphorically), but he can do it to a group of which it is a part.

Likewise, the imperatives present significant differences when it comes to ordering a behavior (for example: “Shut up!”) And when it comes to denying it (“Don't shut up!”), Since in this second case the subjunctive is used . Although they vary depending on whether it is regular verbs or irregular, are usually located at the beginning of the prayer.

As will be seen below, imperatives may or may not be polite, may or may not be accompanied by exclamation marks to make them emphatic in the writing, and may eventually be replaced by the use of the Infinitive verb, when it comes to a prohibition or an impersonal order ("no smoking").

Conventional imperative

In most cases, the imperative is constructed as follows:

Second person singular:

  • You (informal):
    • Regular verbs: take (take), drink (drink), vive (live).
    • Irregular verbs: count (count), do (do), sleep (sleep).
  • You (formal).
    • Regular verbs: take (take), beba (drink), viva (live).
    • Irregular verbs: count (count), do (do), sleep (sleep).

Second person plural:

  • You (informal, only in Spain):
    • Regular verbs: tomad (take), bebed (drink), vivid (live).
    • Irregular verbs: count (count), do (do), sleep (sleep).
  • You (formal).
    • Regular verbs: take (take), beban (drink), vivan (live).
    • Irregular verbs: count (count), do (do), sleep (sleep).

First person plural:

  • Us:
    • Regular verbs: take (take), drink (drink), live (live).
    • Irregular verbs: let's count (count), do (do), sleep (sleep).

All the cases described may have pronouns clitics added at the end, to form imperative verbs such as "tell me", "give it to him" or "try it", as the case may be.

It is also common for these conjugations to adapt to dialect variants, beyond the use or omission of you (typical of dialect peninsular). For example, in the variants of Spanish in which it is vosea (that is, “vos” is used instead of “tú”), particular forms such as “hablá”, “decí” or “comé” appear.

Negative imperative

The negative imperative appears to deny a behavior, rather than to propose or impose it, and is easily recognizable because it begins sentences with a adverb negative such as "no", "nor" or "never", followed by the verb in the subjunctive mood. So, for example, with the previously used verbs:

Second person singular:

  • You (informal):
    • Regular verbs: don't take (take), don't drink (drink), don't live (live).
    • Irregular verbs: do not count (count), do not do (do), do not sleep (sleep).
  • You (formal).
    • Regular verbs: don't take (take), don't drink (drink), don't live (live).
    • Irregular verbs: do not count (count), do not do (do), do not sleep (sleep).

Second person plural:

  • You (informal, only in Spain):
    • Regular verbs: don't take (take), don't drink (drink), don't live (live).
    • Irregular verbs: do not count (count), do not do (do), do not sleep (sleep).
  • You (formal).
    • Regular verbs: do not take (take), do not drink (drink), do not live (live).
    • Irregular verbs: do not count (count), do not do (do), do not sleep (sleep).

First person plural:

  • Us:
    • Regular verbs: let's not take (take), let's not drink (drink), let's not live (live).
    • Irregular verbs: let's not count (count), let's not do (to do), we don't sleep (to sleep).

Examples of imperative sentences

Here are some example sentences of the use of the imperative:

  • Wake me up when the shaking stops.
  • Get off the floor!
  • Tell me more about yourself.
  • Please, let's talk quietly.
  • Do not feed the animals.
  • Pass me the salt, Julio.
  • Let's agree now, sir.
  • Tell your mother at once!
  • Friends, listen to me.
  • Better shut up, Roberto, Maria is speaking.
  • Throw the ball at me.
  • No Smoking.
  • Let's go home.
  • Have a little shame!
  • Better keep trying.
  • Come visit me tomorrow.
  • Hear my song, nightingales.
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