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What is an Imperative Sentence? (Definition, Examples, How to Identify) | GrammarBrain
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(Definition, Examples, How to Identify)</h1> <div bind="b4d36f25-3a5e-8c0b-ebc8-a80567a94714" class="featured-image-wrap"> <img src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/stock-15-5-1024x683.jpeg" height="auto" style="-moz-border-radius:10px;-webkit-border-radius:10px;border-radius:10px;margin-bottom:40px;" alt="Imperative Sentence" /> </div> </div> </div> <div bind="80e03a2d-a20f-6efc-c0d9-14bc49b22dd9" class="article-body wf-section"> <div bind="bc878838-ab40-9492-e3bd-2479e727ee0e" class="article-body"> <div bind="bc0209be-976e-1d43-38b0-3a9a8847699c" class="container w-container"> <div bind="085bf5dc-f87e-1752-2b64-0aa48fd35121" class="w-richtext"> <p><strong>What is <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/a-or-an/">an</a> imperative <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/what-is-a-sentence/">sentence</a>?</strong> A sentence that conveys a command, a warning, an instruction, a request, or an invitation is defined as an imperative sentence. An <a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">imperative</a> sentence does not <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/has-vs-have/">have</a> a <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subject-of-a-sentence/">subject</a>. It is a directive communicated <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/to-vs-too/">to</a> an inferred second person. <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/a-vs-the/">The</a> subject is implied in the sentence.</p> <p>In an imperative sentence, the <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/what-is-a-verb/">verb</a> is always in the simple present tense. An imperative sentence ends with a <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/when-to-use-periods/">period</a> (.) or an <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/exclamation-mark/">exclamation point</a> (!).</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence.png" alt="Imperative sentence" class="wp-image-4842" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence.png 800w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-300x165.png 300w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-768x423.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Imperative sentence</figcaption></figure></div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="imperative-sentence-definition"></span>Imperative sentence: Definition<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>Any sentence that uses an imperative mood is defined as an <a href="https://www.grammarly.com/blog/imperative-sentences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">imperative sentence</a>. The imperative mood, in English <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/what-is-grammar/">grammar</a>, is the mood used when making requests and giving suggestions, commands, or instructions. This mood is employed when something needs to be done.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="imperative-sentences-easy-examples"></span>Imperative sentences: Easy examples<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>Some commonly used <a href="https://examples.yourdictionary.com/imperative-sentence-examples.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">imperative sentences</a> include:</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-2.png" alt="Imperative sentence" class="wp-image-4841" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-2.png 800w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-2-300x165.png 300w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-2-768x423.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Imperative sentence</figcaption></figure></div> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="giving-an-order-or-command"></span><strong>Giving an order or command</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Clean your room!</li><li>Get out! </li><li>Shut up! </li><li>Finish the project <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/bye-vs-by/">by</a> tomorrow.</li></ul> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-3.png" alt="Imperative sentence" class="wp-image-4840" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-3.png 800w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-3-300x165.png 300w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-3-768x423.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Imperative sentence</figcaption></figure></div> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="making-a-request"></span><strong>Making a request</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Please take out the trash.</li><li>Please clean your room.</li><li>Please switch off the lights when <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personal-pronouns/">you</a> leave the room.</li><li>Please do not dump your trash in the park.</li></ul> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-4.png" alt="Imperative sentence" class="wp-image-4839" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-4.png 800w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-4-300x165.png 300w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-4-768x423.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Imperative sentence</figcaption></figure></div> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="giving-a-warning"></span><strong>Giving a warning</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Look out! </li><li>Watch out!</li><li>Try not to cross the yellow line.</li><li>Watch your step.</li></ul> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-5.png" alt="Imperative sentence" class="wp-image-4838" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-5.png 800w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-5-300x165.png 300w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-5-768x423.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Imperative sentence</figcaption></figure></div> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="giving-an-instruction"></span><strong>Giving an instruction</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Turn right at the central square.</li><li>Boil the egg for ten minutes.</li><li>Drink the medicine with honey at night.</li><li>Heat the pan before pouring the batter.</li></ul> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img decoding="async" width="800" height="441" src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-6.png" alt="Imperative sentence" class="wp-image-4837" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-6.png 800w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-6-300x165.png 300w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/imperative-sentence-6-768x423.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" /><figcaption>Imperative sentence</figcaption></figure></div> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="giving-advice"></span><strong>Giving advice</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Don’t <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-tense-of-eat/">eat</a> at the cafe near your school.</li><li>Do not walk on wet floors.</li><li>Do not try to jump over the fence.</li><li>Don’t play with yellow snow.</li></ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="rules-for-constructing-an-imperative-sentence"></span>Rules for constructing an imperative sentence<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>The basic rules listed below <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/would-vs-will/">will</a> assist an author in better comprehending the idea of <a href="https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/whats-an-imperative-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">imperative sentences</a>:</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="no-subject"></span><strong>No subject</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>An imperative sentence does not have a subject. It starts with an imperative verb. The subject is understood but not mentioned.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Consider the sentences given below:</h4> <ol class="wp-block-list"><li><strong>Ronald</strong>, take the dogs out for a walk.</li><li><strong>Mary</strong>, start working on your midterm project.</li><li><strong>Kids</strong>, play carefully.</li><li><strong>Tutors</strong>, <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-tense-of-to-teach/">teach</a> well.</li><li><strong>Children</strong>, stand in a line.</li></ol> <p>In the sentences above, the words in bold, namely “Ronald, Mary, Kids, Tutors, and Children,” are all proper subjects. Now consider the sentences that are formed when these subjects are removed.</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Take the dogs out for a walk.</li><li>Start working on your midterm project.</li><li>Play carefully.</li><li>Teach well.</li><li>Stand in a line.</li></ol> <p>Even after removing the subject, the sentences are still meaningful. This is due to the presence of imperative or bossy verbs, namely “take, start, play, teach, and stand.” These verbs allow the statements to still be understood as orders.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="choose-the-tone"></span><strong>Choose the tone</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>The tone used in writing or <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-tense-of-read/">reading</a> an imperative sentence will determine <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/weather-whether-wether/">whether</a> it is a request or an order. The tone can be neutral, fairly neutral, or express intense emotions. Imperative sentences delivered in a neutral tone denote a gentle request. When spoken with a fairly neutral tone, it denotes a request. When spoken in a raised voice, it denotes an order or command.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Consider the examples given below:</h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Please take out the trash. (neutral)</li><li>Finish the project by tomorrow. (fairly neutral)</li><li>Shut up! (expressing intense emotions)</li></ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="pick-the-punctuation-carefully"></span><strong>Pick the punctuation carefully</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>Imperative sentences can <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/use-vs-utilize/">use</a> either exclamation points or full stops as <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/punctuation/">punctuation</a>. The choice of punctuation depends on the tone of the message it conveys. A sentence that makes a command, order, or intense emotional request is punctuated using an exclamation point. The sentences that make a request or suggestion typically end with full stops.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Examples:</strong></h4> <p><strong>Command or order</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Shut the window!</li><li>Open your mouth!</li><li>Stop shouting!</li></ul> <p><strong>Request or suggestion</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Drink your soup.</li><li>Close the door when you <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/what-is-the-past-participle-of-go/">go</a> out.</li><li>Turn down the volume of the radio a <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-tense-of-bite/">bit</a>.</li></ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="imperative-sentence-structure"></span><strong>Imperative sentence structure</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>Imperative sentences are designed around imperative verbs. These sentences almost always begin with these verbs.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading">Consider the examples:</h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Come here.</li><li>Go to the opera at Madison <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/theater-or-theatre/">Theater</a>.</li><li>Climb the tree from the other side.</li></ul> <p>In all these sentences, the verbs, namely “come,” “go,” and “climb,” are the first words of the sentence. But this <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/may-vs-can/">may</a> not always be the case. <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/there-their-theyre/">There</a> are some exceptions to this rule. Examples include:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/ensure-vs-insure/">Ensure</a> that you comprehend the reason we are doing this assignment.</li><li>Please don’t ruin the game.</li><li>Please do not dump your trash in the park.</li></ul> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="imperative-sentences-different-types-with-examples"></span><a href="https://examples.yourdictionary.com/imperative-sentence-examples.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Imperative sentences</a>: Different types with examples<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>Based on their construction or nature, imperative sentences are broadly classified into two types, namely positive or affirmative and negative imperative sentences.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="positive-or-affirmative-imperative-sentences"></span><strong>Positive or affirmative imperative sentences</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>Affirmative or positive imperative sentences instruct the listener or reader to do something or take action.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Examples:</strong></h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Put the new pair of socks in the top drawer of the dresser.</li><li>Clean the dishes before you leave for school.</li><li>Come here!</li></ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="negative-imperative-sentences"></span><strong>Negative imperative sentences</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>Negative imperative sentences instruct the listener or reader to refrain from doing something.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Examples:</strong></h4> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Do not open the box before <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/plural-of-christmas/">Christmas</a>.</li><li>Do not close the account before you are back in New York.</li><li>Do not go to the mall if you have a fever.</li></ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="conditional-imperative-sentences"></span><strong>Conditional imperative sentences</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>These are forms of imperative sentences that contain <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conditionals/">conditional</a> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/clauses/">clauses</a> and are complex in nature. This sentence shows a cause or a condition and its (certain, probable, or even extremely unlikely) result.</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>If your temperature goes up, eat paracetamol.</li><li>When the teacher calls your name, go stand in the front.</li><li>When you reach home, message <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/me-vs-myself/">me</a>.</li></ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="direct-%e2%80%93-indirect-sentences"></span><strong>Direct – Indirect sentences</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/because-vs-since/">Since</a> the subject is absent in imperative sentences and is only inferred, the direct sentences can be converted into indirect forms by using specific verbs. These include requested, advised, ordered, instructed, suggested, allowed, forbade, asked, and warned.</p> <h4 class="wp-block-heading"><strong>Examples:</strong></h4> <p><strong>Direct: </strong>The old man said, “Please give this letter to my son.”</p> <p><strong>Indirect: </strong>The old man requested me to give the letter to his son.</p> <p><strong>Direct: </strong>The mother told the children, “Do your homework.”</p> <p><strong>Indirect: </strong>The mother instructed the children to do their homework.</p> <p><strong>Direct: </strong>The commander yelled at the corporal, “Hold your fire.”</p> <p><strong>Indirect: </strong>The commander ordered the corporal to hold his fire.</p> <p><strong>Direct: </strong>The manager said to the workers,” Do not talk.”</p> <p><strong>Indirect: </strong>The manager forbade the workers to talk.</p> <p><strong>Direct: </strong>The tutor told her, ” Do not talk unnecessarily.”</p> <p><strong>Indirect:</strong> The tutor warned her not to talk unnecessarily.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="how-to-make-imperative-sentences-softer-or-less-harsh"></span>How to make imperative sentences softer or less harsh<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>There are some imperative sentences that might come off as downright rude to the reader. An example is the sentence, “Do not tell me what to do.” Many authors find it difficult to write imperative sentences that do not sound rude or bossy. This is especially true in a written format <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/where-vs-were/">where</a> the mood of the sentence <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/cannot-or-can-not/">cannot</a> be expressed using body language or voice.</p> <p>There are some ways to make imperative sentences softer or <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/less-vs-fewer/">less</a> harsh. The method chosen for a sentence depends on some factors, like:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>the direction or instruction given by the author</li><li>the connection between the author and the reader</li><li>the inferred subject of the sentence</li><li>the situation the author is referring to in the sentence.</li></ul> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="adding-%e2%80%9cplease%e2%80%9d"></span><strong>Adding “please”</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>“Please” can be added in front of imperative sentences to make them seem polite. Consider the two sentences:</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Clean the dishes before you leave for school.</li><li>Please clean the dishes before you leave for school.</li></ol> <p>In this example, the second sentence sounds softer and more polite <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/then-vs-than/">than</a> the first sentence.</p> <h3 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="making-a-question"></span><strong>Making a question</strong><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h3> <p>If an author is making a request, converting the sentence to a question can make them appear softer. Consider the two sentences:</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Please clean the dishes before you leave for school.</li><li>Could you please clean the dishes before you leave for school?</li></ol> <p>Though here the sentence is no longer imperative, it conveys the same meaning to the reader, <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/comma-before-which/">which</a> is making a request.</p> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="exercises-in-imperative-sentences"></span>Exercises in <a href="https://www.masterclass.com/articles/imperative-sentence-guide" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">imperative sentences</a><span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <p>Consider the following imperative sentences and identify the type of sentence and the imperative verb.</p> <ol class="wp-block-list"><li>Put the clothes in the washing machine when you come back.</li><li>Do not disturb the injured cat.</li><li>Throw the stale chicken out.</li><li>If the <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/busses-or-buses/">bus</a> is canceled, call for an Uber.</li><li>Give the little girl a comb!</li><li>Do not tell me what to do.</li><li>Get out of my house!</li><li>Drink the milk when it is warm.</li><li>Unless you want Lily to be heartbroken, do not do this.</li><li>Check the spiciness before you serve the food.</li></ol> <div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/FAQPage"> <h2 class="wp-block-coblocks-faq__title wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="faqs"></span>FAQs<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <details class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item" itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"><summary class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question" itemprop="name"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__content"><strong>How are imperative sentences <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/different-from-or-different-than/">different from</a> exclamatory sentences?</strong></div><svg width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__icon" aria-hidden="true"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M19.39 14.99l-1.41 1.41L12 10.43 6.02 16.4l-1.41-1.41L12 7.6l7.39 7.39z"></path></svg></summary><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__answer" itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"><div itemprop="text"> <p>Imperative sentences are often confused with exclamatory sentences since both can end in an exclamation point or mark. Imperative sentences that end in exclamation give an order or command. Whereas exclamatory sentences are <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/used-to/">used to</a> express surprise, excitement, or similar heightened emotions. Examples of exclamatory sentences include:</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>You are so cute!</li><li>It is a girl!</li><li>This game is making me insane!</li><li>What a big cat!</li><li>Oh, no!</li><li>Hurrah! We won the match.</li></ul> <p>Exclamatory sentences contain a subject, whereas imperative sentences do not require a subject.</p> </div></div></details> <details class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item" itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"><summary class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question" itemprop="name"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__content"><strong>What is a common mistake that should be avoided when writing imperative sentences?</strong></div><svg width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__icon" aria-hidden="true"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M19.39 14.99l-1.41 1.41L12 10.43 6.02 16.4l-1.41-1.41L12 7.6l7.39 7.39z"></path></svg></summary><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__answer" itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"><div itemprop="text"> <p>A common mistake many authors make while writing imperative sentences is using “myself”. The subject in imperative sentences is an inferred “you”. This implies that the verb can be combined with “yourselves” or “yourself”.</p> <p><strong>Example:</strong></p> <ul class="wp-block-list"><li>Please share the chocolates among yourselves, kid.</li><li>Take care of yourself, young man.</li></ul> <p>An imperative verb cannot be paired with emphatic or <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/reflexive-pronouns/">reflexive pronouns</a> like “myself,” “ourselves,” “himself,” or “herself.”</p> <p><strong>Example:</strong></p> <p><strong>Wrong: </strong>Please call your team leader or myself to report any issues.</p> <p><strong>Right: </strong>Please call your team leader or me to report any issues.</p> </div></div></details> <details class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item" itemprop="mainEntity" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Question"><summary class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question" itemprop="name"><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__content"><strong>How to identify </strong><a href="https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/sentence/type-imperative.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener"><strong>imperative sentences</strong></a></div><svg width="24" height="24" fill="none" viewBox="0 0 24 24" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__question__icon" aria-hidden="true"><path fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M19.39 14.99l-1.41 1.41L12 10.43 6.02 16.4l-1.41-1.41L12 7.6l7.39 7.39z"></path></svg></summary><div class="wp-block-coblocks-faq-item__answer" itemprop="acceptedAnswer" itemscope itemtype="https://schema.org/Answer"><div itemprop="text"> <p>Punctuation is the first clue to look for to identify if the sentence is imperative or not. The punctuation should be either a full stop or an exclamation point. Examine the verb after the punctuation. Imperative sentences frequently start with verbs that give a command. The lack of a proper subject is also an indication.</p> </div></div></details> </div> <h2 class="wp-block-heading"><span class="ez-toc-section" id="sources"></span>Sources:<span class="ez-toc-section-end"></span></h2> <ol class="wp-block-list"><li><a href="https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/imperative" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Merriam Webster – imperative(noun) – Definition</a></li><li><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Imperative_mood" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Wikipedia – Imperative mood</a></li><li><a href="https://www.grammarly.com/blog/imperative-sentences/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Grammarly – What Are Imperative Sentences?</a></li><li><a href="https://www.thesaurus.com/e/grammar/whats-an-imperative-sentence/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Thesaurus.com – What Is An Imperative Sentence? Understanding The Basics</a></li></ol> <div id="ez-toc-container" class="ez-toc-v2_0_73 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction"> <div class="ez-toc-title-container"> <p class="ez-toc-title" style="cursor:inherit">Inside this article</p> <span class="ez-toc-title-toggle"></span></div> <nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1" href="#imperative-sentence-definition" title="Imperative sentence Definition">Imperative sentence Definition</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2" href="#imperative-sentences-easy-examples" title="Imperative sentences Easy examples">Imperative sentences Easy examples</a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3" href="#giving-an-order-or-command" title="Giving an order or command">Giving an order or command</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4" href="#making-a-request" title="Making a request">Making a request</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5" href="#giving-a-warning" title="Giving a warning">Giving a warning</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6" href="#giving-an-instruction" title="Giving an instruction">Giving an instruction</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7" href="#giving-advice" title="Giving advice">Giving advice</a></li></ul></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8" href="#rules-for-constructing-an-imperative-sentence" title="Rules for constructing an imperative sentence">Rules for constructing an imperative sentence</a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9" href="#no-subject" title="No subject">No subject</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10" href="#choose-the-tone" title="Choose the tone">Choose the tone</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11" href="#pick-the-punctuation-carefully" title="Pick the punctuation carefully">Pick the punctuation carefully</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12" href="#imperative-sentence-structure" title="Imperative sentence structure">Imperative sentence structure</a></li></ul></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13" href="#imperative-sentences-different-types-with-examples" title="Imperative sentences Different types with examples">Imperative sentences Different types with examples</a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-14" href="#positive-or-affirmative-imperative-sentences" title="Positive or affirmative imperative sentences">Positive or affirmative imperative sentences</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-15" href="#negative-imperative-sentences" title="Negative imperative sentences">Negative imperative sentences</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-16" href="#conditional-imperative-sentences" title="Conditional imperative sentences">Conditional imperative sentences</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-17" href="#direct-%e2%80%93-indirect-sentences" title="Direct – Indirect sentences">Direct – Indirect sentences</a></li></ul></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-18" href="#how-to-make-imperative-sentences-softer-or-less-harsh" title="How to make imperative sentences softer or less harsh">How to make imperative sentences softer or less harsh</a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-19" href="#adding-%e2%80%9cplease%e2%80%9d" title="Adding “please”">Adding “please”</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-20" href="#making-a-question" title="Making a question">Making a question</a></li></ul></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-21" href="#exercises-in-imperative-sentences" title="Exercises in imperative sentences">Exercises in imperative sentences</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-22" href="#faqs" title="FAQs">FAQs</a></li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class="ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-23" href="#sources" title="Sources">Sources</a></li></ul></nav></div> </div> <div bind="a45688e5-b9eb-987e-b87a-877b363b714a" class="tags w-clearfix"> <div bind="3c46d1e8-cfca-93f8-1f0b-132651db81b5"><span bind="e3af2ae6-d86a-f810-ba70-8a062949eb9d" class="text-span-3">Tags:</span></div> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/tag/sentences/" class="bold-text-4"><strong bind="9bd9671a-c4c5-f296-a149-d2e552ddbe4f" class="bold-text-5">Sentences</strong></a> </div> <!-- FACT CHECK NOTICE --> <div class="fact-checked w-clearfix"><img src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/correct.png" loading="lazy" width="35" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/correct-p-500.png 500w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/correct.png 512w" sizes="(max-width: 479px) 27vw, 35px" alt="" class="image-6" style="margin-right:20px;"> <p bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e6e" class="fact"><strong 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Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. <a href="/editorial-policy/" bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e73"><strong bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e74">Learn more.</strong></a> </p> </div> <!-- FACT CHECK NOTICE --> <!-- ABOUT THE AUTHOR --> <div bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e64" class="author"> <div bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e65" class="author-image w-row"> <div bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e66" class="column-3 w-col w-col-3"><img src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/Screen-Shot-2022-09-10-at-4.07.48-PM.png" loading="lazy" bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e67" alt="" class="image-3" style="-webkit-border-radius:200px;border-radius:200px;-moz-border-radius:200px;"></div> <div bind="a6b1dcf4-d86a-ecf2-05e3-b91db5a16e68" class="column-2 w-col w-col-9"> <p bind="3eab4726-5f41-ff61-2881-dd7370ae1a47" class="author-p"><strong>About the author</strong> <a href="#" bind="3eab4726-5f41-ff61-2881-dd7370ae1a4c"><strong bind="3eab4726-5f41-ff61-2881-dd7370ae1a4d"></strong></a> </p> <p bind="3eab4726-5f41-ff61-2881-dd7370ae1a47" class="author-p"> <a href="/about/" bind="a4a5a123-eef4-a277-5d08-7dfd48482052"><strong bind="16ba8aa2-6a9a-8a55-c24f-7e0b2e7391c4">Dalia Y.:</strong></a> Dalia is an English Major and linguistics expert with an additional degree in Psychology. Dalia has featured articles on Forbes, Inc, Fast Company, Grammarly, and many more. She covers English, ESL, and all things grammar on GrammarBrain. </p> </div> </div> </div> <!-- ABOUT THE AUTHOR --> <div class="other-articles"> <h3 class="abbv-h3">Core lessons</h3> <div class="w-row"> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/apostrophe/">Apostrophe</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/ellipsis/">Ellipsis</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/semicolon/">Semicolon</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/hyphen/">Hyphen</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/et-al/">Et. Al.</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/exclamation-mark/">Exclamation Mark</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/capitalization-rules/">Capitalization Rules</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/oxford-comma-serial-comma/">Comma</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/parts-of-speech/">Parts of Speech</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subjunctive/">Subjunctive</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjectives/">Adjectives</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjectives-describing-personality/">Personality Adjectives</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-words/">Compound Words</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subordinating-conjunction/">Subordinating Conjunction</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adverbs/">Adverbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adverbial-clause/">Adverbial Clause</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/irregular-verbs/">Irregular Verbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/common-verbs/">Common Verbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/intransitive-verbs/">Intransitive Verbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/phrasal-verbs/">Phrasal Verbs</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prepositions/">Prepositions</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/gerund/">Gerund</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/active-voice/">Active Voice</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/passive-voice/">Passive Voice</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conjunctions/">Conjunctions</a> </div> <!-- <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Verbs </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Conjunctions </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Nouns </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Adjectives </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Determiners </div> <div class="w-col w-col-3"> Interjections </div> --> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-perfect-tense/">Present Perfect</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-perfect-simple/">Present Perfect Simple</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-simple-tense/">Present Simple</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-continuous/">Present Continuous</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-perfect-continuous/">Present Perfect Continuous</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/simple-future-tense/">Simple Future</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-continuous-tense/">Past Continuous</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-simple-tense/">Past Simple</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/clauses/">Clauses</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/object-pronouns/">Object Pronouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personal-pronouns/">Personal Pronouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-pronouns/">Possessive Pronouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/common-noun/">Common Noun</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/concrete-nouns/">Concrete Noun</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-noun/">Possessive Noun</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/proper-noun/">Proper Noun</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/irregular-plural-nouns/">Irregular Plural Nouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prepositional-phrases/">Prepositional Phrases</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/introductory-phrases/">Introductory Phrases</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/declarative-statement/">Declarative Statement</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/sentence-diagramming/">Sentence Diagramming</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/complete-subjects/">Complete Subjects</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/sentence-starters/">Sentence Starters</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/metaphor/">Metaphor</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personification/">Personification</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/allegory/">Allegory</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/collective-noun/">Collective Nouns</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/tones-in-writing/">Tones in Writing</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/homophones/">Homophones</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/declarative-sentences/">Declarative Sentences</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/syntax/">Syntax</a> </div> </div> </div> <div class="other-articles"> <h3 class="abbv-h3">Glossary</h3> <div class="w-row"> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <strong>A:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/abstract-noun/">Abstract Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/accusative-case/">Accusative Case</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/anecdote/">Anecdote</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/antonym/">Antonym</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/active-sentence/">Active Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adverbs/">Adverb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjective/">Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/allegory/">Allegory</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/alliteration/">Alliteration</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjective-clause/">Adjective Clause</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjective-phrase/">Adjective Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/ampersand/">Ampersand</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/anastrophe/">Anastrophe</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adverbial-clause/">Adverbial Clause</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/appositive-phrase/">Appositive Phrase</a></li> </ul> <strong>B:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/base-form/">Base Form</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/body-paragraph/">Body Paragraph</a></li> </ul> <strong>C:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/clauses/">Clause</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-adjective/">Compound Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/complex-sentence/">Complex Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-words/">Compound Words</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-predicate/">Compound Predicate</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/common-noun/">Common Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/comparative-adjective/">Comparative Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/superlatives-and-comparatives/">Comparative and Superlative</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-noun/">Compound Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-subject/">Compound Subject</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/compound-sentence/">Compound Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/copular-verb/">Copular Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/collective-noun/">Collective Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/colloquialism/">Colloquialism</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conciseness/">Conciseness</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/consonance/">Consonance</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conditionals/">Conditional</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/concrete-nouns/">Concrete Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conjunctions/">Conjunction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conjugation/">Conjugation</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/conditional-sentence-if-clause/">Conditional Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/comma-splice/">Comma Splice</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/correlative-conjunction/">Correlative Conjunction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/coordinating-conjunction/">Coordinating Conjunction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/coordinating-adjectives/">Coordinate Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/cumulative-adjective/">Cumulative Adjective</a></li> </ul> <strong>D:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/dative-case/">Dative Case</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/determiners/">Determiner</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/declarative-sentences/">Declarative Sentence</a> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/declarative-statement/">Declarative Statement</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/direct-object-pronouns/">Direct Object Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/direct-object/">Direct Object</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/types-of-diction/">Diction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/diphthong/">Diphthong</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/dangling-modifier/">Dangling Modifier</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/demonstrative-pronouns/">Demonstrative Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/demonstrative-adjective/">Demonstrative Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/direct-characterization/">Direct Characterization</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/definite-article/">Definite Article</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/doublespeak/">Doublespeak</a></li> </ul> <strong>E:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/equivocation-fallacy/">Equivocation Fallacy</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/en-dash/">En Dash</a></li> </ul> <strong>F:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/false-dilemma-fallacy/">False Dilemma Fallacy</a> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/future-perfect-progressive/">Future Perfect Progressive</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/future-simple/">Future Simple</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/future-perfect-continuous/">Future Perfect Continuous</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/future-perfect/">Future Perfect</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/first-conditional/">First Conditional</a></li> </ul> <strong>G:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/gerund/">Gerund</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/gerund-phrase/">Gerund Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/genitive-case/">Genitive Case</a></li> </ul> <strong>H:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/homophones/">Homophone</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/homonym/">Homonym</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/helping-verbs/">Helping Verb</a></li> </ul> <strong>I:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/irregular-adjectives/">Irregular Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/irregular-verbs/">Irregular Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/imperative-sentence/">Imperative Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indefinite-article/">Indefinite Article</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/intransitive-verbs/">Intransitive Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/introductory-phrases/">Introductory Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indefinite-pronouns/">Indefinite Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indirect-characterization/">Indirect Characterization</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/interrogative-sentence/">Interrogative Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/intensive-pronoun/">Intensive Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/inanimate-object/">Inanimate Object</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indefinite-tense/">Indefinite Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/infinitive-phrase/">Infinitive Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/interjection/">Interjection</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/intensifier/">Intensifier</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/inifitives/">Infinitive</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/indicative-mood/">Indicative Mood</a></li> </ul> <strong>J:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/juxtaposition/">Juxtaposition</a></li> </ul> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <strong>L:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/linking-verbs/">Linking Verb</a></li> </ul> <strong>M:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/modal-verb/">Modal Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/modifier/">Modifier</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/misplaced-modifier/">Misplaced Modifier</a></li> </ul> <strong>N:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/nominative-case/">Nominative Case</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/noun/">Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/adjective-as-noun/">Noun Adjective</a></li> </ul> <strong>O:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/oxymoron/">Oxymoron</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/object-pronouns/">Object Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/object-complement/">Object Complement</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/order-of-adjectives/">Order of Adjectives</a></li> </ul> <strong>P:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/participle/">Participle</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/parallelism/">Parallelism</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prepositional-phrases/">Prepositional Phrase</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-simple-tense/">Past Simple Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-continuous-tense/">Past Continuous Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-perfect-tense/">Past Perfect Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-progressive-tense/">Past Progressive Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-simple-tense/">Present Simple Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-perfect-tense/">Present Perfect Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personal-pronouns/">Personal Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/personification/">Personification</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/persuasive-writing/">Persuasive Writing</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/parallel-structure/">Parallel Structure</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/phrasal-verbs/">Phrasal Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/predicate-adjective/">Predicate Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/predicate-nominative/">Predicate Nominative</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/phonetic-language/">Phonetic Language</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/plural-noun/">Plural Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/punctuation/">Punctuation</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/punctuation-marks/">Punctuation Marks</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prepositions/">Preposition</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/preposition-of-place/">Preposition of Place</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/parts-of-speech/">Parts of Speech</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-adjective/">Possessive Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-determiner/">Possessive Determiner</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-case/">Possessive Case</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/possessive-noun/">Possessive Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/proper-adjective/">Proper Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/proper-noun/">Proper Noun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/present-participle/">Present Participle</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/prefix/">Prefix</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/predicate/">Predicate</a></li> </ul> <strong>Q:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/quotation-marks/">Quotation Marks</a></li> </ul> <strong>R:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/relative-pronouns/">Relative Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/reflexive-pronouns/">Reflexive Pronoun</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/reciprocal-pronouns/">Reciprocal Pronoun</a></li> </ul> <strong>S:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subordinating-conjunction/">Subordinating Conjunction</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/simple-future-tense/">Simple Future Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/syntax/">Syntax</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/stative-verbs/">Stative Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subjunctive/">Subjunctive</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subject-complement/">Subject Complement</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/subject-of-a-sentence/">Subject of a Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/sentence-variety/">Sentence Variety</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/second-conditional/">Second Conditional</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/suffix/">Suffix</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/superlative-adjective/">Superlative Adjective</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/slash-symbol/">Slash Symbol</a></li> </ul> <strong>T:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/topic-sentence/">Topic Sentence</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/types-of-nouns/">Types of Nouns</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/types-of-sentences/">Types of Sentences</a></li> </ul> <strong>U:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/uncountable-noun/">Uncountable Noun</a></li> </ul> <strong>V:</strong> <ul> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/common-verbs/">Verb</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/verb-tenses/">Verb Tense</a></li> <li><a href="https://grammarbrain.com/vowels-and-consonants/">Vowels and Consonants</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> <div class="other-articles"> <h3 class="abbv-h3">Popular lessons</h3> <div class="w-row"> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/bare-with-me-or-bear-with-me/">Bare With Me</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/bosss-bosses-bosses/">Boss's, Bosses, or Bosses'</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/full-proof-or-foolproof/">Full Proof or Foolproof</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/is-or-are/">Is or Are</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/led-vs-lead/">Led or Lead</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/are-seasons-capitalized/">Are Seasons Capitalized</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/a-part-or-apart/">A Part vs. Apart</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/to-easy-or-too-easy/">Too Easy or To Easy</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/comma-before-or/">Comma Before "Or"</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/past-tenses/">Past Tenses</a> </div> </div> <div class="w-row"> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/payed-vs-paid/">Payed vs. Paid</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/lets-or-lets/">Let's or Lets</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/ok-vs-okay/">OK or Okay</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/plural-of-moose/">Plural of Moose</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/which-vs-that/">Which vs. That</a> </div> <div class="w-col w-col-6"> <a href="https://grammarbrain.com/less-vs-fewer/">Less vs. Fewer</a> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="newsletter-signup"> <div class="super-big-wrap"> <div class="w-row"> <div class="w-col w-col-6"><img src="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/SquareOverride-604x592.png" loading="lazy" width="285" srcset="https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/SquareOverride-604x592-p-500.png 500w, https://grammarbrain.com/wp-content/themes/grammarbrain/images/SquareOverride-604x592.png 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