Last updated on October 14th, 2026 at 04:34 pm
Read these three sentences: Open the door. Please sit down. Do not run. Each one tells someone to do something, or not to do something.
These are imperative sentences. We use them to give commands, make requests, share instructions and offer advice.
This lesson covers the most common imperative sentences in English. It gives 20 everyday examples, shows how to make them softer, and ends with exercises, a quiz and a FAQ.
- What an imperative sentence is, and how to form it
- The four uses: command, request, instruction and advice
- 20 common imperative sentences in four groups
- How to make a command sound polite
- Common mistakes, with exercises and a quiz
What Is an Imperative Sentence?
Quick Navigation
An imperative sentence tells someone to do something. It starts with a verb in its base form. The subject is you, but we do not say it. Everyone understands it.
Close the window. means You close the window. We only say the first form.
Imperative sentences have four main uses.
| Use | What it does | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Command | Tells someone to act | Be quiet. |
| Request | Asks politely | Please close the window. |
| Instruction | Shows how to do something | Add two cups of water. |
| Advice | Suggests a good idea | Drink more water. |
Want the full rules? Read our guide to imperative sentences.
Structure of Imperative Sentences
The structure is simple. For a positive sentence, use the base verb. For a negative sentence, use do not or don’t and the base verb. For a suggestion that includes you, start with let’s.
| Type | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Positive | Base verb + the rest | Open the door. |
| Negative | Do not + base verb | Do not open the door. |
| Polite | Please + base verb | Please open the door. |
| Suggestion | Let’s + base verb | Let’s open the door. |
Most imperative sentences end with a full stop. We use an exclamation mark only for strong feeling, such as a warning: Stop!
20 Most Common Imperative Sentences
The sentences are in four groups. Read each one aloud.
At Home and at School
| No. | Sentence | When we use it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sit down. | At a table or in class |
| 2 | Open your book. | In class |
| 3 | Listen to the teacher. | In class |
| 4 | Do your homework. | After school |
| 5 | Brush your teeth. | Before bed |
Polite Requests
| No. | Sentence | When we use it |
|---|---|---|
| 6 | Please come in. | At the door |
| 7 | Please wait here. | In an office or shop |
| 8 | Pass me the salt, please. | At the table |
| 9 | Please speak slowly. | When you cannot follow |
| 10 | Close the window, please. | When you feel cold |
Negative Commands
| No. | Sentence | When we use it |
|---|---|---|
| 11 | Do not run in the hall. | At school |
| 12 | Don’t touch the hot pan. | In the kitchen |
| 13 | Do not talk in the library. | In a quiet place |
| 14 | Don’t forget your keys. | When someone leaves home |
| 15 | Do not be late. | Before a meeting |
Signs, Rules and Directions
| No. | Sentence | When we use it |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Turn left at the corner. | Giving directions |
| 17 | Keep off the grass. | On a sign |
| 18 | Wash your hands. | In a bathroom or hospital |
| 19 | Push the door. | On a door |
| 20 | Stop at the red light. | On the road |
How to Make a Command Softer
A command can sound strong. We make it softer with please or with a question.
| Direct | Softer | Very polite |
|---|---|---|
| Sit down. | Please sit down. | Could you sit down, please? |
| Close the window. | Close the window, please. | Would you mind closing the window? |
| Pass the salt. | Pass the salt, please. | Could you pass the salt, please? |
Check your answer
Common Mistakes
| Common mistake | Better sentence | Why |
|---|---|---|
| You sit down. | Sit down. | The subject you is understood. |
| Do not to run. | Do not run. | Use the base verb after do not. |
| Not run in the hall. | Do not run in the hall. | A negative command needs do not. |
| Please to sit down. | Please sit down. | Please is followed by the base verb. |
| Sit down! Open your book! Listen! | Sit down. Open your book. Listen. | Use an exclamation mark only for strong feeling. |
Practice: Exercises on Imperative Sentences
Exercise 1: Is It an Imperative Sentence?
Write yes or no.
- Close the door.
- She closes the door.
- Do not touch the wall.
- Are you ready?
- Please sit here.
- The shop is open.
Show answers for Exercise 1
- Yes (a command)
- No (it states what she does)
- Yes (a negative command)
- No (it is a question)
- Yes (a request)
- No (it states a fact)
Exercise 2: Make the Sentences Negative
Change each sentence into a negative imperative sentence.
- Run in the hall.
- Open the box.
- Touch the stove.
- Be late.
- Forget your bag.
Show answers for Exercise 2
- Do not run in the hall.
- Do not open the box.
- Do not touch the stove.
- Do not be late.
- Do not forget your bag.
Exercise 3: Make the Sentences Polite
Make each sentence more polite.
- Sit down.
- Wait here.
- Help me.
- Close the door.
- Speak slowly.
Show sample answers for Exercise 3
- Please sit down.
- Please wait here.
- Could you help me, please?
- Close the door, please.
- Could you speak slowly, please?
Quiz: Test Yourself
- What does an imperative sentence do?
- Which sentence is imperative?
- What is the understood subject of an imperative sentence?
- What is the negative form of Run in the hall?
- Which sentence is more polite?
- Which sentence is correct?
- Which sentence gives advice?
- What does Let’s go mean?
- Which sentence is a polite request?
- Which sentence is a negative command?
Key Takeaways
- An imperative sentence gives a command, a request, an instruction or advice.
- It starts with the base verb, and the subject you is understood.
- For a negative sentence, use do not or don’t and the base verb.
- Add please or use a question to make it polite.
- Most imperative sentences end with a full stop.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an imperative sentence?
An imperative sentence gives a command, a request, an instruction or advice. For example: Close the window.
What is the subject of an imperative sentence?
The subject is you, but we do not say it. Sit down means You sit down.
How do you make a negative imperative sentence?
Use do not or don’t and the base verb. For example: Do not run in the hall.
How do you make an imperative sentence polite?
Add please, or ask with could or would. For example: Please wait here. Could you pass the salt, please?
Which punctuation mark ends an imperative sentence?
Most imperative sentences end with a full stop. Use an exclamation mark only for strong feeling, such as Stop!
What is the difference between an imperative and a declarative sentence?
An imperative sentence tells someone to act, and it has no spoken subject. A declarative sentence states a fact or an opinion. For example: She closes the door.
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