Grammar: A1 - Sentence Structure - Basics - Lesson 8: Imperatives

✨ Lesson 8: Imperatives (Commands and Requests)

We have learned how to make statements and ask questions. Today, we will learn how to give a command¹ or make a request². This type of sentence is called an imperative³.

Imperative sentences are special because they usually do not have a subject. The subject 'you' is understood. When a teacher says "Open your book," they mean "(You) open your book."

Positive Imperatives: Start with the Verb!

To give a command or an instruction, we start the sentence with the base verb⁴.

[Base Verb] + [Rest of Sentence].

Instructions:

• Go straight.
• Turn left at the Durian Roundabout.
• Listen carefully.

Polite Requests (add 'please'):

• Please sit down.
• Close the door, please.

Negative Imperatives: 'Do not' or 'Don't'

To tell someone not to do something, we start the sentence with Do not or the contraction Don't.

[Don't] + [Base Verb] + [Rest of Sentence].

• Don't talk in the library.
• Do not enter.
• Don't be late for class.

🧠 Practice Quiz: Positive or Negative?

Change the positive command to a negative command, and the negative command to a positive one.

1. Open the window.
   → Don't open the window.
2. Don't be noisy.
   → Be noisy. (Or, more naturally, "You can be noisy.")
3. Wait here.
   → Don't wait here.
4. Don't forget your homework.
   → Forget your homework. (This is grammatically correct, but a strange command!)

📝 Homework: Give Instructions

Imagine you are helping a tourist in Kampot. Write three imperative sentences to give them directions or advice.

Example: Turn right at the corner. Don't drink the tap water. Please try the seafood.

---

1: ___________________________________

2: ___________________________________

3: ___________________________________

Vocabulary Glossary

1. Command / Instruction: (Noun) - បញ្ជា (bânh'chea) / ការណែនាំ (kaa nea'num) - An order that tells someone to do something. ↩
2. Request: (Noun) - ការស្នើសុំ (kaa snae'som) - The act of politely asking for something. ↩
3. Imperative: (Noun) - ប្រយោគបញ្ជា (brâyoŭk bânh'chea) - The form of a verb used for giving commands or instructions. ↩
4. Base Verb: (Noun) - កិរិយាស័ព្ទដើម (kĕ're'ya'sap daem) - The simplest form of a verb, with no special endings. ↩