Telling someone what not to do is just as important as telling them what to do. In English, we use the pattern "Don't be" + an adjective to give advice, issue a mild warning, or comfort a friend. It is a direct, natural way to communicate emotion and expectation.
Sentence Frame
Don't be + [Adjective]
Use this to tell someone to stop acting or feeling a certain way.
Common Combinations
Now It's Your Turn!
How would you use the "Don't be + Adjective" pattern in these situations? Drop your answers in the comments below!
- Your friend is eating all the pizza and not sharing. (Hint: greedy)
- Your brother is making a lot of noise while the baby is sleeping. (Hint: loud)
- Your coworker is panicking because of a small mistake. (Hint: hard on yourself)