imperative form

4.4

A verb form used to give a command or request

noun
/ɪmˈpɛrətɪv fɔrm/

Specialized

: forma imperativa

In the sentence "Please close the door," "close" is in the imperative form.

Examples

The imperative form is used in English to issue direct commands such as "Sit down!".
Teachers often use the imperative form when instructing students to do homework.
Please use the imperative form for commands.
The teacher explained the imperative forms in detail.
In the sentence "Please close the door," "close" is in the imperative form.
Teachers often use the imperative form when instructing students to do homework.
The imperative form is used in English to issue direct commands such as "Sit down!".

Synonyms

imperative

vsimperative form

Specialized

7 6.0

A verb form used to give a command or request

is narrower, referring to the verb form or grammatical mood rather than whole sentences

imperative verb

vsimperative form

Specialized

6.3

A verb that tells someone to do something, like 'Sit' or 'Be quiet'

is broader because it also covers the grammatical mood

imperative mood

vsimperative form

Specialized

6.6

A verb form that gives a command or request

also covers the verb form used for commands

Surface Forms

imperative form singular

imperative forms plural

Morphology

imperative + form

The phrase is compositionally transparent: 'imperative' names the command mood and 'form' denotes a type or expression, so 'imperative form' straightforwardly means the grammatical form used for commands. This follows a common noun+noun compounding pattern found across languages, so a B1 learner who knows both words and basic grammar vocabulary will readily infer the meaning.

Etymology

The noun imperative form comes from the idea of giving an order. The word imperative points to 'to command' and the word form means the shape a verb takes, so the phrase refers to the verb form used to 'command', 'request', or give 'instruction'.