What are command words?
Command words are used in sentences to instruct or order an action to take place.
They are sometimes called imperative verbs and do not always need a subject.
Often a command will begin with an imperative verb or a time connective. Sometimes, a command word like “Stop!” may exist independently.
Imperative verbs
Command words are made up of what we call ‘imperative verbs’. These are also known as ‘bossy verbs,’ as they order someone to do something.
For example, “Eat your dinner” is a command sentence and uses the imperative verb eat.
When an imperative verb is used in a sentence, we refer to that sentence as an imperative. Imperative sentences are one of the four sentence types: imperative (command), declarative (statement), interrogative (question), and exclamative (exclamation).
What is the form of an imperative sentence?
In English, the typical form of an imperative sentence uses the base verb (command word) with no subject.
Here, ‘base’ refers to the root of a verb which is the version of a verb that doesn’t contain any endings (suffixes), such as -s, -ing, and -ed. Base forms are the same as the infinitive (e.g., to walk, to paint, to think), but without the ‘to’.
An example of a command word (base verb) in a sentence is “Move over!”
Imperative sentences can also take a positive or negative form, referring to present or future time.
Where are command words used?
Commands are used in many different places and situations. The context can affect how they are used and what form they take (such as varying degrees of politeness, urgency, or formality).
Some examples of contexts where command words may be used include:
- Instructions
- Recipes
- Conversations
- Rules
- Laws
- Sports
When we use command words, we may use shorter sentences to get to the point quicker. This can create a sense of urgency by ordering someone to complete the action quickly.
For example, in a game of football, it is the referee’s job to ensure players do not waste time. A referee may order players to “Hurry up!” or “Step away from the ball!”
In a recipe, command words are often combined with time connectives such as first, secondly, after, and last, e.g., “Next add the eggs to the mixture,” which has the time connective next and the command word add.
Command words in positive and negative imperatives
Below are some examples of command words in positive and negative imperatives, within different contexts:
| Example context | Positive | Negative |
| Sport | Kick the ball! | Don’t touch the ball with your hand! |
| Recipe | Pour the milk into the measuring jug. | Don’t cut the carrots too small. |
| Supermarket | Put that chocolate back. | Don’t forget to bring your shopping bags. |
| Friends | Wait outside for me! | Please don’t be late! |
| Rules | Remember to check your book out. | Please don’t talk loudly. |
| Laws | Drive safely. | Don’t litter! |
Command words and politeness strategies
Sometimes, it may not be appropriate to use short, snappy commands in a particular context as it can come across as impolite. Hence, the nickname ‘bossy’ verbs!
We can make commands sound more polite and less imposing on the listener in several ways. These include:
- Adding please at the beginning or end of what we say, such as “Please take the bins out.”
- Using intonation (spoken) or a question mark (written) to make a command sound more like a request; “Put it over there?”
- Use ‘I’d like you to’ + command or ‘I’d be grateful if you’d’ + command:
“I’d like you to stand in a line.”
“I’d be grateful if you’d carry a bag for me.”
