Level Three
Lesson 37
commands
A command is a sentence that begins with a verb. The subject is always “you,” but don’t say or write the subject.
- Give that to me. (The subject is “you.” The subject is “you” for all of these other sentences.)
- Please, give that to me.
- Shut the door.
- Stop talking!
- Help!
- Don’t do that.
- Don’t stop!
The subject is “you.”
37a. Give a command. 
In a command, you tell another person to do something. Commands usually begin with a verb. The verb is in the simple form:
- Drive me to the airport.
- Hand in your assignment, please. (This is a polite command.)
- Please, be quiet. (The word “please” can go at the beginning of a command.)
- Turn left at the light.
- Brush your teeth and go to bed.
- Please, follow my directions.
- Take care of this situation immediately. (This sentence uses a phrasal modal: take care of.)
37a. Examples
- Turn right.
- Go right at the light.
- Take a right.
- Do your work, please!
- Please, finish your work.
- Stop goofing around and do your work!
37b. short commands
It is possible for a command to be just one or two words. These are sentences.
- Be careful! (You be careful.)
- Watch out!
- Look up.
- Look down.
- Close it.
- Open it.
- Help!
In all of these sentences, the subject is “you.”
37b. Examples
- Help!
- Help me!
- Please, help!
- Sleep tight!
37c. negative commands
When you tell someone not to do something, you use a negative command that begins with “don’t.”
- Don’t do that.
- Don’t hit her!
- Don’t eat yet.
- Don’t come downstairs.
- Don’t get out of the car.
- Don’t be late.
- Don’t. (It’s possible to use just the helping verb with the main verb. You can use this for situations that need an immediate response.)
37b. Examples
- Don’t worry!
- Don’t be sad.
- Don’t cry.
- Don’t go down this road.
- Don’t enter this area.
- Do not enter!
In Lesson Thirty eight, students learn about adjectives.