Easy English Grammer , English Grammer , Grammer , Commands

Commands in English

When we want to tell someone to do something in English, we use a command. This can also be called the imperative form or the imperative mood.

Giving commands in English is quite simple! We can use this form to give instructions, orders, commands, or requests. Let's take a look.

Giving a command to someone else

In English, whether you are giving a command to a single person or to a group of people, the form is the same. We just use the infinitive form of the verb without "to" and use no subject.

Here is how it works. Below is an example of a regular indicative sentence with the subject and the verb.

Example in indicative:

• Ned gets on the plane.

Now, if we want to tell Ned to get on the plane, we use the command form with no subject and the verb in infinitive. This means that the verb will be the first word of the sentence.

Command form:

• Get on the plane.

Notice that there is no subject before the verb and we removed the final s from the verb.

If we want Ned to be sure we are talking to him, we can use his name at the beginning or end of the sentence, but it will always be separated by a comma.

This means it is not the subject of the sentence. We are just getting Ned's attention.

For example:

• Ned, get on the plane.
• Get on the plane, Ned.

If we want to be polite, we can also use the word "please."

For example:

• Ned, please get on the plane.
• Please get on the plane, Ned.

Here are some more commands. Notice that the verb is always in the infinitive form. It does not matter if we are talking to one person or to a group of people:

• Clean your room, boys.
• Angela, answer the phone, please.
• Help me carry these boxes up the stairs.
• Walk down the street for two blocks, then turn right.
• Get out of bed, Paul!

Negative commands

When we want to tell someone not to do something, we simply add "do not" or the shorter form "don't" before the verb. This shorter form is much more common.

For example:

• Don't smoke. It is very bad for your health.

Here are some more examples. Just like we saw above, these negative commands will be the same if we are talking to just one person or to a group of people.

For example:

• Don't forget to call me after work.
• Don't take the highway. There is too much traffic.
• Do not park your car on the grass, please.
• Don't use too many plastic bags. They are bad for the environment.
• Kids, don't fight!

Commands with "let's"

When we want to make a suggestion to a group of people and we are included in that group, we use the word "let's" and then the verb in infinitive.

This is like giving a command to a group of people and to ourselves at the same time. We often use it when we are making a suggestion for ourselves and one other person.

For example: 

• It is a beautiful day. Let's go to the park for a picnic.
• Let's take a moment to think about this before we give them an answer.
• Let's finish this project before lunch.
• Let's go to the supermarket this afternoon.
• Let's get married!

Negative commands with "let's"

When we want to say that we should not do something, we can use "let's" and the word "not" and then the verb in infinitive.

For example:

• Let's not have chicken for dinner again tonight.
• Let's not watch television tonight.
• Let's not worry about that until it becomes a real problem.
• Let's not ask ask Angela about her thesis.
• Let's not play tennis together again!

So, giving instructions, commands, suggestions, and directions in English is really very easy! Be sure to carefully review these rules and write your own examples to practice.

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Easy English Grammer , English Grammer , Grammer , Indicative Mood, Imperative Mood , Subjunctive Mood

Indicative Mood,
Imperative Mood
and Subjunctive Mood

English moods include the indicative mood, the imperative mood and the subjunctive mood. What are they and how do you use them correctly?

First of all, what is a MOOD?

mood = a way to express the attitude of the speaker to what is being said.

There are three moods in English.

Indicative Mood

"We finished the project on time."

Indicative means "stating a fact."

The indicative mood is a category of verb forms that we use to state facts.

Examples:

• "Joe plays outside." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.)
  
  
• "It will rain soon." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.)
  
  
• "She was studying all day long." (The speaker thinks it's a fact.)

The indicative mood is the basic mood of verbs in English.

Imperative Mood

"Get plenty of rest!"

Imperative means "expressing an order."

The imperative mood is a category of verb forms that we use to express orders, instructions, commands or requests.

Examples:

• "Go outside!" (This is a command.)
  
  
• "Close the door, please." (This is a request.)
  
  
• "Don't move the object." (This is an instruction.)

Subjunctive Mood

"I wish I had some cheese..."

Subjunctive means "subordinate" (less important than something else) or "dependent" (needing something/someone else).

The subjunctive mood is a category of verb forms that we use to express things that are not facts: wishes, possibilities, doubts, suggestions, conditions, etc.

Examples:

• "It may snow tomorrow."
  (It is not a fact yet. It is a possibility in the speaker's mind.)
  (Incorrect: "It will snow tomorrow.")
  
  
• "I would do it if I had the time."
  (It is not a fact. It depends on me having the time.)
  
  
• "You should listen to your parents."
  (It is not a fact. It is a suggestion.)
  
  
• "I suggest that Robert wait a few minutes."
  (It is not a fact. It is a suggestion.)
  (Incorrect: "I suggest that Robert waits a few minutes.")
  
  
• "It's important that Sandra leave on time."
  (It is not a fact. It is what needs to be done.)
  (Incorrect: "It's important that Sandra leaves on time.")
  
  
• "I doubt that Mary would forget your birthday."
  (It is not a fact that Mary will forget the birthday. The speakers has doubts about it.)
  
  
• "Father insisted that Jennifer go to school."
  (It is not a fact that Jennifer will go to school. It is her father's intention.)
  (Incorrect: "Father insisted that Jeniffer goes to school.")
  
  
• "If he had worked harder, he would have completed the task on time."
  (He didn't work harder, so he didn't complete the task on time.)
  
  
• "I wish I were faster."
  (I am not faster. This is a wish in my mind.)
  (Incorrect: "I wish I was faster.")
  
  
• "If I were you, I would accept the offer."
  (I am not you. This is an unreal condition in my mind.)
  (Incorrect: "If I was you, I will accept the offer.")
  
  
• "I wish it were summer now."
  (It is not summer now. This is a wish in my mind.)
  (Incorrect: "I wish it is summer now.")
  
  
• "She suggests that Michael move to the sales department."
  (Incorrect: "She suggests that Michael moves to the sales department.")
  

All these sentences were examples of the use of the subjunctive mood.

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Easy English Grammer , English Grammer , Grammer , English Conditionals

English Conditionals

Welcome to the English Conditionals section.

In this section we will cover all four English conditional.

What is a conditional?

A conditional is a sentence or part of a sentence that expresses a condition. It usually begins with the words "when," "if" and "unless."

A condition is what must happen before something else can happen.


Examples of conditionals (note that the conditions are in italics):

I will come if I have enough time.
(I am not sure that I will come. It depends on something else.)

She would tell me if she knew.
(She doesn't know.)

Unless she agrees to pay us we will not take the job.
(She must agree to pay before we take the job.)

They will come when I call them.
(They will not come before I call them.)


There are four basic conditionals in English, or in other words: there are four ways to express that something is dependent on something else.

Note: in the examples below the conditions are in GREEN, and the results are in BROWN.

The First Conditional

"If he catches a fish, he will be very happy."

We use first conditional when talking about possible future events.


Structure:

If + Simple Present, + Will

OR

Will + If + Simple Present


Examples:

• Lisa will be very happy if she wins the prize.
  
  
• If it rains, then we will stay at home.
  
  
• You will always be able to take another test if you fail.
  
  
• If I see Sam, I will ask him to give you a call.

Note:
You can use these modal verbs instead of will:
shall, can, may.


Examples:

• If you fail, you can always try again.
  
  
• If you finish everything on time, you may go home earlier.
  
  
• We shall meet on Sunday, if it's alright with you.

The Second Conditional

"If I met a genie, I would ask for infinite wealth..."

We use the second conditional when talking about future events that are not likely to happen.

Structure:

If + Simple Past, + Would + Base Form

OR

Would + Base Form + If + Simple Past


Examples:

• If I won a million dollars, I would travel around the world.
  (There is a small possibility that I would actually win.)
  
  
• If I met him again, I would tell him the truth.
  (There is a small possibility that I would actually meet him again.)
  
  
• She would quit school if her parents agreed.
  (It is unlikely that her parents agree.)
  
  
• I would be surprised if I saw pigs in the sky.
  (It is very unlikely for me to see pigs in the sky.)

We also use the second conditional when talking about things which are contrary to the present facts.

"If I had any money, I would give you some."

Examples:

• If she worked less, she wouldn't be so tired.
  (In reality she doesn't work less, so she is tired.)
  
  
• You would see John if you were here now.
  (In reality you are not here now, so you don't see John.)
  
  
• If things were different, we would be happy.
  (In reality things are not different, and we are not happy.)
  
  
• We would be good friends if she were nicer.
  (In reality she is not nice, and we are not good friends.)

Note:
You can use these modal verbs instead of would:
should, could, might.


Examples:

• If she didn't have her job, she could come with us to the North Pole.
  
  
• If they wanted to move, they could sell the house to us.

Note:
The short form of would is 'd.
For example: If Kathleen were at home, she'd pick up the phone.

The verb BE

The verb BE has a special rule in this case.

Usually we say: I was, he was, she was, it was, we were, you were, they were.

However, in these cases, we use:
I were, he were, she were, it were, we were, you were, they were.

In other words: "were" is the only form.

Examples:

If I were you I would apologize.
(In reality I am not you.)

I would fight back, if I were you.
(In reality I am not you.)

The Third Conditional

"If I had paid more attention, I wouldn't have hit myself..."

We use the third conditional when talking about things which are contrary to the past facts. In other words: events that did not happen in the past.

Structure:

If + Past Perfect, + Would have + V3

OR

Would have + V3 + If + Past Perfect


Examples:

• If I had woken up on time, I would have taken the bus.
  (What really happened was that I didn't wake up on time, and so I didn't take the bus.)
  
  
• Tom would have helped us if he had known we were there.
  (What really happened was that he didn't know we were there, and so he didn't help us.)
  
  
• If I had told Sarah the truth, I would have felt much better.
  (What really happened was that I didn't tell Sarah the truth, and so I didn't feel so good.)
  
  
• If it hadn't rained yesterday, we would have enjoyed a nice picnic.
  (What really happened was that it rained yesterday, and we didn't go for a picnic.) 

Note #1:
The short form of had is 'd.
For example: If he'd passed his exams, he would have gotten a diploma.


Note #2:
You can use these modal verbs instead of would have:
should have, could have, might have.


Examples:

• Jessica might have gotten the job if she hadn't been so nervous.
  
  
• You could have arrived on time if you had used a map.
  
  
• If she had known what to do, she should have told us.

The Zero Conditional

"If the sun sets, it becomes night."

We use the zero conditional when talking about things which are always true, or generally  true.

Structure:

If + Simple Present, + Simple Present

OR

Simple Present + If + Simple Present


Examples:

• If you boil an egg, it becomes solid.
  
  
• If you heat something, it becomes hotter.
  
  
• I always listen to music if I jog.

Note:
We can use "when" instead of "if."


Examples:

• When I see Karen I always feel better.
  
  
• When she feels sick she lies in bed.
  
  
• He starts yelling only when he gets really desperate.

English Conditionals Summary Table

Conditional	Time Frame	Probability	Example
First Conditional	Future	Possible	If I meet Helen, I will invite her to the party.
Second Conditional	Future	Unlikely	If I won the lottery, I would help the world.
Second Conditional	Present	Unreal/ Imaginary	If I had the money, I would lend it to you.
Third Conditional	Past	Impossible	If I had studied French, I would have known it.
Zero Conditional	Always/Generally	Certain	If you drop something, it falls.

Related articles:

Conditionals in English, Common Errors and Tips

Mixed Conditionals, Explanations and Examples

Indicative Mood, Imperative Mood and Subjunctive Mood

English Modal Verbs

English Conditionals: a Step-by-Step Workbook

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