Guide to English grammar

Give me a hand with these bags.
Hurry up, or we're going to be late.
NOTE
When an imperative is used to tell someone to be quiet or to go away, it usually sounds abrupt and impolite.
Shut up.
Go away - I'm busy.
Get lost.

3 If a number of actions are involved, the request form need not be repeated for every action.

Can you get out your books, please? Open them at page sixty and look at the photo. Then think about your reaction to it.

3 Other uses of the imperative

Slogans and advertisements Suggestions and advice Warnings and reminders Instructions and directions Informal offers and invitations Good wishes

Save the rainforests. Visit historic Bath. Why don't you spend a year working before you go to college? Take a year off from your studies and learn something about the real world. Look out! There's a car coming. Always switch off the electricity first. Don't forget your key. Select the programme/program you need by turning the dial to the correct number. Pull out the knob. The light will come on and the machine will start. Go along here and turn left at the lights. Have a chocolate. Come to lunch with us. Have a nice holiday. Enjoy yourselves.

NOTE
Have a chocolate. = Would you like a chocolate?

Have a nice holiday. = I hope you have a nice holiday.

4 Imperative + question tag

After an imperative we can use these tags: will you? won't you? would you? can you? can't you? could you?
1 We can use a positive tag after a positive imperative.
Teacher: Get out your books, will/would/can/could you?
The meaning is the same as “Will you get out your books?” but the pattern with the tag is more informal.
A negative tag expresses greater feeling.
Doctor: Keep still, won't/can’t you?
This suggests that the doctor is especially anxious that the patient should keep still, or annoyed because the patient cannot keep still.

2 In warnings, reminders and good wishes, the tag is won’t you? after a positive imperative and will you? after a negative. In offers and invitations the tag is will you? or won’t you? These tags make the sentences more emphatic.

Have a nice holiday, won’t you?
Don’t forget your key, will you?
Have a chocolate, will/won’t you?