## The Basics

Clean up your room! Take out the garbage! Put your laundry in the basket! Feed the cat!

Don't run here! Don't put your feet on the table! Don't pick on your little brother!

How often does someone tell you what you must do or what you may not do? Probably more often then you like.

We use the imperative in English to tell people what to do and what not to do.

We don't only use it to give orders, but also to give instructions just like in Valmet's safety video. It's an easy structure, and useful. Giving and understanding instructions are very important skills in the process industry: they keep us safe!

How does it work?

Watch Meester Gijs' videos below or keep reading to learn more.

Let's go back to the beginning:

Clean up your room! Take out the garbage! Put your laundry in the basket! Feed the cat!

Don't run here! Don't put your feet on the table! Don't pick on your little brother!

The colors say it all.

Do you see the words in green? We use the "naked" verb when we give orders.

Now look at the words in red.

We stick "don't" in front of the "naked verb" to forbid or stop things.

That's it!

We also use signal words (called sequencers) to put our instructions in order: first, second, next, then, lastly.

First, finish this section, then take the quiz.

Watch out!

Th e n geeft een volgorde of tijdsbepaling aan. I'll see you then!

Th a n gebruiken we om dingen te vergelijken. Joey is taller than Aziz.

Smile! Meester Gijs: imperative I (bevelen)

Don't worry, be happy! Meester Gijs: imperative II (verbieden)