Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

IMPERATIVE CLAUSES

293

Structure

293a

Imperative clauses typically function to give directives (e.g. commands, orders,

instructions). 

Imperative clauses do not have an overt subject. They have the word order 

verb – 

X

. The lexical verb is in its base form (

Û

229

):

Give me a clue.

Just 

leave it there.

Tell me when you’ve finished.

Be quiet! 

Don’t move!

Let’s go home now.

Imperatives with subject pronoun

Imperatives may occasionally occur with an emphatic subject pronoun you. This

may be for contrastive emphasis, or simply to make the imperative stronger:

[speakers are clearing things from the table after a meal]

A: Shall I take those out?

B: You take those two out on the tray. And I’ll just put this milk away.

[parent to a child just about to play with a dog]

Don’t you start teasing him now!

In very informal spoken contexts, you may occur after the verb, especially where

speakers are being playful or mildly reproachful:

[mother to young child]

Come on, 

you!

An indefinite subject such as someone/somebody, no one/nobody, everyone/

everybody

may also occur, especially in informal spoken language:

Somebody get one more chair, please.

Quick! 

Everybody hide!