The imperative mood in English is used to give commands, make requests, or offer advice. When we want to tell someone NOT to do something, we use the negative imperative form. This lesson will explain how to form and use negative imperatives in English.
Formation of Negative Imperatives
Creating negative imperatives in English is straightforward. We simply add “don’t” or “do not” before the base form of the verb.
Basic Formula:
Don’t + base verb
Examples:
| Affirmative Imperative | Negative Imperative |
|---|---|
| Go there. | Don’t go there. |
| Open the window. | Don’t open the window. |
| Be late. | Don’t be late. |
| Tell her. | Don’t tell her. |
Uses of Negative Imperatives
Negative imperatives have several common uses in English:
1. Giving Prohibitions
- Don’t touch that button!
- Don’t park here.
- Don’t enter without permission.
2. Giving Warnings
- Don’t forget your passport.
- Don’t miss the deadline.
3. Offering Advice
- Don’t worry about it.
- Don’t spend all your money at once.
- Don’t be so hard on yourself.
Formal vs. Informal Negative Imperatives
For more formal situations, you can use “do not” instead of the contracted form “don’t.”
Informal vs. Formal Examples:
| Informal | Formal |
|---|---|
| Don’t leave your bags unattended. | Do not leave your bags unattended. |
| Don’t be late. | Do not be late. |
| Don’t forget to sign the form. | Do not forget to sign the form. |
Special Case: Let’s not
For suggestions that include the speaker and the listener(s), we use “let’s not” instead of “don’t let’s.”
Examples:
- Let’s not argue about this.
- Let’s not waste time.
- Let’s not forget to bring the gift.
Common Phrases with Negative Imperatives
Some negative imperatives appear frequently in everyday English:
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Don’t worry. | Used to reassure someone |
| Don’t mention it. | Used to respond to thanks (meaning “you’re welcome”) |
| Don’t mind me. | Used when you don’t want to disturb others |
| Don’t get me wrong. | Used before clarifying a potentially confusing statement |
| Don’t hesitate to ask. | Used to encourage questions |
Summary
Negative imperatives in English:
- Are formed with “don’t” or “do not” + base verb
- Are used for prohibitions, warnings, and advice
- Can be more formal with “do not” instead of “don’t”
- Use “let’s not” for inclusive suggestions
- Appear in common everyday phrases
Remember to use negative imperatives appropriately, as they can sometimes sound too direct or impolite without proper context or softening expressions.