English Imperative sentences have the function of directives or commands . They have five distinguishing features: 1. They generally have no overt subject noun phrase; the subject is an implicit 2nd person pronoun (you). 2. They sometimes have an explicit subject: You go out!
3. They are tenseless . That is, the base form of the verb is used: Be quiet! 4. The required action is always in the future. 5. They do not occur in subordinate clauses.
Types of Imperatives Five types of imperatives are discussed: 1. imperative with no overt subjects 2. imperatives with explicit subjects 3. imperatives with “let” 4. negative imperatives 5. DO plus positive imperatives
(1) Imperatives with no overt subject • Go away. • Open the window, please. • Be reasonable.
(2) Imperatives with explicit subjects Either second or third person subjects may appear in imperatives, which are usually used to give instructions, to avoid ambiguity or to express irritation: • You go out. • Someone open the window . • Nobody move. • You be quiet. • You mind your own business. • You come here Jack, and you go over there Mary.
(3) Imperatives with "let" These are called inclusive imperative. They express suggestions or offers . The action is to be carried out by the speaker and someone else. • Let's go to the movies. • Let us pray. • Let us have an interesting lecture.
(4) Negative imperatives These express prohibitions and exhortations . • Don't (you) be late. • Don't anyone open the door. • Let's not cry over spilled milk . • Never do that again .
(5) Do plus positive imperatives These are persuasive / insistent imperatives. • Do have some more tea. • Do let us go to the theatre.
Arabic Imperatives أسلوبُ الطلبِ The Arabic imperative has two forms: direct and indirect . Direct: It is expressed by فعلُ الأمر the verb of command: إشربْ أدخلْ
Indirect: It is expressed by: (1) لام الامر followed by the Imperfect in the jussive mood. لنذهبْ من هنا فليكنْ كذلك (فلينظر الانسان الى طعامه) (لينفق ذو سعة من سعته) (فليتقوا الله ويقولوا قولا سديدا)
(2) اسم فعل الأمر nominal verb of command عليكَ بالصدق (ياايها الذين امنوا عليكم انفسكم.........)
(3) المصدر النائب عن فعل الأمر verb of command nominal substitute صبراً على الشدائد (وبالوالدين احسانا ) ( غفرانك ربنا واليك المصير)
Exclamatives English Exclamatives are introduced by the wh-elements " what " or " how ". The initial positioning of the wh-element does not trigger auxiliary-subject inversion. 1. Wh plus NP: • What a nice shirt (it is)! 2. How plus adjective or adverbial clause • How encouraging! • How quickly he runs! • How foolish he is!
Arabic Exclamatives أسلوبُ التعجب Arabic exclamatory sentences express surprise, admiration or wonder. They appear in two constructions : 1. ما أفعلَ the exclamatory particle maa ما followed by a verb of admiration in the perfect. ما أجملَ السماءَ! ما اعظم التضحية!
2 . أفعِلْ بِ imperative form of the verb of admiration followed by the preposition بِ ` ! أجمِلْ بالسماء Arabic has other forms of exclamatory sentences: كم هو ضعيفٌ ! يا له من جبانِ ! يالهدوء البحر! يالصفاء البحر!
How to distinguish between an exclamatory question and an exclamatory sentence?
Exclamative sentences are introduced by wh-element (what / how). No auxiliary – subject inversion rule is found. • What a nice dress it is! • How interesting it was! Exclamatory questions are marked by auxiliary – subject inversion rule. • Isn’t this fun?