Show pageOld revisionsBacklinksExport to PDFBack to top This page is read only. You can view the source, but not change it. Ask your administrator if you think this is wrong. ======The imperative: further information====== =====Being polite===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #2a2a2a">1. <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"></SPAN></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">We need to be careful when using the imperative to give orders because it can sometimes sound too direct. It is a good idea to add 'please' when we are <U>not</U> speaking to friends, family or close colleagues etc.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Please <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">get</SPAN> it done by tomorrow.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Please <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">call</SPAN> back later.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"></SPAN></B></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">2. <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"></SPAN>Adding 'do' can also make offers and invitations sound friendlier.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Do <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">sit </SPAN>down.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Do <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">ask</SPAN> if you need any help.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Do <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">have</SPAN> lunch with us soon.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc"> </SPAN></B></P><STRONG><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial>3. <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"></SPAN>We can use 'never' or 'always' before the verb.</FONT></FONT></STRONG> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN class=regle71><SPAN><STRONG><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></STRONG></SPAN></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN>Always</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN> </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">send </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">a confirmation email.</SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN>Never </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">share</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN> your password.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial>'Don't ever' is also possible - it makes an order more emphatic.</FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">Don't</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"> ever </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">do</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"> that again!</SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN></B> </P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">4. <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"></SPAN>We can also make the imperative more emphatic by adding 'do'.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: blue; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Do <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">be</SPAN> quiet; I'm trying to work.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 1cm"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">Do <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">try</SPAN> to be there on time.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN></B> </P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">5. <SPAN style="mso-tab-count: 1"></SPAN>You might hear 'you' before the verb. This is also emphatic and may be accompanied by a gesture that indicates who the speaker is addressing but <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">be</SPAN> careful; this is not considered polite.<SPAN style="COLOR: red"> </SPAN></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">You <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">come</SPAN> here now!</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc">Don't </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">you <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">do</SPAN> that again!</SPAN></B></P> <P><BR> </P> <P><BR> </P></html> =====Including the speaker===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">Let</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">'s is a contraction of 'let us'. We always use the contracted form in conversation. You may, very occasionally, hear the full form in formal speeches. For example:</SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">Let </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">us pray.</SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">Let</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"> us now say thank you to...</SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial>The negative has two forms:</FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"><FONT face=Arial> </FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.05pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">Let</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext">'s</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"> not</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN class=regle71><B><SPAN style="COLOR: windowtext"> have the meeting on M</SPAN></B></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">onday.</SPAN></B></FONT></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -0.05pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc">Don't let</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'">'s be late again! </SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"> </SPAN></B></P> <P><BR> </P> <P><BR> </P></html> =====Question tags===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>The usual question tags for imperative sentences are 'will you?' and 'would you?' </SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></B> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>These can make an order seem more polite. </SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB>Close</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB> the door, will you?</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>I'm busy at the moment.<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"> Come </SPAN>back tomorrow,<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"> </SPAN>would you?</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US> </SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>or more emphatic</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>Just<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"> finish</SPAN> your homework, will you?!</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB>Get</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB> it done by this afternoon, would you?</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US> </SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>and in a negative sentence, 'will you?' can make an offer more insistent.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB>Don't hesitate</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB> to call me, will you?</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB>Don't forget</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>, will you?</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US> </SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>We can also use 'won't you?' for invitations. This is polite and insistent.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB>Join</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB> us for dinner tonight, won't you?</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US> </SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>If we use 'do' and 'won't you?', it is polite and very insistent.</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>Do <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">come</SPAN> to my party, won't you?</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US> </SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></B></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>Note that we can only use 'would you?' and 'won't you?' in affirmative sentences.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US> </SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB></SPAN></B> </P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: -14.2pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 14.2pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>After '<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">let</SPAN>'s', the question tag is 'shall we?' for both positive and negative sentences.</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB>Let</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>'s have some more tea, shall we?</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=EN-GB>Let</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'" lang=EN-GB>'s<SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc"> not </SPAN>do this again, shall we?</SPAN></B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US></SPAN></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman','serif'; FONT-SIZE: 12pt" lang=EN-US> </SPAN><BR></P> <P style="TEXT-INDENT: 35.4pt; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><BR> </P></html> =====Sarcasm and humour===== <html><P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial>Adding the tag 'why don't you?' means that the speaker is being sarcastic.</FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">Make</SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN><B><SPAN> fun of me, why don't you?</SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><FONT face=Arial><SPAN><B><SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">Go </SPAN></B></SPAN><SPAN><B><SPAN>ahead, <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">laugh</SPAN>, why don't you?</SPAN></B></SPAN></FONT></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial>Just <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">lie</SPAN> about it then, why don't you?</FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial>These are not genuine invitations or orders. The speaker is reproaching someone for something he/she has already done.</FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><B><SPAN><FONT face=Arial></FONT></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; BACKGROUND: white"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; BACKGROUND: white"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR>Of course, the British are well-known for their sarcastic sense of humour. Imperatives can be found in many phrases coined by speakers of English. </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR>For example:</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; BACKGROUND: white"> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; BACKGROUND: white"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 9pt" lang=FR></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; BACKGROUND: white"><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Verdana','sans-serif'; COLOR: black; FONT-SIZE: 9pt" lang=FR></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR>Never </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=FR>put off</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR> till tomorrow what you can do the day after tomorrow. [Mark Twain]</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=FR>Don't be</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR> humble. You're not that great. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>[Golda Meir]</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=FR>Get </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR>your facts first, then you can distort them as you please. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>[Mark Twain]</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR></SPAN></B><SPAN><B><SPAN></SPAN></B></SPAN></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=FR>Do</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR> something productive. </SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: #0000cc" lang=FR>Stop</SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR> being yourself. <SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN>[the Sarcasm Society]</SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt 35.45pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'; COLOR: black" lang=FR></SPAN></B><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><B><SPAN style="FONT-FAMILY: 'Arial','sans-serif'"></SPAN></B></P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN><STRONG><FONT size=2><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN><FONT face=arial> Always <SPAN style="COLOR: #0000cc">forgive</SPAN> your enemies; nothing annoys them so much.</FONT></FONT><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> <FONT size=2 face=arial>[Oscar Wilde]</FONT></SPAN></STRONG></SPAN></P> <P><SPAN><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"></SPAN></SPAN> </P> <P style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><BR></P></html> [[en:grammar:home|{{ :file_-_back_3_.png?150 }}]]