Imperative affirmative sentence

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Dear teachers,

1/This is an imperative affirmative sentence:

Be careful of the dog (a)

For emphatic:

Do be careful of the dog.

Is it right?

2/The negative sentence of (a):

Don’t be careful of the dog or Not be careful of the dog ?

For emphatic:

Don’t you be careful of the dog.

Is it right?

3/ You write: This is an imperative affirmative sentence.
or: This is an affirmative imperative sentence. ?

4/ Please choose (b) or ©:

b. Be careful of the dog!
c. Be careful of the dog.

Best regards
Quoc

2

Hi,

The positive imperative is: Be careful of the dog!

The negative imperative is: Don’t be careful of the dog!

For emphasis you could say for the positive imperative: Do be careful of the dog!

For the negative, although it does sound a little absurd, you could say: Whatever you do, don’t be careful of the dog!

Alan

3

Dear Sir,

In my class, my teacher gave this example:

Negative form: Don’t talk in class!
Emphatic: Don’t you talk in class!
(talk: ordinary verb)

Please tell me again if it is sure that we don’t say:

Don’t you be careful of the dog!
(be: liking verb)

Thanks
Quoc

4

Hi Quoc

“Don’t you hit that poor dog again!” is an emphatic negative imperative.

Ask your teacher whether she knows this emphatic form of the negative imperative:
“Don’t you dare do that!” :wink:

Amy

5

Hi,

I feel that Don’t you … is more of a threat than an imperative.

Alan

6

Dear teachers,

Dont you be… is correct? (even it’s a threat)

Quoc

7

Hi,

Yes, it’s still correct. Don’t worry. I was merely adding another dimension. Look at these two

Don’t talk! is a straightforward command or imperative.

Don’t you talk to me like that has an undertone of threat with the hint that if you do talk to me like that, you will be in trouble.

Hope that’s clear.

Alan