Introduction: Let’s Get Started, Shall We?
Hello! Welcome to this guide on imperatives, requests, and suggestions. Have you ever noticed how we change our tone when we tell someone to do something versus when we ask them nicely? In English, we use different sentence patterns to give orders, ask for help, or propose an idea.
Because these notes are part of our Question Tags section, we are going to focus on how to add those "little questions" at the end of our sentences to make them sound more natural and polite. Don’t worry if this seems a bit confusing at first—we will break it down step-by-step!
1. Imperatives: The "Bossy" Sentences
An imperative is a sentence we use to give an instruction or a command. Usually, these sentences start with a verb and do not have a subject (like "you").
Examples:
- "Stop talking."
- "Open your books."
Adding Question Tags to Imperatives
Sometimes, a direct command can sound a bit rude. We add question tags to the end to make them sound like a request or just to be more polite. For almost all imperatives, we use "will you?" as the tag.
The Rule: Imperative + will you? / won't you? / can you?
Examples:
- "Close the window, will you?" (Sounds like a polite request)
- "Be quiet, will you?" (Showing a bit of impatience)
- "Have a seat, won't you?" (Very inviting and polite)
Quick Review Box:
- Use will you? to turn a command into a request.
- Use won't you? when you want to be especially inviting (like offering food or a seat).
Key Takeaway: Adding a tag to an imperative sentence makes you sound less like a boss and more like a friend!
2. Making Suggestions with "Let’s"
When we want to suggest an activity for a group (including ourselves), we usually start with "Let’s" (which is short for "Let us").
The Special Tag for Suggestions
Suggestions are unique! We don't use "will you." Instead, we use a special tag: "shall we?". Think of this as the "team player" tag because it includes everyone.
The Rule: Let’s + shall we?
Examples:
- "Let’s go to the library, shall we?"
- "Let’s play football after school, shall we?"
Did you know?
The word "shall" sounds a bit fancy or old-fashioned in normal sentences, but in question tags for suggestions, it is the most common and natural word to use!
Key Takeaway: Whenever you see "Let’s" at the start of a sentence, the tag will almost always be "shall we?".
3. Negative Imperatives (The "Don’ts")
What happens if we tell someone not to do something? We call these negative imperatives. They usually start with "Don’t."
The Rule: Don't + Verb + will you?
Note: For negative commands, we only use the positive tag "will you?".
Examples:
- "Don't forget your homework, will you?"
- "Don't make a mess, will you?"
Common Mistake to Avoid:
Students often try to say "Don't do that, don't you?" This is incorrect! Even though the sentence starts with "Don't," the tag stays as "will you?".
Key Takeaway: For any "Don't" sentence, just stick "will you?" at the end to remind someone kindly.
4. Summary Table for Quick Study
Use this simple guide to help you remember which tag to use:
1. Command/Instruction: "Sit down, will you?"
2. Invitation: "Have some cake, won't you?"
3. Suggestion: "Let's study, shall we?"
4. Negative Command: "Don't cry, will you?"
Final Memory Trick: The "L-S" Connection
If you find it hard to remember the tag for Let’s, just remember the L and the S:
Let’s = Shall we?
(They are the only ones that don't use the letter 'W' in the tag!)
Key Takeaway: Mastering these tags helps you navigate social situations more smoothly. Whether you are giving a presentation or talking to friends, using the right tag shows you understand how to be polite and clear in English!