The Imperative Mood
The Imperative Mood expresses a command or a request. In Modern English the Imperative Mood has only one form which coincides with the infinitive without the particle to; it is used in the second person (singular and plural). Be quiet and hear what I tell you. (Eliot) Please put the papers on the table by the bed. (Hemingway) In forming the negative the auxiliary verb to do is always used, even with the verb to be. Hush! Don't make a noise! (Eliot) Don't be angry... (Hemingway) The auxiliary verb to do may also be used in affirmative sentences to make the request more emphatic. But now, do sing again to us. (Eliot) To make a request or an order more emphatic the subject expressed by the pronoun you is sometimes used. It is characteristic of colloquia1 speech. I'll drive and you sleep awhile. (Hemingway) N о t e. A command addressed to the third person singular and plural is usually expressed with the help of the verb to let. Let the child go home at once. — Пусть ребенок сейчас же идет домой. Let the children go home at once. — Пусть дети сейчас же идут домой. With the first person plural the verb to let is used to express an exhortation to a joint action. Let's go and have some fresh coffee. (Mansfield) — Пойдемте выпьем свежего кофе.
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