Imperatives and Exclamatory Sentences

Syllabus tag: Kenya CBC | Grade 9 English | Theme 15.0 Tourist Attraction Sites | Strand 15.3 Grammar | Sub-Strand 15.3.1 Imperatives (Commands, Requests) and Exclamatory Sentences (2 Lessons)

Lesson objectives

By the end of this sub-strand, you should be able to:

• Form imperative sentences for commands, requests, instructions and invitations.
• Soften imperatives appropriately for polite use.
• Form exclamatory sentences using what and how.
• Punctuate imperatives and exclamations correctly.

Summary

An imperative sentence gives a command, request, instruction, warning or invitation. Its subject, you, is understood rather than stated, and the verb appears in its base form: close the gate. An exclamatory sentence expresses strong feeling and typically begins with what or how, ending in an exclamation mark: what a beautiful view! Both types appear constantly in signs, guidebooks and spoken directions, which makes them directly useful in the tourism context of this theme.