Learn 5 Rules of Assertive to Imperative Sentence Transformation

Learn the rules of changing sentence from assertive to imperative sentence as an essential part of transformation of sentences in English grammar. On this lesson, you will see most effective techniques of transforming sentences both from assertive sentences to imperative sentences and imperative sentences to assertive sentences interchangeably.

Likewise, other transformation of sentences chapters, here you also need to change the structure of sentences but their meaning should be same.

Now, I would like to discuss over the basic rules of assertive to imperative transformation as one of the advanced grammatical lessons. There are only 5 rules through which you can easily do this. But, before going to the rules, you should have a clear idea about the meaning and structures of both assertive and imperative sentences.

So, here are a few words on assertive and imperative sentences.

What is Assertive Sentence?

Assertive sentence means the sentences which are used to describe any general action, event, speech, or expression of our daily life. It may be both affirmative and negative sentence.

Structure of Affirmative: Subject+ verb+ object+ Adjunct

For Example:
You should finish the job in time.
Nobody is conscious of the fact yet.

What is Imperative Sentence?

Imperative sentence means the sentences which are used to express order, advice or request in our speech.

Imperative Sentence Structure

There are 3 types of imperative sentences. So, the structure may be of three types.

Here are the structures:

• Structure-01: (Verb+ object+ extra)- expressing order
• Structure-02: (Subject+ should/ought to+ verb+ object+ extra) – expressing advice
• Structure-03: (Please/kindly+ verb+ object+ extra) – expressing request

Assertive to Imperative Rules

• You cannot change the meaning of sentences but the structure.
• An Imperative sentence may start with a ‘verb’ when it expresses an order. It may start with any subject and use the modal auxiliary verbs ‘should/ought to’ when it expresses a duty or advice. It may also start the word ‘please/kindly’ when it expresses a request.
• You have to mark the sentence whether it is affirmative or negative during transformation.
• The subject is the major element that will help you to identify the rules. So, follow the form of subject, its number, and its person in the given sentence before transformation from assertive to imperative sentence.

5 Rules of Assertive to Imperative Sentence Transformation

Rules	Assertive	Imperative
01	Subject (2nd person) affirmative	(Verb+ object+ extra) = expressing order Please/kindly+ (Verb+ object+ extra) = expressing request/politeness
02.	Subject (2nd person) Negative / ‘never’	Do not+ verb+ object+ extra Or, Never+ verb+ object+ extra
03.	Subject (1st/3rd person) affirmative	Let+ (objective form of subject)+ verb+ object+ extra
04.	Subject (1st/3rd person) negative	Let+ (objective form of subject)+ not+ verb+ object+ extra
05.	Subject (3rd person+ noun)	Let+ noun subject+ verb+ object+ extra

Assertive to Imperative Example

Now here are the explanations and examples of all rules of assertive to imperative sentence transformation step-by -step. These notes and examples will give you a clear idea about the techniques of changing sentences following the structures given in the chart above.

1. Subject (2nd Person) Affirmative

Here, you will omit the subject ‘you’ and modal auxiliary verb- ‘should/must/ought to’ of affirmative sentence during transforming it into imperative. The other elements will be unchanged. Besides, if you want to express any request or politeness in expression, you may use the word ‘kindly/please’ in sentences.

For Example:

Assertive: You must study regularly.
Imperative: Study regularly.
(In case of expressing order)

Assertive: You should attend classes.
Imperative: Please attend classes.
(In case of expressing request/politeness)

2. Subject (2nd Person) Negative/ ‘Never’

Here, you will omit the subject ‘you’ and modal auxiliary verb- ‘should/must/ought to’ of negative sentence during transforming it into imperative. You have to use the negative expression ‘do not or never’ at the beginning of the imperative sentence. The other elements will be unchanged.

For Example:

Assertive: You should not play in the sun.
Imperative: Do not play in the sun.

Assertive: You should never run fast.
Imperative: Never run fast.
(In case of having the word ‘never’)

3. Subject (1st/3rd Person) Affirmative

Here, you will add the word ‘let’ at the beginning of the affirmative sentence during transforming it into imperative. You must use the objective form of the subject after ‘let’. The modal auxiliary verb ‘should/ought to/must’ will be omitted in imperative. The other elements will be unchanged.

For Example:

Assertive: He plays cricket in the afternoon.
Imperative: Let him play cricket in the afternoon.

Assertive: We should help the poor people.
Imperative: Let us help the poor people.

4. Subject (1st/3rd Person) Negative

Here, you will add the word ‘let’ at the beginning of the negative sentence during transforming it into imperative. You must use the objective form of the subject after ‘let’. Then, put the word ‘not’ before the main verb. The modal auxiliary verb ‘should/ought to/must’ will be omitted in imperative. The other elements will be unchanged.

For Example:

Assertive: He does not miss class in the school.
Imperative: Let him not miss class in the school.

Assertive: We should not break the rules of the company.
Imperative: Let us not break the rules of the company.

5. Subject (3rd Person+ Noun)

If the subject of the assertive sentence is a noun, you will add ‘let’ and ‘not’ like before. But you will put the same noun subject as it is in assertive. But ‘do not / does not’ will be omitted in imperative sentences.

For Example:

Assertive: Rohan does not visit the city.
Imperative: Let not Rohan visit the city.

This is all about transformation of sentences from assertive to imperative. I hope you have understood all the rules and their changing techniques correctly. Now you had better go through different exercises based on assertive to imperative sentence transformation to measure your understanding level of this lesson.

If you want to study more grammatical lessons based on transformation of sentences in English, please check out these lessons given below:

• Degree Change Rules
• Voice Change Rules
• Changing Assertive to Exclamatory Sentence
• Changing Assertive to Interrogative Sentence
• Changing Affirmative to Negative Sentence

When you will be asked to change sentences in your academic exams, you will get 1/2 questions on assertive to imperative sentence transformation. So, don’t ignore this lesson. Otherwise, you will be never able to answer all questions based on transformation of sentences. Let us know your thoughts about the rules of changing sentences: assertive to imperative sentence using the comment box below.