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#2 (permalink) Wed Aug 16, 2006 15:57 pm Examples |
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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 _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Wed Aug 16, 2006 16:11 pm Examples |
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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 |
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Tung Quoc I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 372
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#4 (permalink) Wed Aug 16, 2006 16:35 pm Imperative affirmative sentence |
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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!" ;)
Amy _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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#5 (permalink) Wed Aug 16, 2006 16:38 pm Imperative |
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Hi,
I feel that Don't you .. is more of a threat than an imperative.
Alan _________________ English as a Foreign Language You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#6 (permalink) Wed Aug 16, 2006 16:52 pm Imperative affirmative sentence |
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Dear teachers,
Dont you be... is correct? (even it's a threat)
Quoc |
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Tung Quoc I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 13 Aug 2006 Posts: 372
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#7 (permalink) Wed Aug 16, 2006 17:03 pm Imperative |
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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 _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Passive Voice |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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