5.1.- Imperative. Make suggestions.

The imperative is used to give commands and orders. The form of the verb used for the imperative is the base form of the main verb, which is used without a subject.

The word order of a sentence in the imperative is: verb + object (if needed). The negative imperative is made with do + not or don’t.

Don’t lose that key.
Do not come back without it!
Do stop talking! I’m trying to work.
I’m certainly not going to get it – you get it.
Would you get it, then? I’m busy.

Walk to the corner, turn right, and cross the road.
Don’t forget to take your passport with you.
Be careful!

Making suggestions

Let’s (let + us) + main verb is used in the 1st person plural only, especially when you are trying to encourage someone to do something with you.It includes both the speaker and the hearer, so the subject that is understood is represented by the plural we.

Let’s visit Malcolm this weekend.
Please let’s go to the cinema tonight.
Do let’s have a look at your new computer, Chris.
Let’s pool our resources.

Suggestions which start with let’s often end with the sentence tag shall we?

Let’s phone her now, shall we?
Let’s go for a walk after supper, shall we?

In ordinary English the negative is let’s not + main verb or sometimes don’t let’s + main verb.

Let’s not worry about that now.
Don’t let’s worry about that now.

In formal English, the negative is let us not + main verb.

Let us not lose sight of our aims.

Do let’s is the emphatic form.

It’s a very good bargain; do let’s buy it!

The non-contracted or long form let us + main verb is occasionally used in formal and written English.

Let us be clear about this.
Let us hope that this will never happen again.

The answer to a suggestion with let’s is normally either, yes, let’s or no, let’s not or sometimes, no, don’t let’s (…).

Let’s phone her now, shall we? – Yes, let’s.
Let’s phone her now, shall we? – No, let’s not.
Let’s invite Malcolm over this weekend. – No, don’t let’s do that.