by R. S. Karunaratne

How to use imperatives

We use imperatives to tell others what to do, to give advice or to invite them in a friendly way.

A: Could you direct me to the police station?
B: Turn right at the next crossroads.
A: How do I hold the bat, Sir?
B: Always hold it like this.
A; Where can I pay my electricity bill?
B: Please pay it at the next counter.
A: My computer doesn’t start.
B: Restart it.
A: I must leave now.
B: Before you leave come and have dinner with us.

Please do not park your car here.
Listen to the speaker even if you don’t like him.
Never tell your boss that he is wrong.
Don’t touch the wire.
Do not pick flowers.
The street is crowded today.
Drive slowly.
Go down Station Road.

Imperative expressions

Look out!
Be careful!
Have a nice day!
Help!
Hurry up!
Come in.
Don’t forget to ring me.
Don’t worry.
The pain will not last long.
Follow me.
Make yourself at home.
Please sit down.
Wait for me.
No spitting.

Suggestions

We use ‘let’s’ to make suggestions.

Let’s have a drink.
Let’s see what’s on television.
Let’s go for a walk.
Let’s play cricket.
Let’s go fishing.
Let’s go for a film.
Let’s listen to the radio.

The negative is ‘let’s not.’

Let’s us not block the passage.
Let’s not tell him about our examination failure.
Let’s not invite him to the party.

A: I’d like to visit India.
B: Let’s visit the Taj Mahal.
A: I’d like to visit Kandy.
B: Let’s visit the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic.
A: Polonnaruwa is a tourist destination.
B: Let’s go there by train.
A: I want to see the hot water springs.
B: Then let’s go to Trincomalee.
A: I’ve always wanted to see the queen.
B: Then let’s go to England.
A: What about a holiday in Russia.
B: Let’s book a flight to Moscow.
A; I have never been to Malaysia.
B: Let’s go to Kuala Lumpur.

Match words and meanings

Here’s a novel method of enriching your vocabulary. Match the words in column ‘A’ with their meanings in column ‘B’ and check your answers with the key. The first has been done for you.

[Column A]

N 1. conjecture
... 2. conjoined
... 3. conjunctivitis
... 4. conjure
... 5. conjurer
... 6. connotation
... 7. connubial
... 8. conquer
... 9. conqueror
... 10. conscientious
... 11. conscious
... 12. consciousness
... 13. conscript
... 14. consecrate
... 15. consensus
... 16. consent
... 17. consequence
... 18. consequent
... 19. conserve
... 20. considerable
... 21. considerate
... 22. consign
... 23. consolidate
... 24. consort
... 25. conspicuous

[Column B]

A. the state of understanding
B. a generally accepted opinion
C. permission or agreement
D. putting a lot of effort into your work
E. a result of an action
F. to make something holy
G. connected with marriage
H. a painful infection of the eyes
I. a person who performs magic
J. to force someone to serve in the army
K. someone who has conquered a country
L. to take control of foreign land by force
M. an idea suggested by a particular word
N. a guess about something
O. to become stronger
P. very noticeable
Q. a wife or husband of a ruler
R. to send something to someone
S. kind and helpful
T. to protect something from damage
U. of noticeable importance
V. happening as a result of something
W. to notice that a particular thing or person exists
X. to make something appear by magic
Y. joined together

Key:

2. Y 3. H 4. X 5. I 6. M 7. G 8. L 9. K 10. D 11. W 12. A 13. J 14. F 15. B 16. C 17. E 18. V 19. T 20. U 21. S 22. R 23. O 24. Q 25. P

More on countable and uncountable nouns

“Milk, water, soup, ink, oil, air, paint” and “cereal” are uncountable nouns. We cannot use the indefinite articles “a” or “an” in front of them. However, we can say “a bottle of milk” or “a bucket of water.”

Here are some more examples:
We bought a carton of orange juice.
I want a tin of white paint to finish this job.
Can you drink a bottle of water?
The packet of cereal cost me Rs 100.
How much is a jar of jam?
I bought a tube of toothpaste and a brush.
Bring me a glass of water.
Would you like to have a cup of coffee?
He asked me to bring a kilo of cheese.
The electrician asked for five metres of cable.
This container has five litres of petrol.
Mother bought half a pound of butter.
A piece of wood fell off the lorry.
She gave the dog a slice of bread.
Bring me a sheet of paper.
We can share this bar of chocolate.
Father brings a loaf of bread every day.
“Advice, information” and “news” are also uncountable nouns. We cannot use the indefinite articles “a” or “an” with them.
The lawyer gave us some legal advice.
The ministry official gave some information about the missing tourists.
Good news is no news.
(Saying)
We can use “a piece of, a bit of” or “an item of” with such uncountable nouns.
I have a piece of news about your son.
Can I give you a bit of advice?
The students received bits of information about the examination results.
Here's an item of news that might interest you.
The following nouns are also uncountable nouns.
Although it was getting dark, we couldn't find accommodation in the remote village.
We left our baggage in the hotel room and went out.
Your behaviour is far from satisfaction.
The new hospital building needs equipment.
We had a lot of fun on the beach.
His house is full of expensive furniture.
Nowadays students have to do a lot of homework.
The woman is burdened with housework.
We have no way of disposing of the litter.
We had the luck to go abroad for our higher education.
We had to pay extra for the excess luggage.
She has not made any progress in her career.
His ideas are a load of rubbish.
We admired the beautiful scenery.
The street is chock-a-block with traffic.
Father enjoys business travel.
We are going to have a picnic, weather permitting.
Are you satisfied with my work?
Note the following points:
Some graduates have no jobs. (Countable)
They can do any work. (Uncountable)
She went on a long journey. (Countable)
Travel can be tiring at times. (Uncountable)
How many chairs, tables and sofas have you got? (Countable)
We don't have much furniture. (Uncountable)
The couple booked a room at the hotel. (Countable)
There was no accommodation for the visiting players.
(Uncountable)
The tourist bought four suitcases. (Countable)
The tourist bought four pieces of luggage. (Uncountable)

Quiz on idioms

An idiom is a special kind of phrase. It is a group of words which have a different meaning when used together from the one it would have if the meaning of each word were taken individually. Tick the meaning of each idiom in bold and check your answers with the key.

1. If something is your bread and butter ...
(a) It is your only source of income
(b) it is your favourite food
(c) it is something you know very well

2. If you cast your bread upon the waters ...
(a) you waste your money
(b) you feed somebody with bread
(c) you take a risk without expecting anything in return

3. If you know which side of your bread is buttered ...
(a) you know exactly who your supporters are
(b) you understand fully how you are likely to benefit from a situation
(c) you know that you will get bread and butter free

4. If people are living on the breadline ...
(a) they are extremely poor
(b) they are extremely rich
(c) they are extremely kind

5. If you ask someone to make a clean breast of something ...
(a) you are advising them to tell lies
(b) you are advising them to tell the truth
(c) you are advising them to praise something

6. If you describe someone as a breath of fresh air ...
(a) you say they are pleasantly different from others
(b) you say they are indifferent
(c) you say they are beautiful

7. If someone is holding their breath ...
(a) they are unable to breathe
(b) they are waiting anxiously to see what happens next
(c) they are unconscious

8. If something takes your breath away ...
(a) it makes you ill
(b) it frightens you
(c) it amazes you

9. If you are wasting your breath ...
(a) what you say won't have any effect
(b) what you say will be beneficial
(c) what you say will be respected

10. If you wait for something with bated breath ...
(a) you don't desire it
(b) you don't look forward to it
(c) you look forward to it

Key:

1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (b) 4. (a) 5. (b) 6. (a) 7. (b) 8. (c) 9. (a) 10. (c)