Ben: I'm lost. Again. — Sofía: Listen carefully: go straight, turn left at the bakery, and stop at the red door.
Ben: Go straight, turn left, stop. Don't panic. I can do this.
Kenji: And don't follow the iguana this time, Ben.
Abuela Carmen: Kitchen rules: wash your hands, don't touch the oven, and let's eat before it gets cold!
Common mistake: “No touch the oven!” — Correct: “Don't touch the oven!”
Imperatives give instructions, directions and warnings directly — the verb goes first with no subject: Turn left. Don't worry.
Imperatives
Form
Structure
Example
Affirmative
base verb first, no subject
Turn left. Open your books.
Negative
Don't + base verb
Don't worry. Don't touch the oven.
Polite
add 'please'
Repeat, please. Please, sit down.
Suggestion (includes you)
Let's + verb
Let's go to the market!
Extra polite → question
Can you + verb, please?
Can you open the window, please?
⬅️ turn left — gira a la izquierda
➡️ turn right — gira a la derecha
⬆️ go straight — sigue derecho
🛑 stop — detente
🔓 open — abre
🔒 close — cierra
👂 listen — escucha
🔁 repeat — repite
Turn left at the corner and go straight.
Listen carefully and repeat, please.
Open your books on page ten.
Let's go to the market together!
Don't worry, be happy.
Don't touch the oven — it's hot!
Don't open the door for strangers.
Can you open the window, please?
Can you repeat that, please?
Can you help me with these boxes?
Can you help me? Yes, of course I can.
Can you close the door? Yes, I can.
Can you cook tonight? No, I can't. Sorry!
Practice
___ left at the corner. (Turn, You turn, Turning)
___ worry, be happy. (No, Not, Don't)
___ go to the market together! (Let's, We, Going)
Imperatives start with the verb, without a subject: 'Open the door'.
The negative imperative is 'No + verb': 'No touch the oven'.
___ carefully and repeat, please. (escucha)
___ your books on page ten. (abran)
Don't ___ the door for strangers. (abras)
Unscramble: turn, left, at, the, corner
Unscramble: don't, touch, the, oven
Find the mistake: No touch the oven!
Find the mistake: You open your books, class.
Find the mistake: Let's to go to the market.
Open the window. — Write the negative form.
Close the door. — Make it extra polite (use 'Can you... please?').
Can you help me with these boxes? — Answer with a short answer (Yes).
Turn left. — Write the opposite direction.
Don't stop here. — Write the affirmative form.
Can you repeat the exercise? (short answer)
Can you fly to school? (short answer, No)
Listening
Ben: Hello? Sofía? I'm lost. I'm next to a big church.
Sofía: OK, don't panic. Go straight to the traffic light.
Ben: Straight to the traffic light. Done.
Sofía: Now turn left at the bakery and stop at the red door.
Ben: Turn left... stop... I see the red door!
Sofía: Great. Now knock and say hello — we're all here. Don't be late for your own birthday party, Ben!
Reading
Abuela Carmen's arepa instructions, taped to the kitchen wall: '1. Wash your hands. Always. 2. Mix the corn flour with warm water and a little salt. 3. Don't add sugar — this is not a cake. 4. Form small circles with your hands. Don't make them too thin! 5. Cook them on the hot plate. Turn them when they smell delicious. 6. Don't touch the plate with your fingers, Ben. 7. Serve them with cheese and share them with your favorite people. Let's eat!'