In grammar, the imperative mood is the mood used to give commands, as in “Close the door.” It can also express requests, instructions, warnings, invitations, or prohibitions.
In English, a second-person imperative usually uses the verb’s base form and omits the subject “you”: “Close the door,” “Take a seat,” or “Be careful.” The hidden subject is understood from context. Negative commands commonly use “do not” or “don’t,” as in “Don’t touch that.”
The word imperative comes from Latin imperare, meaning “to command.” English imperatives can sound forceful, so speakers often soften them with “please” or use an indirect question such as “Could you close the door?” The imperative is a mood, not a tense: the same form can refer to an immediate or later action, as in “Come tomorrow.”
A common mix-up is confusing imperative with indicative. The indicative states or asks about facts, while the imperative directs someone to act. The subjunctive has different functions, including wishes and hypothetical situations.