Negative Imperative Sentences in Narration

In the previous lesson, you learned:

Commands

Requests

Advice

Now we will learn another important type:

Negative imperative sentences

These sentences tell someone NOT to do something.

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What Is a Negative Imperative Sentence

A negative imperative sentence gives a negative command or instruction.

Examples:

Do not run

Do not make noise

Don’t play here

Don’t waste time

These sentences stop someone from doing something.

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Main Idea

To change negative imperative sentences:

said to becomes told or forbade

Use not to + verb

Do not use “that”

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Basic Structure

Reporting part + not to + verb

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Using “told … not to”

Example 1

Direct:

The teacher said to me, “Do not make noise.”

Step 1

said to → told

Step 2

Use not to + verb:

not to make

Final:

The teacher told me not to make noise.

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Example 2

Direct:

Mother said to me, “Don’t go বাইরে.”

Step 1

said to → told

Step 2

not to go

Final:

Mother told me not to go outside.

Using “forbade”

We use forbade for strong prohibition.

Structure:

forbade + object + to + verb

Example 1

Direct:

The teacher said to the students, “Do not enter the room.”

Step 1

said to → forbade

Step 2

to enter

Final:

The teacher forbade the students to enter the room.

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Example 2

Direct:

The officer said to the soldiers, “Do not leave the post.”

Step 1

said to → forbade

Step 2

to leave

Final:

The officer forbade the soldiers to leave the post.

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Important Difference

told not to = normal instruction

forbade = strong order or rule

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One Sentence Step by Step

Sentence:

He said to me, “Do not run.”

Step 1

Identify type:

Negative command

Step 2

said to → told

Step 3

Use not to + run

Final:

He told me not to run.

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Another Step by Step Example

Sentence:

The teacher said to the boy, “Don’t touch the machine.”

Step 1

Negative command

Step 2

said to → told

Step 3

not to touch

Final:

The teacher told the boy not to touch the machine.

Important Notes

Do not use “that”

Always use not to + verb

Do not write “not” after verb

Correct:

not to go

Wrong:

to not go

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Common Mistakes

Mistake 1

Using “that”

Wrong:

He told me that do not run

Correct:

He told me not to run

Mistake 2

Wrong position of not

Wrong:

He told me to not run

Correct:

He told me not to run

Mistake 3

Wrong use of forbade

Wrong:

He forbade me not to go

Correct:

He forbade me to go

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Quick Revision

Negative imperative = do not / don’t

Rules:

said to → told / forbade

Use not to + verb

No that

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Practice

A. Change into indirect speech

1. He said to me, “Do not run.”

2. The teacher said to the students, “Do not make noise.”

3. Mother said to me, “Don’t waste time.”

4. The officer said to the soldiers, “Do not leave the post.”

5. She said to me, “Don’t touch this.”

6. Father said to me, “Do not tell a lie.”

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B. Fill in the blanks

1. Negative imperative uses ______

2. said to becomes ______ or ______

3. We use ______ to + verb

4. We do not use ______

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C. Choose the correct answer

1. “Do not run” is a

   command

   negative command

   question

2. In narration, we use

   that

   not to

   if

3. “forbade” shows

   request

   strong order

   question

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Answers

A.

1. He told me not to run.

2. The teacher told the students not to make noise.

3. Mother told me not to waste time.

4. The officer forbade the soldiers to leave the post.

5. She told me not to touch that.

6. Father told me not to tell a lie.

B.

1. not

2. told, forbade

3. not

4. that

C.

1. negative command

2. not to

3. strong order

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Self Check

Can I identify negative imperative

Can I use not to + verb

Can I use forbade correctly

Can I avoid using “that”

Homework

Write five negative imperative sentences in direct speech.

Then change them into indirect speech.