imper.

Writing & Everyday abbreviation · Grammar and Dictionary

imper. stands for Imperative, a grammar and dictionary abbreviation.

Labels the imperative mood, the verb form used for commands, requests and instructions, such as "Sit down" or "Please call me." It appears in grammars, verb tables and language textbooks.

Example: imper. of "go": "Go home now!"; negative imper.: "Don't go yet."

Usage notes

The English imperative uses the base form of the verb and usually omits the subject "you." Recipes, manuals and road signs rely heavily on imperatives. Latin imperatives survive in famous phrases such as "carpe diem" ("seize the day"). Variants of the label include imp. and impv.

Related abbreviations

More grammar and dictionary abbreviations

• fig. – Figuratively
• Fr. – French
• GA – General American
• gen. – Genitive
• Ger. – German
• Gk. – Greek
• indef. – Indefinite
• inf. – Infinitive
• interj. – Interjection
• interrog. – Interrogative
• IPA – International Phonetic Alphabet
• It. – Italian

See all 93 grammar and dictionary abbreviations →

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