Sentence Structure – English Grammar Exercises for A1
Giving direct advice to a friend going out in heavy rain
Choose the best answer (A, B, or C) to complete each sentence.
1 It is raining heavily outside! ______ an umbrella with you.
(a) Take
(b) You take
(c) Taking
2 The wind is very strong. ______ a warm raincoat.
(a) To wear
(b) Wears
(c) Wear
3 Look at the deep water on the street. ______ on your rain boots.
(a) Putting
(b) Put
(c) Puts
4 It is completely dark outside. ______ careful!
(a) Are
(b) Be
(c) Is
5 Your backpack is not waterproof. ______ your phone in your pocket.
(a) You keep
(b) Keeps
(c) Keep
6 ______ your scarf. It is very cold today.
(a) Don’t forget
(b) Not forget
(c) Doesn’t forget
7 The rain is getting worse. ______ wait here for ten more minutes.
(a) You please
(b) Please to
(c) Please
8 The floor is very wet and slippery. ______ run!
(a) No
(b) Not
(c) Don’t
9 ______ me a text message when you arrive safely at the office.
(a) Send
(b) You send
(c) Sending
10 The traffic is terrible in the rain. ______ drive too fast.
(a) You don’t
(b) Doesn’t
(c) Don’t
11 You are coughing. ______ some hot tea before you go out.
(a) To drink
(b) Drink
(c) Drinks
12 ______ a taxi if the rain doesn’t stop in ten minutes.
(a) Catch
(b) Catches
(c) Catching
13 ______ stand under the big trees during a thunderstorm.
(a) Not to
(b) No
(c) Don’t
14 ______ sure your raincoat is buttoned up completely.
(a) Make
(b) Making
(c) Makes
15 It is freezing out there. ______ go out without your hat!
(a) Aren’t
(b) Don’t
(c) You not
16 ______ your umbrella at the bus stop when you get off.
(a) Don’t leave
(b) Leave not
(c) Don’t leaving
17 You have a long walk ahead. ______ an extra pair of socks in your bag.
(a) Packing
(b) To pack
(c) Pack
18 If the water is too deep on the road, ______ turn around.
(a) to please
(b) please
(c) please you
19 The storm is really dangerous right now. ______ late!
(a) Don’t be
(b) Not be
(c) Aren’t
20 Always ______ the weather app before you leave the house.
(a) checking
(b) check
(c) checks
ANSWER KEY & EXPLANATIONS
1 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. To give a direct command or advice, we start the sentence with the base verb. (b) is a common mistake (using “You” makes it a statement, not a command). (c) is a structural error.
2 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. Start directly with the base verb “Wear”. (a) is a structural error (using “To” before the verb). (b) is a structural error (adding “-s” to an imperative verb).
3 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. (a) is a common mistake (using an “-ing” form). (c) is a structural error.
4 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. For adjectives like “careful”, we use the base verb “Be”. (a) is a common mistake (using “Are” instead of the base form). (c) is a structural error.
5 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. (a) is a common mistake. (b) is a structural error.
6 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. To give negative advice, we start the sentence with “Don’t”. (b) is a common mistake (using only “Not”). (c) is a structural error (“Doesn’t” is never used for imperatives).
7 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. We use “Please” followed directly by the base verb to make a polite request/command. (a) is a common mistake. (b) is a structural error.
8 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. “Don’t” is the only correct auxiliary to form a negative imperative. (a) and (b) are structural errors.
9 a
Explanation: (a) is correct (Base verb). (b) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error.
10 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. “Don’t” followed by the base verb “drive”. (a) is a common mistake (adding “You”). (b) is a structural error.
11 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. (a) is a structural error. (c) is a structural error.
12 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. (c) is a common mistake. (b) is a structural error.
13 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. (a) and (b) are structural errors.
14 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. (b) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error.
15 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. (a) is a structural error (mixing “to be” with an action verb). (c) is a common mistake.
16 a
Explanation: (a) is correct (“Don’t” + base verb “leave”). (b) is a structural error (putting “not” after the verb). (c) is a structural error (“Don’t” + V-ing).
17 c
Explanation: (c) is correct. (a) is a common mistake. (b) is a structural error.
18 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. “Please” + base verb. (c) is a common mistake. (a) is a structural error.
19 a
Explanation: (a) is correct. The negative imperative of the “to be” verb is “Don’t be”. (b) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error.
20 b
Explanation: (b) is correct. Even with adverbs like “Always”, the imperative verb must be in its base form. (a) is a common mistake. (c) is a structural error.
GRAMMAR POINTS TO REMEMBER
1 The Imperative Form: When you want to give direct advice, instructions, or warnings, you drop the subject (You) completely. Do not say “You take an umbrella”, just say “Take an umbrella”.
2 Always Use the Base Verb: The first verb in an imperative sentence is always the base form.
- Do NOT add -s (Takes ❌)
- Do NOT add -ing (Taking ❌)
- Do NOT add to (To take ❌)
3 Negative Commands: To tell someone not to do something, simply put “Don’t” at the very beginning of the sentence.
- Example: Don’t drive too fast.
- Note: Never use Doesn’t, No, or Not to start a negative command. If you are using the verb “to be”, the negative is always “Don’t be” (e.g., Don’t be late).
4 Being Polite: To soften your command or advice, just put the word “Please” at the beginning (or end) of the sentence. (e.g., Please wait here.)