Expressing Command

and Prohibition
By: Syafaruddin,S.Pd.,M.Ed
Pay attention to the following dialogues
Situation : To keep sanitation at home, Mrs. Sri always
keeps the floor clean. She has just finished
mopping the floor.
Mrs. Sari : Be careful darling.You should not walk, the
floor is wet.
Soni : Well, I’d better take my sandals off.
Mrs. Sari : All right. Mind your steps. Don’t walk
hurriedly.
Soni : Don’t worry, Mom.
Study the following command expression!
There are the sentences taken from the previous dialogue.
 You may not walk.
 Don’t walk hurriedly.
 Don’t worry.
 Mind your steps.
There are two ways of expressing command.
1. Positive Command
For positive command, we use infinitive (verb 1) + object
e.g. Mop the floor!
Wash your hands!
2. Negative Command (Prohibition)
For negative command, we use:
a. Do not (Don’t) + infinitive (+ object)
e.g. Don’t throw rubbish into the river.
Don’t enter without permission.
b. Subject + may + not + infinitive (+ object) (not allowed to)
e.g.You may not hold food with dirty hands.
You may not walk on the wet floor.
c. Subject + must + not + infinitive (+ object) (be forbidden to)
e.g.You must not eat contaminated food.
You must not take the drugs without prescription.
Work in pairs. Make your own expression of Command and
Prohibition using the pattern of:
 Infinitive + object
 Do not (Don’t) + infinitive + object
 Subject + may + not + infinitive + object
 Subject + must + not + infinitive + object