Implied subjects commands Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Lesson 42: Implied Subjects: Commands

Question 1. Open that book right now!
Answer: This is a command sentence. The subject is not stated directly, but it is understood to be "you" — the person being spoken to.
In simple words: When someone gives you a command, they are talking to you, even though the word "you" is not said out loud.

Exam Tip: In command sentences, always recognize that the implied subject is "you," even when it is not written or spoken.

Question 2. Don't even think about crossing the street here!
Answer: This is a negative command. Like all commands, the subject is the understood "you." The speaker is telling you not to cross the street.
In simple words: Negative commands tell you what not to do. The person giving the order is still speaking to you, even if the word "you" is not stated.

Exam Tip: Negative commands (starting with "Don't," "Never," etc.) also have an implied subject of "you."

Question 3. Please be careful.
Answer: This is a polite command, or imperative sentence. Even though it includes "please," the structure remains the same — the implied subject is "you."
In simple words: Adding "please" makes a command more polite, but it is still a command with "you" as the understood subject.

Exam Tip: Polite commands with "please" are still imperative sentences with an implied subject of "you."

Quick Tip 42.1

The subject of commands is an understood or implied you.

Test Yourself 42.1 - Getting Started

Question 1. These illnesses are treatable.
Answer: Subject: these illnesses
In simple words: This sentence states a fact about illnesses, so it has a stated subject — "these illnesses" — not an implied "you."

Exam Tip: Look for whether the sentence tells you to do something (command) or just gives information (statement). Only commands have an implied "you."

Question 2. The judge had made a terrible mistake.
Answer: Subject: the judge
In simple words: This sentence reports what the judge did in the past. The stated subject is "the judge," not an implied "you."

Exam Tip: Statements about what someone else did have a stated subject; they are not commands.

Question 3. Be supportive.
Answer: Subject: you (implied)
In simple words: This sentence tells you to be supportive. It is a command, so the subject is the understood "you."

Exam Tip: Command words like "Be," "Go," "Help," "Watch" at the start of a sentence signal an implied "you" subject.

Question 4. Joan's father is an architect.
Answer: Subject: Joan's father
In simple words: This sentence describes who Joan's father is. It has a stated subject — "Joan's father" — so there is no implied "you."

Exam Tip: Descriptive statements have stated subjects and are not commands.

Question 5. Stand up for your rights.
Answer: Subject: you (implied)
In simple words: This sentence orders you to stand up for your rights. It is a command, so the subject is the understood "you."

Exam Tip: Commands often contain action verbs and may address rights or values. The implied subject is always "you."

Test Yourself 42.1 - More Practice

Question 6. Give me a break.
Answer: Subject: you (implied)
In simple words: This is a command asking you to give a break. The subject is the understood "you."

Exam Tip: Commands that start with action verbs have an implied "you" subject.

Question 7. I can't give it to you.
Answer: Subject: I
In simple words: This sentence states what the speaker cannot do. The subject is clearly stated as "I," so it is not a command and has no implied "you."

Exam Tip: Sentences with stated first-person subjects ("I," "we") are statements, not commands.

Question 8. Don't raise your voice to me.
Answer: Subject: you (implied)
In simple words: This negative command tells you not to raise your voice. The subject is the understood "you."

Exam Tip: Negative commands starting with "Don't" still have an implied "you" subject.

Question 9. Help me out with this.
Answer: Subject: you (implied)
In simple words: This is a command asking you to help. The subject is the understood "you."

Exam Tip: Action verbs at the start of sentences signal commands with an implied "you" subject.

Question 10. She will be planting roses in that garden.
Answer: Subject: she
In simple words: This sentence describes what she will do in the future. The subject is stated as "she," so it is not a command and has no implied "you."

Exam Tip: Statements about what someone else will do have stated subjects and are not commands.

To Enhance Your Understanding

There are several ways to show that "you" is the implied subject of command sentences. One key argument relies on how pronouns work in English. Look at these sentences:

• I held my breath.
• You held your breath.
• He held his breath.
• She held her breath.

These sentences are correct because the subject pronoun and the possessive pronoun match — they both refer to the same person. However, these sentences are not correct:

• *I held your breath.
• *I held his breath.
• *I held their breath.
• *You held my breath.
• *You held his breath.
• *You held their breath.

These are wrong because a person cannot hold someone else's breath — the two pronouns do not match up and refer to the same person. Now look at commands with the same expression:

• Hold your breath!
• *Hold my breath!
• *Hold his breath!
• *Hold their breath!

The only possessive pronoun that works in a command is "your." Since we know that "your" must match the subject, it follows that the subject of the command must be "you" — even though the word "you" is not actually stated. We treat a command as though the subject were "you."

Test Yourself 42.2 - Getting Started

Question 1. You can see marks in the dirt.
Answer: Subject: you | Direct object: marks | Indirect object: (none)
In simple words: "You" is the subject doing the action of seeing. "Marks" is what you see (the direct object). There is no indirect object here.

Exam Tip: Direct objects are what the action is done to. Indirect objects receive what is given or shown.

Question 2. That film sounds interesting.
Answer: Subject: that film | Direct object: (none) | Indirect object: (none)
In simple words: "That film" is the subject. The verb "sounds" is a linking verb, not an action verb, so there is no direct or indirect object.

Exam Tip: Linking verbs like "sounds," "is," "appears" do not take direct or indirect objects.

Question 3. The congregants built the temple.
Answer: Subject: the congregants | Direct object: the temple | Indirect object: (none)
In simple words: "The congregants" are doing the action. "The temple" is what they built (the direct object). There is no indirect object.

Exam Tip: The direct object answers "What is being acted upon?" — in this case, the temple.

Question 4. Give it to me!
Answer: Subject: you (implied) | Direct object: it | Indirect object: me
In simple words: This is a command, so "you" is the implied subject. "It" is what should be given (direct object). "Me" is who should receive it (indirect object).

Exam Tip: In commands with "give," "send," or "show," the indirect object usually comes after the preposition "to" or is placed before the direct object.

Question 5. We need this computer.
Answer: Subject: we | Direct object: this computer | Indirect object: (none)
In simple words: "We" are doing the action of needing. "This computer" is what we need (the direct object). There is no indirect object.

Exam Tip: Not all verbs take both direct and indirect objects — "need" takes only a direct object.

Test Yourself 42.2 - More Practice

Question 6. Don't worry about it!
Answer: Subject: you (implied) | Direct object: (none) | Indirect object: (none)
In simple words: This is a negative command, so "you" is the implied subject. "Worry" is the main verb, but it does not take a direct or indirect object here — the phrase "about it" is a prepositional phrase, not an object.

Exam Tip: Not every verb takes objects. Prepositional phrases are different from direct and indirect objects.

Question 7. They have been rearranging the display.
Answer: Subject: they | Direct object: the display | Indirect object: (none)
In simple words: "They" are doing the action of rearranging. "The display" is what they rearrange (the direct object). There is no indirect object.

Exam Tip: The main verb and its tense can be complex, but the subject and object relationships stay the same.

Question 8. They sent Bill the bill.
Answer: Subject: they | Direct object: the bill | Indirect object: Bill
In simple words: "They" are doing the action of sending. "The bill" is what is sent (the direct object). "Bill" is the person who gets the bill (the indirect object).

Exam Tip: When the indirect object appears before the direct object without a preposition, it usually means "to" or "for" that person.

Question 9. Watch me!
Answer: Subject: you (implied) | Direct object: me | Indirect object: (none)
In simple words: This is a command, so "you" is the implied subject. "Me" is what you should watch (the direct object). There is no indirect object.

Exam Tip: Command verbs like "watch," "listen," "look" take direct objects that tell what is being observed or heard.

Question 10. Mary fell to the floor.
Answer: Subject: Mary | Direct object: (none) | Indirect object: (none)
In simple words: "Mary" is the subject. "Fell" is an intransitive verb — it does not take a direct or indirect object. The phrase "to the floor" is a prepositional phrase telling where she fell.

Exam Tip: Intransitive verbs like "fell," "run," "smile" do not take objects — they express complete actions on their own.