What Doest It Mean?

Question

What does an English mean when she tells you to "work on finding imperatives"?

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

MelonieGwork on finding imperatives

Try to find good, strong reasons to force yourself (or someone) to do something.

Clive · Answer

What does an English person mean when she tells you to "work on finding imperatives"?
What was the context? What were you taking about? What were you doing?

Clive

MelonieG · Answer

Thank you Mr. Micawber for your reply.

This was my question to my teacher: Would improvement of reading skills be a concept ? (for a reading exercise)

This was her answer: You need to get more specific here as to grammar or vocabulary. So, for example, in a song like "YMCA" you could work on finding imperatives.

Did she mean that I should find good reasons for this exercise?

I'd appreciate your input on this.

MelonieG · Answer

Hi Clive,

I forgot to type "teacher"

I was working on an exercise and got confused by the instruction for it.

“Be sure that your exercises use the song to teach a specific English concept.”

So my question to my teacher was: Would improvement of reading skills be a concept? (for a reading exercise)

And her answer was: You need to get more specific here as to grammar or vocabulary. So, for example, in a song like "YMCA" you could work on finding imperatives.

Mister Micawber · Answer

MelonieG So, for example, in a song like "YMCA" you could work on finding imperatives. Did she mean that I should find good reasons for this exercise?

No, not at all. 'Imperative' here is a grammar term for the English 'command' mood. I have bolded the imperative verbs in the song, although there are very few, actually:

Young man, there's no need to feel down.
I said, young man, pick yourself off the ground.
I said, young man, 'cause you're in a new town
There's no need to be unhappy.
Young man, there's a place you can go.
I said, young man, when you're short on your dough.
You can stay there, and I'm sure you will find
Many ways to have a good time.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
You can get yourself cleaned, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel ...
Young man, are you listening to me?
I said, young man, what do you want to be?
I said, young man, you can make real your dreams.
But you got to know this one thing!
No man does it all by himself.
I said, young man, put your pride on the shelf,
And just go there, to the y.m.c.a.
I'm sure they can help you today.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
You can get yourself cleaned, you can have a good meal,
You can do whatever you feel ...
Young man, I was once in your shoes.
I said, I was down and out with the blues.
I felt no man cared if I were alive.
I felt the whole world was so tight ...
That's when someone came up to me,
And said, young man, take a walk up the street.
There's a place there called the y.m.c.a.
They can start you back on your way.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
It's fun to stay at the y-m-c-a.
They have everything for you men to enjoy,
You can hang out with all the boys ...
Y-m-c-a ... you'll find it at the y-m-c-a.
Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down.
Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.
Y-m-c-a ... you'll find it at the y-m-c-a.
Young man, young man, there's no need to feel down.
Young man, young man, get yourself off the ground.
Y-m-c-a ... just go to the y-m-c-a.
Young man, young man, are you listening to me?
Young man, young man, what do you wanna be?

source: http://www.lyricsondemand.com/onehitwonders/ymcalyrics.html

MelonieG · Answer

You're so wonderful!  Thank you for taking the time to explain this to me.  Now, I can feel confident to tackle this exercise.  Thank you again for all your help!

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