THE EXCLAMATIVE AND
IMPERATIVE CLAUSE TYPES
SUMMARY
1 Exclamative clauses open with a wh- element what or how, followed by a NG or adjective/adverb, respectively. Like the declarative, they have Subject-Finite ordering. Exclamative what is a determinative (What a mess!), while how functions as a degree adverb (How strange it was!), unlike pronominal what and manner adverb how in wh- interrogatives (What is it? How is she?). They are used to make exclamative statements.
2 The imperative consists of the base form of the verb alone, without modals, tense or aspect (Stop!). This can be preceded by the negative form don’t or emphatic do. There is no overt subject, but a 2nd person subject (stressed you) can be added, usually for purposes of contrast with another person (You sit down and I’ll stand). Somebody, everybody, nobody can also be used and, like you, refer to the addressee(s). These, and other forms, can also be used as vocatives. A polite clause tag is will you? Let’s is the imperative particle used for a 1st person imperative, typically suggesting a joint action. It is to be distinguished from the lexical verb let, from which it derived. The unmarked function of imperatives is to issue a directive.
3 Reduced clauses are extremely common in spoken English and fulfil an important interactive function. They include abbreviated clauses (basically S-F or F-S in structure) that function independently, question tags, verbless clauses of various degrees of ellipsis, echoes, and freestanding subordinate clauses (which it does).
4 The subjunctive is not a clause type but a verb form. It remains outside the system of clause types and has a very limited use in British English, rather more in American English.
