Negative Commands

• Use negative commands to forbid behavior: "Don't run in the corridor." "Do not enter." These are common for rules and safety.

• Use them to warn people about danger: "Don't touch the wires." "Don't swim after drinking alcohol."

• Use them to give practical instructions: "Don't forget your passport." "Don't mix the chemicals."

• They can be used to advise or comfort: "Don't worry." "Don't be afraid to ask for help." (Here the speaker asks the listener to avoid a feeling or reaction.)

• Structure: Don't (or Do not) + base verb. Use "don't" in speech and informal writing; "do not" is more formal or emphatic.
• Examples: "Don't touch that." "Do not enter the laboratory." "Don't leave your bag unattended."
• Note: The subject (you) is usually omitted in commands. The understood subject is "you": "(You) don't touch that." → "Don't touch that."

• You still use "don't" with verbs like be: "Don't be late." (Formal: "Do not be late.")
• Any main verb uses the base form after "don't": "Don't take my phone." "Don't eat the cake."

• For suggestions involving the speaker and others, use "Let's not":
• "Let's not argue about money." "Let's not go out tonight."

• If you want to order someone to stop a third person, use:
• "Don't let him drive home." (Tell the person addressed: prevent him.)
• Or use indirect speech: "Tell him not to come late." (You ask someone to tell the third person.)

• Manuals, signs, and rules often use "Do not" for formality: "Do not use while charging." In signs you often see short forms: "No smoking." or "No entry."

• Signs often use "No" + noun or gerund: "No parking." "No smoking." "No pets allowed." These are not full sentences but are understood commands.

• "Never" gives a very strong prohibition: "Never touch the explosives."
• "Don't ever" is similar in spoken language: "Don't ever lie to me." Note that double negatives ("Don't never") are non-standard and should be avoided.

• Use "Stop" plus the -ing form to tell someone to end an action already happening: "Stop talking." "Stop pushing the door." This is different from "Don't" which forbids starting the action.

• For polite or indirect negative requests use modal verbs and longer structures:
• "Would you please not smoke here?" (polite)
• "Could you not play your music so loud?" (polite request)
• "I would prefer you not to park there." (very polite/formal)
• These are not strict imperatives but they function as polite negative commands.

• Add "please" or use a modal: "Please don't be late." "Could you not leave the lights on?" These are friendlier.

• Use emphatic language or stronger words: "Don't you dare touch my phone!" "Never do that again!" Tone and intonation (louder, sharper stress) make these stronger.

• Compare: "Don't smoke here." (prohibition) vs "You shouldn't smoke here." (advice — less forceful). Choose based on how strong you want the instruction to be.

• Wrong: "Don't to go." Correct: "Don't go."
• Wrong: "Don't goes." Correct: "Don't go."

• Wrong: "Don't he go." Correct: "Don't let him go." or "Tell him not to go."

• Incorrectly crowded: "Don’t you go" can be a command for emphasis but may be confused with a question in spoken English. Be clear with tone or use another structure if needed: "Please don't go." or "Don't go!"

• Avoid: "Don't do nothing." (non-standard) Use: "Don't do anything." or "Do nothing." depending on meaning.

Suggestions (first-person plural)

• "Let's not drive tonight."
• "Let's not bring that topic up at the meeting."

Third-person prohibition (ask someone to prevent another)

• "Don't let the dog out."
• "Please don't tell Sarah—tell her not to call yet."

Polite/indirect negative requests

• "Would you mind not smoking here?"
• "Could you not play the music so loudly?"

Strong / emphatic

• "Don't you dare touch that!"
• "Never do that again!"

Reporting negative commands

• Direct: "Don't be late," she said. → Reported: She told me not to be late.
• Direct: "Don't tell anyone," he said. → Reported: He warned them not to tell anyone.