What is the Understood You?
The understood you occurs in imperative sentences where a command is being given such that the subject of the sentence is implied (or understood) to be the pronoun “you.”
Examples of the Understood You
Some examples of the understood you would be the following:
Meet me at the mall at 6:00 pm. [subject = (You)]
Please pass the salt. [subject = (You)]
Linda, pick your sister up from school this afternoon. [subject = (You)]
– Even if the sentence begins or ends with a person being addressed, the subject of the sentence is still (You).
The Understood You in Context
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When You Should Use the Understood You in Your Writing
There are a variety of reasons why you might use the understood you in your writing, and most of the time it is when you are speaking directly to someone.
Commands or Instructions
Close your test booklets.
(You) Close your test booklets.
Invitations or Suggestions
Join us for lunch.
(You) Join us for lunch.
Requests
Pass the sugar, please.
(You) Pass the sugar, please.
Directions or Instructions
Turn right at the next light.
(You) Turn right at the next light.
Warnings or Advice
Be careful with the hot soup.
(You) Be careful with the hot soup.
Encouragement
Keep it up!
(You) Keep it up!
Be sure to use the understood you to make your writing direct and clear, and remember that it functions as the subject in the sentence.
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