you understood

English

Noun

you understood (uncountable)

  1. (grammar) The unstated subject of a command sentence, where it is assumed the subject is the person to whom the command is directed.
    • 2011 March 16, Geraldine Woods, English Grammar For Dummies, John Wiley & Sons, →ISBN:
      [The subject of the] sentence is you-understood. The word you usually does not appear before the imperative verb. The reader or listener simply understands that you is implied. Here are a few examples to get you thinking: Eat a balanced diet. […]

Usage notes

  • Sometimes hyphenated: you-understood.
  • In linguistics or language-teaching materials, the unstated subject itself is usually shown as (you), as in "(you) don't walk on the grass".

References

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