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Two competing approaches to the syntax–semantics of imperatives have been proposed. The minimal view treats imperatives as properties at the level of semantics and assumes a relatively bare syntactic structure. In contrast, the modal approach analyzes imperatives as propositions that syntactically contain a (possibly covert) performative modal. This paper argues in favor of the modal approach on the basis of evidence from two Chinese languages. Specifically, I show that a performative modal particle can be overtly realized in imperative clauses in Chinese, a pattern that directly supports the presence of modal structure in imperative syntax.

The paper further investigates Imperative-and-Declarative (IaD) constructions, which have often been employed to counter the modal analysis. Confirming earlier generalizations, I demonstrate that Chinese clearly distinguishes two types of IaD sentences. Only one type admits the overt realization of a performative modal particle, while the other excludes it. This contrast provides a diagnostic for distinguishing genuine imperative antecedents from imperative-like reduced clauses.