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Imperative means a sentence that is ordering, or giving instructions. It doesn't really change the grammar, more the meaning. (The difference between 'Children eat eggs.' and telling said children, 'Children, eat your eggs!')
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And is this why "esst" is used instead of "essen"? I thought I remember a German teacher saying that "Ruh" can be used to quite someone.
If you would tell your friend that children in general eat eggs, then it would be 3rd person plural. In this case you are telling kids to eat their eggs, which means it is 2nd person plural.
Children eat eggs. = Kinder essen Eier.
(You) Children, eat (your) eggs! = Kinder, esst Eier!
Does that help?
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Ah, you have never tried to get your children to eat something for which they are not in the mood : "No, I will not give you cakes for breakfast! Children, eat those eggs or I will feed you nothing but eggs until you are 21 years old. No discussion, eat them now!"
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It's more of a helpful tip... like "Children, eat vegetables!" or "Children, drink milk!" While "children, eat YOUR eggs" might make more sense in English, this does often imply that eggs are currently in front of the children being spoken to which may or may not be what this means.
If you would tell your friend that children in general eat eggs, then it would be 3rd person plural. In this case you are telling kids to eat their eggs, which means it is 2nd person plural.
Children eat eggs. = Kinder essen Eier.
(You) Children, eat (your) eggs! = Kinder, esst Eier!
Does that help?
