MODULE 01 · LESSON 8 OF 12
Instructions and polite requests
Your goal: Give instructions with the base form, and turn an instruction into a polite request.
Grammar words in this lesson
- imperative
- the form for instructions. It is the base form of the verb, normally with no subject: Open the door.
- base form
- the verb with no ending, as you find it in a dictionary: work, go, be
- request
- a polite way of asking someone to do something, usually a question: Could you open the door, please?
Give an instruction with the base form
This lesson covers instructions and the polite requests that often replace them. For an instruction, start with the base form of the verb. You normally do not add a subject: Keep the receipt. Turn left at the bank. This form is called the imperative. The subject is you, so you do not say it.
For a negative instruction, put do not or don’t first: Do not touch the screen. This is true for be too: Don’t be late.
Use let’s when you include yourself: Let’s check the total. The negative is let’s not: Let’s not wait.
Make a request polite
An instruction is fine on a sign or in a recipe. To a person, it can sound like an order. Add please: Please close the gate. Close the gate, please.
A question sounds even more polite. Use could you, can you or would you with the base form: Could you send me the receipt, please? Can you hold this for a moment? Could and would are a little more polite than can.
After would you mind, the verb takes the -ing form: Would you mind waiting a moment? To agree, say Not at all or Of course not: you do not mind.
A question ends with a question mark. Please + base form is still an instruction, not a question, so it ends with a period (British: full stop): Could you sign here? Please sign here.
Where instructions belong
Instructions are normal on signs, in recipes and in directions: Keep off the grass. Add two eggs and mix well. Nobody reads them as an order.
To a person, especially at work or with strangers, a request is better: Could you send me the figures today? Keep the instruction for a warning (Watch out!) or for a list of steps (First, open the app. Then tap Settings.). To ask for information, use a polite indirect question: see Module 01, lesson 11: Question tags and polite indirect questions.
Common mistakes
| Not this | Say this |
|---|---|
| Please opening the window. | Please open the window. |
| Don’t to touch the screen. | Don’t touch the screen. |
| Let’s don’t wait. | Let’s not wait. |
| Could you to send me the file? | Could you send me the file? |
| Would you mind to wait a moment? | Would you mind waiting a moment? |
Practice: answer first, then check
Say or write your answer before you open it. Your answers are not sent or saved. The marks you give yourself are kept in this browser only.
Choose the instruction: (Keeping / Keep) the receipt.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: Keep
Why: An instruction starts with the base form of the verb: keep, not keeping. It normally has no subject, because the listener knows it means you.
Did you get it?
Choose: Would you mind (close / closing) the window?
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: closing
Why: After would you mind, the verb takes the -ing form. To agree, say Not at all or Of course not: you are saying that you do not mind.
Did you get it?
Make negative: Leave the door unlocked.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: Do not leave the door unlocked.or Don’t leave the door unlocked.
Why: A negative instruction starts with do not or don’t, followed by the base form.
Did you get it?
Make negative: Let’s wait for Omar.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: Let’s not wait for Omar.
Why: Let’s includes the speaker, and its negative is let’s not + base form. Let’s don’t is not standard English.
Did you get it?
Rewrite as a polite request with could: Send me the file.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: Could you send me the file?or Could you send me the file, please?or Could you please send me the file?
Why: A question with could you sounds like a request, not an order. Please makes it more polite.
Did you get it?
Correct the mistake: Please take a seat?
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: Please take a seat.
Why: Please + base form is an instruction, not a question, so it ends with a period. Only a real question ends with a question mark: Could you take a seat?
Did you get it?
Make it yours
Write an instruction for a visitor, a polite request to a colleague and a negative instruction with don’t.
Write in a notebook or a document, or in this online editor (opens in a new tab).
Finish this lesson
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