MODULE 01 · LESSON 9 OF 11
Instructions, requests and complete sentences
Your goal: Give instructions, make polite requests and write complete sentences.
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.
- joining word
- a word that connects two ideas, such as and, but, or, so or because. Also called a conjunction.
Give an instruction with the base form
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.
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 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, or ask a question with could or can: Please close the gate. Could you send me the receipt, please?
Write complete sentences
A complete sentence has a subject and a verb, and it can stand alone. An instruction is an exception: its subject, you, is understood. A sentence starts with a capital letter. It ends with a period (British: full stop), a question mark or an exclamation mark.
A part that starts with a joining word such as because, if or when (when I arrived) cannot stand alone in writing. It needs a main part: Because the workshop ended early, we caught the train. In conversation, a short answer such as Because I was tired is fine.
Do not join two sentences with only a comma
The elevator was broken, we took the stairs is two sentences with only a comma between them. There are three easy repairs:
- two sentences: The elevator was broken. We took the stairs.
- a comma and a joining word: The elevator was broken, so we took the stairs.
- a semicolon: The elevator was broken; we took the stairs.
To show a strong feeling, say What a useful example! or How useful! These short exclamations have no verb. They are fine in speech and in friendly writing.
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. |
| Because the train was late. (in writing) | We missed the start because the train was late. |
Practice: answer first, then check
Say or write your answer before you open it. Your answers are not sent or saved.
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.
Choose: (What / How) a helpful explanation!
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: What
Why: Before a + adjective + noun, use what. Use how before an adjective alone: How helpful!
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.
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.
True or false: “Because the train was late.” is a complete sentence in formal writing.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: False
Why: A part that starts with because cannot stand alone. It needs a main part, for example: We missed the start because the train was late.
Correct the mistake: The meeting finished, we left the room.
Show the answer and the reason
Answer: The meeting finished, and we left the room.or The meeting finished and we left the room.or The meeting finished, so we left the room.or The meeting finished. We left the room.or The meeting finished; we left the room.or When the meeting finished, we left the room.
Why: Two complete sentences cannot be joined with only a comma. Add a joining word such as and or so, use a period, or use a semicolon.
Make it yours
Write one instruction for a visitor, one polite request to a colleague, and one complete sentence with because.
More practice
Exercises on this topic:
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Further reading and editorial notes
These explanations, examples and questions were written for EnglishGrammar.org. The pages below explain the same grammar points and are useful for further reading. Their publishers are not sponsors or endorsers of EnglishGrammar.org.
- Cambridge English Grammar Today: clause types (opens in a new tab)
- Purdue OWL: independent and dependent clauses (opens in a new tab)
The stage labels are a suggested study order, not an official language level. Where British and American English differ, the lesson says so.