A1 · Lesson 16 · 20 min
Instructions and requests
In this lesson
- I can give simple positive instructions.
- I can give negative instructions and make polite requests with please.
Grammar in context
It is the first day of a cooking class. The teacher says, “Wash your hands, please. Put the bowls on the table. Don’t touch the hot oven.” At home, Leo’s dad says, “Please feed the cat before dinner.”
Which word tells people not to do something?
Positive instructions
Start an instruction with a verb: Open the door. Sit here. You do not usually need you because you are speaking to the person who will do it. Use the same form for one person or a group: Listen, please.
- Open your book on page ten.
- Take these plates to the kitchen.
Negative instructions
Use don’t + verb to tell someone not to do something: Don’t run. Don’t is short for do not. Put don’t before the action. The form is the same for one person or a group.
- Don’t run near the pool.
- Don’t leave your bag in the hall.
Please for polite requests
Add please to make an instruction more polite. It can go first or last: Please open the window. Open the window, please. Use a comma before please when it comes last.
- Please close the window.
- Wait here, please.
Common mistakes
Compare the incorrect and corrected forms.
Avoid
Don’t to open the door.
Use
Don’t open the door.
After don’t, use the base verb without to.
Avoid
Please sits down.
Use
Please sit down.
Instructions use the base verb, not sits.
Put it into practice
Try the exercises, write your own examples and check your understanding.