Imperative Sentences and Polite Requests in English

We make a request, or give an instruction or an order when we are asking for something to be given or done, especially as a favor or courtesy. We make and receive requests, orders, or instructions in our daily life, whether we are at home, at school, at work, or even at public places.

Therefore, it is essential to understand how to make requests, commands, or instructions, and how to respond to them appropriately. The ability in using polite forms in making requests and responding appropriately plays a very important role in presenting ourself in daily interactions. When we are polite, we appear gracious, agreeable, acceptable, and pleasant.

Structure & Examples of Imperatives

The imperatives or imperative sentences are used for giving orders and instructions, making suggestions, and encouraging people to do things. We can make imperative sentences by using exactly the same form as the infinitive without to, e.g. open, close, clean, do, write, read, etc.. Look at the underlined verbs in the example sentences below:

• Fill out this form.
• Open the windows.
• Sleep well.

Remember the following important points when making an imperative sentence.

1. A subject can be used for making it clear who is being spoken to, with no change in verbs (infinitives), e.g.:
   • Jim come here.
   • Somebody open the door!
   • You get out! ("You" before an imperative usually suggests anger)
2. To make it more polite and emphatic, "Do" can be used before the infinitive, e.g.
   • Do sit down.
   • Do forgive me.
   • Do be quiet.
3. Negative imperatives, as in prohibitions or warnings, are constructed with "do not" or "don’t", e.g.
   
   • Don’t be noisy.
   • Don’t blame me.
   • Do not lean out of the window.
4. "Always" and "never" can be used before imperatives, e.g.
   • Always remember to smile.
   • Never be late to class.
   • Always make sure the PC is off before leaving.
5. Passive imperatives can be constructed with "get" and "be", e.g.
   • Get vaccinated as soon as you can.
   • Get dressed quickly.
   • Please be advised that your tax has been overdue.
6. "Please" makes the imperatives sound more polite, e.g.
   • Please don't tell her about it.
   • Please turn the music down.
   • Please make sure the PC is off before leaving.

Structure & Examples of Polite Requests

Polite requests can be constructed using modals, e.g. can, could, will, would, and sound more polite and softer than commands. To make requests sound even more polite, "please" can be used at the end of the sentence. Look at the following structure:

Could you + Infinitive (Verb 1) (please)?
Would you + Infinitive (Verb 1) (please)?
Can you + Infinitive (Verb 1) (please)?
Will you + Infinitive (Verb 1) (please)?
Would you mind + Present Participle (Verb-ing)?

Look at the following examples:

Can you turn down the TV?

Could you leave the door open, please?

Will you send the email as soon as possible, please?

Would you keep the bedroom clean?

Would you mind washing the car after using it?

Would you mind not closing the door?

Remember these when you make a request:

1. "Can / Could / Will / Would you" is always followed by the infinitive (Verb 1), e.g.:
   • Can you come here, please?
   • Could you stay where you are?
   • Will you tell him to come?
2. "Could / Would you ...?" and "Would you mind ...?" makes the request sound more polite and formal than "Can / Will you ...?", e.g.:
   • Would you open the door, please?
   • Would you write your name here, please?
   • Could you sign here, please?
3. "Would you mind" is always followed by a gerund / noun (Verb-ing), e.g.
   • Would you mind turning the music down?
   • Would you mind taking care of my pet?
   • Would you mind telling her about it?
4. "Please" makes our requests sound more polite, e.g.
   • Would you close the door, please?
   • Could you write your name here, please?
   • Will you not lean out of the window, please?

Important Notes:

"Would you mind ..." is different from "Would you like ...?".

"Would you mind ...?" is used to make a polite request or ask permission.
Example: "Would you mind closing the door?" ~ "No, not at all!" (= I'll do it.)

Whereas "Would you like ...?" is used when we are making an offer or invitation.
Example: "Would you like some tea?" ~ "Yes, please!" / "No, thank you."

Accepting a Request

Generally, we can agree to a polite request by giving positive invitations such as "Yes, certainly" or "Sure, no problem." However, there is a difference in meaning between requests using "Can/Could/Will/Would you ...?" and those using "Would you mind ...?". Therefore, the responses will be discussed separately.

1. Accepting a request with "Will / Would / Can / Could you ...?"
   We can accept "Will / Would / Can / Could you ...?" requests by using positive invitations such as:
   • OK. I’ll do that
   • All right.
   • Oh, sure. I’d be glad to.
   • Sure ! No problem.
2. Accepting a request with "Would you mind ...?"
   Accepting to "Would you mind ...?" requests with positive invitations may cause confusion as people may assume that you would mind and do not want to do it, unless we can clearly give our assent to the request by using positive body language, such as smiling agreeably. However, we can avoid confusion by using the following expressions:
   • No, not at all.
   • No, I don't mind at all.
   • No problem, go ahead.
   • No, please be my guest.

Declining or Refusing a Request

1. Declining a request with "Will / Would / Can / Could you ...?"
   We can decline "Will / Would / Can / Could you ...?" requests politely by saying sorry and an excuse, or maybe an alternative. Here are some examples:
   • I’m sorry, I’m still busy.
   • Oh, sorry. I can’t do it right now. Maybe later.
   • Sorry, I wish I could. I have to ...(do something else)....
   • I'm sorry, I still don't have time.
2. Declining a request with "Would you mind ...?"
   Declining "Would you mind ...?" requests should be done politely in order to avoid offence. It is better to provide a clear reason why the request cannot be fulfilled, and whenever possible, use positive body language, such as smiling agreeably. Here are some useful expressions:
   • Yes, certainly. ...(give an excuse / reason)....
   • Well, I have to ...(do something else)....
   • I'm sorry, ...(give an excuse / reason)....

Exercise: Imperative Sentences and Polite Requests

A. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer to each of the given questions.

1. You are in a restaurant. How do you politely ask for a menu?
   1. Give me the menu.
   2. Can I have the menu, please?
   3. Take the menu for me.
   4. The menu, now!
2. You need help carrying a heavy bag. What would you say?
   1. Help me now!
   2. Carry this bag!
   3. This bag is heavy!
   4. Could you help me carry this bag?
3. Your friend is speaking too fast. What is the best way to ask them to slow down?
   1. Can you slow down, please?
   2. Stop talking fast!
   3. Slow down now!
   4. Speak slower!
4. You are in class, and you want to borrow a pen from your classmate. What would you say?
   1. Lend me a pen!
   2. I need a pen.
   3. Can you lend me a pen, please?
   4. Give me your pen now!
5. You are at a shop and want to see a pair of shoes. What would you say to the shop assistant?
   1. Show me the shoes!
   2. These shoes! Now!
   3. I want these shoes!
   4. Can you show me these shoes, please?
6. You are on a train and want to ask permission to sit next to a lady. You say:
   1. Would you mind if I sat here?
   2. Would you mind sitting here?
   3. I want to sit here.
   4. Can you let me sit here?
7. You are watching a movie with your friend. Suddenly, a violent scene appears, and you want your friend to change the channel. You say:
   1. May I change the channel, please? I don’t really like violent scenes.
   2. Would you mind switching to another channel? I’d rather not watch this.
   3. Should I change the channel? This movie is not for us.
   4. Do you like the movie? I'd rather watch something else.
8. Your friend asks, "Would you mind helping me with my homework?"
   To accept the request politely, you can say:
   1. Of course I would!
   2. Sure! Let's go through it ourselves.
   3. Not at all! I'd be happy to help.
   4. Certainly! You are supposed to do it yourself.
9. The following sentences are imperatives, EXCEPT ....
   1. May I borrow your book?
   2. Can you pass me the salt, please?
   3. Don't touch the stove!
   4. Get out of the car!
10. You are a receptionist. How do you politely ask a guest to show their ID?
    1. Show me your ID card!
    2. May I have your ID card, please?
    3. ID card, please!
    4. Would you mind if I keep your ID card?

B. Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct verb inside the box.

be close pass open wash do make

1. your hands before eating.
2. Don't noise during the test.
3. This food tastes sour. Could you me the salt, please?
4. careful when crossing the street.
5. Can you me a favor, please?
6. Please the door before you leave.
7. Would you the window? We need some fresh air here.

Change the following imperatives into polite requests using "Would you mind ...?". Number 1 has been done as an example.

1. Wait a moment.
   Would you mind waiting a moment, please?
2. Carry this box, please.
   this box, please?
3. Take off your hat.
   your hat, please?
4. Help me, please.
   me, please?
5. Turn off the music.
   the music, please?
6. Speak more slowly, please.
   more slowly, please?

Updated: Jan 29, 2025
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