When you want someone to do something for you, you use requests or instructions. If you do it wrongly, people will not know what yoiu want them to do, or they may get angry because they do not think you are being polite. Also, when someone is talking to you, you must know when they are making a request, and when they are giving an instruction.

In this part, we are going to look at

• The difference between requests and instructions
• The grammar of requests and instructions
• The different levels of register for requests and instructions
• What to say when you get a request or instruction.

The difference between requests and instructions.

The difference between a request and an instruction is a choice. If a person can choose to do the thing he has been asked to do, then this is a request. If he has no choice, then it is an instruction. This is important to remember, because in English many people give instructions as if they are requests. Also sometimes you will hear requests that sound like instructions.

You see written instructions very often.

For example:

"Click here." (On web pages) "Push / pull" (on doors).
You can get books full of instructions. These are called manuals. You may have one for your computer.

You will hear instructions less often. You might get them at work

For example:

"Bring me the Jones report, Bob."

Or from officials:

For example:

"Step out of your car, sir."

But very often when people give instructions they say them as requests.

For example:

"Can I see you in my office, Bob?"
"Please would you open your suitcase, Madam."

And requests often sound like instructions.

For example:

"Come to the party tonight. It will be fun."
"Kiss me, quick!"

The grammar of requests and instructions.

Requests and instructions that sound like instructions are easy. They are what grammarians call imperatives. The imperative does not have a past or future tense. It is always a present simple.

If the person being given the imperative needs to be told who he is, the name is said first or last.

For example:

"Bob, come here!"
"Come here, Bob!"

Requests are more difficult. Generally we use a modal e.g.- "Can " or "may"

For example:

"Can you pass me the salt?"
"May I have the salt?"

Polite requests use a type of English called the subjunctive. We won't learn the subjunctive now - all you need to remember for this lesson is that more polite requests use modals as if they were past tense.

For example:

"Could you pass me the salt?"
"Might I have the salt?"

The word "please" is often used with requests or instructions to make them more polite. "Please" comes at the beginning or end, as with names, but it does not usually come before the name at the beginning or after the name at the end.

For example:

"Samantha, please come here."
"Samantha, come here please."
"Come here please, Samantha."
"Please come here Samantha.
are all different ways of saying the same thing. If it is a boss speaking to his secretary, this would be an instruction. If it is a boy talking to his girlfriend, it is a request.

Register

English people make requests very politely from people they do not know.

For example:

"Excuse me, could I come through, please?"
They make ordinary requests with people at their level who they don't know well.
"Can I get past, please?"
They often use imperatives with friends and family.
"Get out of the way."

People in official positions often make requests when they are commands. Often they use "would" as a modal.

For example:

"Would you leave now, please Sir?"
"Would you like to explain why you were driving too fast?"

Notice that the register is the same as for offers but the meaning is completely different -
"Would you like some more tea?"
"Would you like to come to the party?"
Offers are different from requests because someone is someone is suggesting something to you, instead of you asking something from them.

Instructions from friends and family are often friendly.

For example:

"Come on, you go first."
"Have fun!"
"Enjoy your food!"

Answering requests and Instructions.

The right response to an imperative might be "Yes" followed by a title -

For example:

"Yes, Mrs Jones" or "Yes, Sir!" (Or for husbands) "Yes, dear."
It is not usual to refuse a request or instruction. Instead, if you want to say "no" you should ask the reason.
For example: If someone says "Get out of your car, please sir." You can answer:
"Must I?"
"Why?"
"Is this really necessary?"

If you must say no to a request, apologise at the same time.

For example:

"No, sorry, I can't."
"I'm afraid that's impossible."

With friends and family, responses can often be much less polite.
To say "yes", you can use

For example:

"Sure", "Ok" "If you like".

It is the same when you say "no".

For example:

"No", or "Do it yourself", or even insulting "get lost!"

Okay. Do you understand that? (Question). Would you like to try some exercises? (Offer). Please could you press the blue triangle to go on (Request). Click on "home" to leave. (Instruction).