A

1. Commands

Impolite (using Polite (please + imperative or

imperative) imperative +please)
Come here! Please come here! / Come here, please!
Hurry up! Please hurry up! / Hurry up, please!
Bring me your pen! Please bring me your pen! / Bring me your pen, please!
Take it John! Please take it John! / Take it John, please!
Stand up! Please stand up! / Stand up, please!
Go back to your seat! Please go back to your seat! / Go back to your seat, please!
Turn the TV/lamp! Please turn the TV! / Turn the TV please!
Turn off the TV/lamp! Please turn off the TV! / Turn off the TV, please!
Quicken the speed! Please quicken the speed! / Quicken the speed, please!
Slacken the speed! Please slacken the speed! / Slacken the speed, please!
Get on! Please get on! / Get on, please!
Get off me here! Please get off me here! / Get off me here, please!
Wake me up at 5! Please wake me up at 5! / Wake me up at 5, please!
Move a side! Please move a side! / Move a side, please!
Eat it up! Please eat it up! / Eat it up, please!
Keep it clean! Please keep it clean! / Keep it clean, please!
Keep it secret! Please keep it secret! / Keep it secret, please!
Keep your promise! Please keep your promise! / Keep your promise, please!
Shake hands with Betty! Please shake hands with Betty! / Shake hands with Betty, please!
Be silent! Please be silent! / Be silent, please!
Be careful! Please be careful! / Be careful, please!
Be patient! Please be patient! / Be patient, please!
Be polite! Please be polite! / Be polite, please!
Be diligent! Please be diligent! / Be diligent, please!

Typical responses Positive Negative

Yes, sir. Yes, thank you. No, thank you.
Sure. No, thats ok.
Certainly.
All right.
Of course.
Yes, Id be glad/be happy.

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 Notes:
PLEASE bisa diletakkan di depan atau di belakang
ekspresi. Kata PLEASE tidak mengubah arti ekspresi.
PLEASE bisa digunakan, bisa juga dihilangkan.
Perbedaannya adalah: imperative.
PLEASE mempunyai tingkat kesopanan yang lebih
halus.

Exercises:
Ask two students in front of class and they have to practice, giving 5 commands to
each other.

2. Prohibitions
DONT + IMPERATIVE
Dont bother!
Dont disturb!
Dont make trouble!
Dont make gossip!
Dont make a noise!
Dont break your promise!
Dont go home, its still raining!
Dont play in the room!
Dont smoke!
Dont be proud!
Dont be jealous of me!
Dont be angry!
Dont be afraid of him!
Dont be ashamed of him!
Dont be bored!
Dont be disappointed!
Dont be lazy to study!
Dont be absent to study!
Dont be absent!
Dont be careless!
Dont be sad!
Dont be confused!
Dont be naughty!
Dont be miserly!
Dont be long!
Dont be foolish!
Dont be noisy!

Typical responses Yes, sir.

Yes, all right.

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3. Requests
Polite requests with I as subject.
May I May I (please) borrow your pen? Typical responses.

Could I Could I borrow your pen (please)? Certainly.

Can I Can I borrow your pen? Yes, certainly.

Of course.
Sure (informal).
Notes:
May I and Could I is used to request permission.
Could has a present or future meaning.
Can I usually is not as polite as May I or Could.

Polite requests with You as subject.

Would you Would you pass the salt (please)? Typical responses.
Will you Will you pass the salt (please)? Yes, Id be happy too/ be glad too..
Could you Could you pass the salt (please)? Certainly.
Can you Can you pass the salt?
Yes, certainly.
Of course.
Sure (informal).
Would you and will you are the same polite. The degree of politeness is often
determined by speakers tone of voice.
Would you = do you want to do this please?
Could you = do you want to do this and is it possible for you to do?
Can you is often used informally.

Exercise Oral (book closed). Ask and answer polite questions.

1. You want to ask your teacher a question.
2. You are at your friends apartment, you want to use the phone.
3. You are speaking on the phone to y our brother; you want him to pick up you
at the bus station when you arrive.
4. You want to leave class early. You are speaking to your instructor.
5. You are at the gas station. You want the attendant to check the oil.
6. You call your friend. Her name is (). Someone else answers the phone.
Polite requests with Would you mind as subject

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 Asking permission Would you mind if I + past doesnt
Would you mind if I closed the window? refer to past time. It refers to
Would you mind if I used the phone? present or future time.
Typical responses
o No, not at all.
o No, of course.
o N o, that would be fine.
Asking for someone else to do something Would you mind + Gerund.
Would you mind closing the window? The meaning I dont want to cause you
Would you mind repeating that? any trouble.
Typical responses
o No, Id be happy too.
o No, at all. Id be glad too.
Exercise.
Fill the blank either if I + past or with the ing form of the verb
1. I am getting tired. Id like to go home and go to bed.

Would you mind (leave) early?

2. I am sorry. I didnt understand what you said.

Would you mind (repeat) that?

3. A : Are you going to the post office?

B : Yes.

A : Would you mind (mail) this letter?

B : Not at all.

4. A : I dont like this TV program. Would you mind (change) the channel?

5. A : Would you mind (smoke)?

B : Id really rather you didnt.

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