A1 · 入门 章节 10

Getting Started: Commands and Requests

5 总规则
60 例句
5 分钟
本章规则 快速练习

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of giving clear instructions and making polite requests in everyday situations.

  • Give direct commands to friends and colleagues.
  • Form negative instructions to avoid mistakes.
  • Ask for items or permission using polite structures.
Take charge and speak up with confidence!

你将学到什么

Ready to start talking? This chapter helps you give simple instructions like Sit down or "Don't touch!

and even ask for things politely using
Can I...?" You'll soon be directing friends and making requests with confidence!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Use imperative verbs to give directions to a classmate.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: Ask for help or permission in a café or office setting.

章节指南

Overview

Are you ready to truly start communicating in English? This chapter is your perfect entry point into English getting started: commands and requests, empowering you to give basic instructions and ask for things politely. For A1 English grammar learners, mastering these fundamental structures means you can start engaging in daily interactions right away.
Imagine telling someone to Wait! or asking Can I help? – these simple phrases open up a world of practical communication.
We'll dive into how to use positive commands like Sit down and negative commands such as "Don't worry," giving you the confidence to direct people or offer warnings. You’ll also learn the magic of adding 'please' to make your instructions wonderfully polite. Plus, we'll introduce the versatile word 'can' for talking about your abilities and making friendly requests.
By the end of this guide, you won't just understand these rules; you'll be able to use them to ask for directions, make simple suggestions, and even offer help. This foundational knowledge is crucial for building your fluency and making your initial conversations in English much smoother and more effective. Get ready to speak with impact and politeness!

How This Grammar Works

Let's break down how to give instructions and make requests in English. First, for direct instructions or commands, we use the base form of the verb – no 's', 'ed', or 'ing' needed! This is your Boss Mode. For example, if you want someone to stop, you just say,
Stop!
or for an action,
Listen!
These are very direct.
To make a command negative, telling someone *not* to do something, you simply put 'Don't' before the base verb. So, if you want to warn someone, you say, "Don't touch!
or to advise them,
Don't worry."
To soften these commands and make them polite, we add 'please'. You can put 'please' at the beginning or end of your command. For example,
Please sit down.
or
Open the door, please.
And for negative polite requests: "Please don't go. or Don't forget, please." This makes a big difference in how your message is received!
Next, we introduce the useful helper verb 'can'. We use 'can' for two main things at this level. First, it shows present ability – what you are able to do.
For instance,
I can swim.
or
She can speak English.
Notice that the verb after 'can' is always the base form. Secondly, 'can' is perfect for making friendly requests or asking for permission. For example,
Can I help you?
to offer assistance, or
Can you open the window?
to ask someone to do something for you.
Remember, 'can' never changes, no matter who the subject is (I can, you can, he can, etc.).

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ You sit here.
✓ Sit here.
*Explanation:* Commands usually don't include 'you' because it's understood you're talking directly to the person. Adding 'you' can sound bossy or overly direct in a way that isn't natural for simple commands.
  1. 1✗ Not go there.
✓ Don't go there.
*Explanation:* To make a negative command, always use 'Don't' before the base verb. Just using 'not' is incorrect in this context.
  1. 1✗ I can to swim.
✓ I can swim.
*Explanation:* After modal verbs like 'can', we use the base form of the verb *without* 'to'. 'Can' is a helper verb and the main verb follows directly.

Real Conversations

A

A

The phone is ringing!
B

B

Answer it, please.
A

A

I'm really tired today.
B

B

Don't worry! Relax. We can do it tomorrow.
A

A

Excuse me, I don't understand this word.
B

B

Can I help you?
A

A

Yes, can you explain 'delicious'?
A

A

Is this seat free?
B

B

Yes, sit down, please.

Quick FAQ

Q

How do I make a simple command in English?

Just use the base form of the verb. For example,

Stop!
or
Listen!
To be polite, add 'please':
Please wait.

Q

When should I use 'Don't'?

Use 'Don't' before the base verb to tell someone *not* to do something. For instance, "Don't touch that! or Don't forget your keys."

Q

What's the main difference between Go! and Can I go?

Go!
is a direct command, telling someone to do something.
Can I go?
is a polite question asking for permission to go. The first is an instruction, the second is a request.

Q

Is

Can you help me?
always polite enough?

Yes,

Can you help me?
is a very common and friendly way to ask for help in most everyday situations. Adding 'please' (e.g.,
Can you help me, please?
) makes it even more polite.

Cultural Context

In English-speaking cultures, commands without 'please' are often reserved for urgent situations, very close friends/family, or when the speaker is in a position of authority (e.g., a teacher to students, a parent to children). Using 'please' is almost always recommended to show respect and politeness, especially with strangers or in formal settings. 'Can' for requests is incredibly common and considered friendly and informal, suitable for most everyday interactions.
Be aware that direct commands might sound a little strong to some native speakers if 'please' is omitted.

关键例句 (8)

1

Open your books to page 5.

把书翻到第五页。

老板模式：肯定祈使句（命令式）
2

Listen to the speaker.

听演讲者讲。

老板模式：肯定祈使句（命令式）
3

Please close the window.

请关上窗户。

礼貌命令（使用 Please）
4

Wait for me, please.

请等等我。

礼貌命令（使用 Please）
5

I can speak a little Spanish.

我会说一点西班牙语。

Can: 表达现在能力
6

She can run very fast.

她能跑得非常快。

Can: 表达现在能力
7

`Can I have` a glass of water, please?

请问，我可以喝杯水吗？

Can: 请求和允许
8

Yes, `you can sit` here. The seat is free.

是的，你可以坐这。这没人。

Can: 请求和允许

技巧与窍门 (4)

💡

动词永远用原形

记住，祈使句里动词要用它最原始的样子。不要加-s，-ed，或者-ing。简单点就对了！Come here!
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 老板模式：肯定祈使句（命令式）
💡

动词一定要“素颜”

Don't 后面那个词必须用最原始的样子，别加 s、ed 或 ing。想象它刚起床还没化妆的样子："Don't play with fire."
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 否定祈使句 (不要...)
💡

拿不准的时候，加就对了！

在英语里，多说 please 永远不会错，它能让你瞬间变得友好。比如： Please help me.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 礼貌命令（使用 Please）
💡

记住：没有“to”

Can是情态动词，它后面直接跟动词原形，不需要加“to”。一定要说I can swim，而不是
I can to swim
。这是初学者常犯的错误哦！
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Can: 表达现在能力

核心词汇 (6)

please politeness marker sit to occupy a seat touch to make physical contact help to assist someone swim to move through water open to move something to reveal contents

Real-World Preview

book-open

At the Library

Review Summary

  • Verb + Object
  • Don't + Verb
  • Command + please
  • Subject + can + verb
  • Can I + Verb + ...?

常见错误

Imperatives don't need a subject like 'you'. Start directly with the verb.

Wrong: You to sit down.
正确: Sit down.

The verb 'can' is followed immediately by the base verb without 'to'.

Wrong: Can I to go?
正确: Can I go?

Use 'Don't' to make a command negative in English, not 'No'.

Wrong: No touch!
正确: Don't touch!

Next Steps

You are making amazing progress! Keep practicing these phrases in your daily life.

Give 5 commands to your pet or a plant

Continue to: Talking About the Past

快速练习 (9)

选择正确的动词形式来构成命令句。

___ (listen) carefully to the instructions.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Listen
对于肯定祈使句，我们使用动词原形，即'Listen'。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 老板模式：肯定祈使句（命令式）

哪个句子正确表达了能力？

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Can they speak English?
对于can的疑问句，你需要将主语和can倒装。在can后面不能加to，也不能使用do/does。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Can: 表达现在能力

找出并修正这个礼貌请求中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

Don't please open that.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Please don't open that.
当 'please' 放在否定命令开头时，它要排在 'don't' 之前。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 礼貌命令（使用 Please）

找出并修正句子中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

Can I to use your phone?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Can I use your phone?
在 can 后面，我们直接用动词原形，不需要 to。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Can: 请求和允许

找出并改正命令句中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

You open the door, please.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Open the door, please.
在祈使句中，主语'You'是被默认理解的，不应该明确说出来。动词原形'Open'是正确的。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 老板模式：肯定祈使句（命令式）

选择正确的形式来完成句子。

My little sister ___ read yet.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: can't
"Can't«是»cannot«的正确缩写，表示不能。»No can«是不正确的，»cannot to«错误地加了»to"。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Can: 表达现在能力

选择正确的词来完成这个礼貌的请求。

______ help me with this box?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Please
要提出礼貌的请求，'Please' 是最直接、最常用的开头方式。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: 礼貌命令（使用 Please）

找出并改正句子中的错误。

Find and fix the mistake:

He cans play the piano well.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: He can play the piano well.
Can不会为任何主语添加“-s”词尾。所有主语的正确形式都是can。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Can: 表达现在能力

选择正确的词来完成请求。

___ I borrow your pen?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Can
Can 用于请求许可。Am 和 Do 在这里不符合语法。

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Can: 请求和允许

Score: /9

常见问题 (6)

肯定祈使句就是直接告诉别人做某事。比如，“过来！”或“打开你的书。”Come here! or Open your book.
祈使句是一种语法语态，用于表示命令和请求。“肯定祈使句”是“肯定命令句”的另一种说法。
就是告诉别人“不要”做某事。它是一个直接的指令，比如："Don't run!"
很简单，在动词原形前面加个 Don't。比如 Eat 变成 "Don't eat."
主要是为了让你的语气听起来更尊重、更友好，而不是在命令别人。比如：
Please give me the book.
开头或结尾都可以。比如：
Please open the door.
或者
Open the door, please.
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