Requests and commands
What do we want someone to do or stop doing?
المعنى
Requests and commands try to get someone to do something or stop doing it. They range from a gentle request to a firm order. Languages may use special verb forms, question-shaped requests, small words, or tone; some have no separate command form. Questions ask for information, while Requests and commands ask for an action.
طريقة التعرّف عليه
Look for language that asks or tells someone to act, even if it has the shape of a question.
في اللغة الأم
Arabic has imperative forms, verb forms used to tell someone to act, which distinguish the listener's gender and number. A negative command uses لا followed by the majzūm present form, often with no final vowel or with final -n removed. Courteous phrases or question-shaped requests can soften a command.
افتحْ النافذةَ من فضلكَ. (Iftaḥ al-nāfidhata min faḍlik.)
افتحْ addresses one male listener; من فضلكَ softens the request.
لا تتركوا البابَ مفتوحًا. (Lā tatrukū al-bāba maftūḥan.)
This plural command uses تتركوا, not the ordinary present form تتركون.
انتظري هنا لحظةً، يا ليلى. (Intaẓirī hunā laḥẓatan, yā Laylā.)
The ending ـي marks a command addressed to one female listener.
في اللغة قيد التعلم
English commands usually use the verb's base form, such as take or come, without the subject you. Negative commands put don't before that form. Requests often use please or questions with can, could, or would.
Take a seat.
The command uses the base form take and leaves out you.
Don't touch that pan.
Don't comes before the base form touch.
Could you pass the bread, please?
This has the form of a question, but the speaker is asking for an action.
Learners whose language has special command endings may add an unnecessary ending to the English verb. Learners whose language negates commands like statements may use not alone instead of don't.