Request / Command / Prohibition
What do we want the other person to do?
Betekenis
A speech act that asks, tells, invites, warns, orders, suggests, or forbids someone to do something.
Zo herken je het
Ask whether the speaker is trying to make the listener act or stop acting.
Voorbeelden
please|don't|let's|could you|must not
please sit down|don't touch it|could you help
Please close the window.
Visual guide
Speaker wants listener action
SPEAKER ──asks/tells──> YOU
↓
do it / stop it
Please close the window.
Same intention, different shapes: Command: Close the window. Request: Please close... Question: Could you help? Invitation: Let's go. Prohibition: Don't touch it.
Taaloverzicht
In je moedertaal
Directives range from imperatives to polite modal questions with u and alstublieft.
Kunt u mij helpen?
Can you-formal me help?
In de taal die je leert
English requests and commands use imperatives, modals, please, question forms, and intonation to manage directness.
Please close the window.
please close = request/command
Learners may sound too direct or use overly literal command forms.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.