Request / Command / Prohibition
Imperative
Request
Command
Prohibition
What do we want the other person to do?
core
basic
Speaker stance
Maana
A speech act that asks, tells, invites, warns, orders, suggests, or forbids someone to do something.
Jinsi ya kuitambua
Ask whether the speaker is trying to make the listener act or stop acting.
Mifano
Maneno
please|don't|let's|could you|must not
Virai
please sit down|don't touch it|could you help
Sentensi
Please close the window.
Visual guide
Basic shape
Speaker wants listener action
SPEAKER ──asks/tells──> YOU
↓
do it / stop it
Please close the window.
Compare shape
Same intention, different shapes: Command: Close the window. Request: Please close... Question: Could you help? Invitation: Let's go. Prohibition: Don't touch it.
Mtazamo wa lugha
Katika lugha yako
Arabic (Modern Standard)
Uwepo
strong
Umuhimu
Commands use imperative forms, while prohibitions often use لا plus jussive; politeness adds request phrases.
افتح الباب من فضلك.
Open the door, please.
Katika lugha unayojifunza
Bengali (standard)
Uwepo
strong
Ugumu
Commands and requests vary strongly by verb form and politeness level.
দয়া করে বসুন।
Please sit.
Changamoto ya kawaida kwa wanaojifunza
Learners may use an imperative that is too familiar or too harsh.
Same block, different coding
Both languages use this block strongly, but they signal it differently. Focus on form changes, not only meaning.