Section Nine:

Command and prohibition

Examples of command and prohibition expressions

Informal (older people
to younger people)
Formal (younger
people to older people
or to a stranger)
 Giving a command
• Put the report on my desk
• Bring the books.
• Open the door.
• Close the door, please.
• Could you please give me the report?
• Come here, please.

Informal (older people
to younger people)
Formal (younger
people to older people
or to a stranger)
 Expressing prohibition
• Don’t come late.
• Don’t be lazy.
• Don’t use those shoes.
• Sir/Ma'am, please don’t bring any animals.
• Sir/Ma'am, could you please don’t enter that
room?
• I'm really sorry, but don’t step on the grass.

Answer the following questions orally.

1. Did you ever ask someone to do something for you?
2. What were their response?
3. What about you? Did you ever ask by someone to do something for
her/him?
4. What were you response?

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Read and practise the following dialogues.
1.

Source: Publisher’s Documentation

Security : Sorry Sir, don’t bring any animals to

the hospital.
Mr Pinem : Why not?
Security : It is dangerous for the people around
here, especially for the patients.
Mr Pinem : Oh... OK. No problem.
Security : Thank you, Sir.

2.

Source: Publisher’s Documentation

Mira : Hi... Rani, what’s the matter?
Rani : Hi... Mira, I have a problem with the book.
Mira : What is that?
Rani : Is this the book recommended by the
teacher?
Mira : Oh..that’s not the book, don’t use that book.

Rani : Oh..OK, thank you for the information.

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 Look at the pictures. Match the pictures to the expressions in the box.

1. ……… after the teacher.

2. ……… to the tape.
3. ……… down on your seal.
4. ……… hello to your friend.
5. ……… in the school yard.
6. ……… lunch at the school canteen.
7. ……… about something.
8. ……… at the bird.

Repeat Have lunch Look Listen

Sit Do sports Hello! Talk

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 Look at the pictures. Listen and repeat after the teacher.

Don’t do this. Don’t do that.

Do not pick your nose.

Do not bite your finger.

Pic 3.3 (Dit. PSMP, 2006)

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 How do you ask people to do something?
Start with a verb. This verb is called “imperative verb”.
If you don’t want people to do something, start with “don’t”.

Open the door, please.

Don’t open the door.
Could you open the door,
Come here
Please come here.
Don’t come here.
Let’s go there.

How would you

give response?
Say:
Yes, Ma’am.
Okay, Ma’am.
Sure.
All right.
No problem.

Make dialogues based on the situations below.

For example:
The classroom is a little bit dark. Ms Ningrum asks Roni to open the windows.

Ms Ningrum : Roni, open the windows, please.

Roni : Yes, Ma’am.
Ms Ningrum : Thank you, Roni.
Roni : You are welcome.

Situations :
1. You want to invite your friend to go to the canteen. What would both of you
say?
2. You don’t want your friend to talk. What would both of you say?
3. You want your friend to help you draw a map. What would you say?
4. Your teacher wants you to line up. What would you say?
5. You don’t want your sister to watch TV. What would you say?

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 What people do

Use a dictionary to complete the sentences.

1. When you have a headache you go to see…………

2. A ………… makes a shirt for you.
3. Your …………. gives you homework everyday.
4. A ………… delivers mail everyday.
5. Every restaurant has……………………
6. One of the police duties is to…
7. ….helps a doctor to examine a patient.
8. You go to a …to check your teeth.
9. A…makes wooden tables and chairs.

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