Imperative: Using 'please' for politeness

English imperatives are very direct. You just use the base form of the verb. For example, you say Sit down. It is clear, but it can feel a bit sharp. Adding please softens the blow. It changes the energy of the sentence entirely. You can put please at the start or the end. Both ways work perfectly fine. It is like a grammar traffic light. It tells the listener, "I am being friendly, not bossy." You do not need to change the verb at all. You do not need to add you or to. Just the verb and your polite word. It is one of the easiest patterns to master. It works in almost every casual and semi-formal situation. It is the ultimate tool for being a polite human being.

1. 1Creating these sentences is as easy as making toast. There are two main ways to do it.
2. 2Put please at the very beginning.
3. 3Pattern: Please + [Base Verb] + [Rest of sentence].
4. 4Example: Please open the window.
5. 5Put please at the very end.
6. 6Pattern: [Base Verb] + [Rest of sentence] + , + please.
7. 7Example: Open the window, please.
8. 8For negative sentences, use don't.
9. 9Pattern: Please + don't + [Base Verb].
10. 10Example: Please don't smoke here.
11. 11Note the comma in the second pattern! It is a tiny detail, but it matters. Think of the comma as a little breath before you say the polite word. If please is at the start, no comma is needed. It is like a shield at the front of your sentence.

You will use this pattern constantly. It is the bread and butter of daily English.

• Ordering Food: When you are at a cafe. Say, A coffee, please. Or, Please give me a muffin.
• Asking for Help: If you are lost. Say, Please help me find the station.
• In the Office: When asking a colleague for something. Say, Send the email, please.
• At Home: Asking a roommate to help. Say, Please wash the dishes.
• Job Interviews: To show you are professional and kind. Say, Please have a seat.

Using please shows you recognize the other person's effort. It makes people want to help you. It is the difference between a happy barista and a confused one. Yes, even native speakers mess this up when they are in a rush. Don't be that person!

Believe it or not, there are times to skip it.

• Emergencies: If a piano is falling from a window, don't say Please move. Just shout Move!
• Very Formal Writing: In legal documents or strict instructions, it is often left out.
• Talking to Yourself: You don't need to be polite to your own brain. Focus! is fine.
• Signs: Stop signs don't say Please stop. They just say STOP.

In most other cases, when in doubt, just add it. It is better to be too polite than too rude. Think of it like salt. A little bit makes everything better.

Even simple rules have traps. Watch out for these common slips.

• Adding 'to': People often say Please to sit. This is wrong. Just say Please sit.
• Forgetting the comma: When please is at the end, it needs that comma. Help me please looks messy. Help me, please looks great.
• Using 'you': You don't need to say Please you sit down. The you is already understood.
• Over-politeness: Saying Please please please can sound like a begging child. Once is enough!
• Wrong verb form: Don't say Please sitting. Use the base form: Please sit.

Think of these mistakes like wearing your shoes on the wrong feet. You can still walk, but it looks a bit funny to everyone else.

How does this compare to other ways of asking?

• The Direct Imperative: Sit down. This is for friends or when you are angry. It is very strong.
• The Polite Imperative: Please sit down. This is the middle ground. It is standard and safe.
• The Question Request: Could you sit down? This is even more polite. It is great for strangers.

If the direct imperative is a hammer, the polite imperative is a gentle hand. It gets the job done without breaking anything. At the A1 level, the polite imperative is your most powerful tool. It is easier to say than a long question like Would you mind...? but it is much nicer than a raw command.