Please close the door

Definition

'Please close the door' is an example of an imperative sentence, which gives a command or request. In this sentence, the speaker is directly addressing someone to take action by closing the door. It reflects the mood of the sentence, which emphasizes the speaker's desire for the listener to perform this task immediately and shows how imperatives can convey urgency or necessity in communication.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. 'Please close the door' is polite because it includes the word 'please,' making it more of a request than a blunt command.
2. 'Close' is a verb in its base form, used here to indicate an action that needs to be taken.
3. Imperative sentences can be softened by adding words like 'please' or 'kindly,' which affects the tone.
4. Unlike indicative sentences that provide information, imperatives are direct and focused on influencing behavior.
5. 'Please close the door' can also imply urgency depending on context, especially if there are drafts or disturbances.

Review Questions

• How does the phrase 'please close the door' illustrate the use of imperative mood in everyday language?
  • 'Please close the door' demonstrates the imperative mood by issuing a direct request to someone. The structure of this sentence omits a subject since it's understood that the listener is being addressed. It effectively showcases how imperatives function in casual conversation to prompt action without ambiguity.
• Compare and contrast the imperative mood with the indicative mood using examples.
  • 'Please close the door' exemplifies an imperative mood where a direct command is given. In contrast, an indicative mood sentence would be 'The door is closed,' stating a fact without any directive. This shows that imperatives aim to prompt action, while indicatives simply convey information or ask questions.
• Evaluate how changing 'please close the door' to a more urgent imperative affects its tone and impact.
  • 'Please close the door' can be made more urgent by saying 'Close the door now!' This shift from polite request to a more commanding tone emphasizes immediacy and necessity. The change not only alters the tone but also intensifies the perceived importance of closing the door quickly, which may change how the listener reacts to it.

Related terms

Imperative Mood: 'The imperative mood is used to issue commands, requests, or instructions, often omitting the subject, as in 'Close the door.'

Indicative Mood: 'The indicative mood states facts or asks questions, like in 'The door is closed.' It does not express commands or requests.'

Subjunctive Mood: 'The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, hypotheticals, or conditions contrary to fact, such as in 'If I were you, I would close the door.'