Communicative functions: Interacting with others

Asking people to do things

Introduction

When we interact with others, we exchange two kinds of things:

	We ask for and give information. What? - Our pool is empty. Wow! So's ours.
	We ask people to do things for us and we offer to do things for other people. We need your help. - Of course I'll help you. But, before we solve the problem, would you like some chocolate biscuits? - Yes please Granny Gong.

We can ask people to do two kinds of things:

	give us something Give me some water please. Can I have some water please? I'd like some water please.
	do something for us Finish your homework please. Could you finish your homework? I'd like you to finish your homework.

When we ask people to do things, we use a Command or a Request. A Command can be like an order, very direct and abrupt.

Come here at once!

Usually we ask people to do things in a more polite way by making a Request. There are different ways to make and respond to a Requests. For example we can comply with the request and carry out the action:

	Please help us! Can you help us please? We need your help.	Requests
	Yes of course. Of course I'll help you. How can I help you?	complying with a Request

We can also refuse the request:

Sorry, I can't help you at the moment.  I'm afraid I don't know how to help. No, I can't just now. Maybe later.

refusing a Request

For more information about asking people to do things, see:

Text types: Texts for social interaction: Overview: Keeping the interaction going  
Text types: Texts for social interaction: Shopping
Grammar: Clause: Using clauses to interact: Making Commands