Boss: Can you include this week’s numbers in the report for this morning’s meeting.
You: Yes.
Boss: Also, can you make 18 collated copies of it.
You will do.
Depending on the time and amount of work, you may want to answer “since you asked, I’m really a bit frustrated right now”; however, because you are a model employee, you comply. You may also notice late stages where one can expect a question mark, and (perhaps after an initial worry that someone will be mad at you) realize these are not questions that are instructions given politely. In fact, your boss expects an affirmative answer, then a revision, and 18 copies in hand, immediately—in other words, it’s not a ask and more tell.
A command encapsulated in a question encapsulated in a Slack message
Grammatically, the boss’s requests are imperatives, statements that express orders or orders. Expressing an imperative as a question is a convention of common courtesy—asking someone to do something is definitely better than telling them to do it. At Merriam-Webster, “Read These Pages Again” never broke the library silence of the editorial area; however, “Can you please read these pages again” can often be heard from slightly hoarse voices unfamiliar to use.
Usually, “anonymous imperative” begins with a modal verb—for example: maybe, Maybe, will, willAnd maybeall signify a polite request—and are read as a question until the end, where a single dot changes the meaning of the preceding words to an imperative.
You can sign here.
Could you please turn off your cell phone.
Please fill out this form.
Please sit down.
May I have your attention, please.
If a writer wants to retain the subtlety of a question when stating an imperative, adding a question mark would be appropriate. The mark completes the sentence as a “yes/no” question, allowing the respondent to choose to answer with “no” or “sorry, I can’t.” In most cases, that probably won’t happen; however, it is good to give the person a choice (especially when the person is really unable or unwilling to fulfill the request). Finally, the person who “agrees” will have the ability to carry out requests, requests, orders, etc., whether it is courtesy or obligation.
For those who find it a bit unusual to disguise an imperative as a question—but also want to make a polite request feel expected to be met—traditional, true questions or statements grammar will still get the job done (albeit in a verbose fashion). Just make sure to use polite modal verbs and magic words Please.
Can you prepare a report for this morning’s meeting?
I would appreciate it if you could prepare the report for this morning’s meeting.
Please prepare a report for this morning’s meeting.
Categories: Usage Notes
Source: vothisaucamau.edu.vn
