3.2. FURTHER INFLECTIONS 133
3.2.10 Requesting: ,
Imperative request
We already saw that we can use the verb + to form a
request,
”Two coffee, please.”
But we can also use the plain form to form an informal request,
or plea:
”Wait (please)”
”Buy this (for me)?”
Of course, like all requests, they can be made to sound demanding,
so intonation counts. If we say instead of , cuĴing out the stop
in the middle to sound curt, then rather than a request this may very well
be experienced as a command instead. Similarly, saying in a stern
tone might be less commanding than , but will still be experienced as
a command more than as request.
Prohibitive request
This kind of requesting can of course also be done in a prohibitive manner,
in which case we rely on the continuative form for using ,
:
(Please) don’t go.
The ”please” is implied, and this form is very much like begging
someone to not do something. The more polite way, using an explicit
’please’ uses the continuative +
:
Please don’t go.