(a) Personal instructions tend to be given in the imperative (see 41 ):Nehmen Sie die Tabletten dreimal täglich.
Take the tablets three times a day.(b) General instructions and formal public notices often use impersonal infinitive
constructions (see 33.7 for parts of the verb):Hier nicht parken.
Do not park here./No parking.See 33.1c (p. 59).
20 Minuten bei mittlerer Hitze backen.
Bake in a medium oven for 20 minutes.Skier nur im Skiraum abstellen.
Skis must only be kept in the ski room.A number of these instructions also use a participle:Parken verboten.
No parking./Parking prohibited.Zutritt nicht gestattet.
Access not permitted./No access.(c) Instructions which demand some form of action frequently use ist (etc.) + infinitive
with zu:Die Fahrkarten sind unaufgefordert vorzuzeigen.
All tickets must be shown (without being demanded). (on a train or bus)Der Anspruch auf Arbeitslosenunterstützung ist nachzuweisen.
The right to unemployment benefit must be demonstrated.(d) Instructions which are issued emphatically can also be expressed by means of the
passive. Such instructions are likely to be used by someone in a position of authority.Hier wird nicht geschlafen!
No sleeping allowed here!With the emphasis on wird, this can sound much more forceful and unforgiving than
the equivalent imperative construction (see 41 for imperatives). It indicates a general
restriction for everyone.(e) Commands and instructions can be expressed more politely by using the modal
verbs dürfen, sollen and müssen (see 35.2, 35.6):Use the modal verb + infinitive in the active:Hier darf man nicht parken.
You must not park here.Der Brief soll heute noch weggehen.
The letter is to go off today.Or use the passive with a modal verb (see 40 for the passive). This tends to sound more
formal:86
PUTTING EVENTS INTO A WIDER CONTEXT