English course · Unit 34

Public Notices and Signs

Imperatives · Instructions · Prohibitions · Polite requests

How to use this unit

Public notices tell us what to do, what not to do, and how to stay safe. Read the signs, notice the verb forms, and practise writing instructions of your own.

KEEP LEFT. — a positive imperative

DO NOT ENTER. — a negative imperative

PLEASE QUEUE HERE. — a polite instruction

Remember: an imperative normally uses the base form of the verb. The subject you is understood. Use Don’t or Do not before the base form for a negative instruction.

Orders and prohibitions

KEEP LEFTBlue circle: an instruction

NO ENTRYRed circle: prohibition

NO SMOKING Red circle and diagonal bar: smoking is prohibited

Polite instructions

PLEASE QUEUE HEREA polite instruction

Warnings

CAUTIONTriangle: look out for danger

WET FLOORNotice: take care

Information and directions

INFORMATIONRectangle: information or services

EXITGreen: safe route or emergency exit

A special shape to remember

STOPOctagon: stop

Notice: These are useful general patterns, especially on British roads. Not every sign follows the same system: signs inside buildings and other public places may use different shapes and colours.

Step 1

Read the signs

Match each sign to its purpose. Public signs often use short, direct language.

1. Which sign tells people to walk on a particular side?

2. Which sign tells people not to go in?

3. Which sign warns people that the floor may be slippery?

4. Which sign asks people to wait in an orderly line?

5. Which sign tells people not to smoke?

Model answers

Keep left
No entry
Caution: Wet floor
Please queue here
No smoking

Step 2

Understand the instruction

Read each notice and say what people should do or must not do.

1. A sign says “KEEP OFF THE GRASS”. What must people not do?

2. A notice says “PLEASE CLOSE THE GATE”. What should visitors do?

3. A sign says “DO NOT TOUCH THE EXHIBITS”. What is prohibited?

4. A sign says “USE THE OTHER DOOR”. What should people do?

5. A notice says “PLEASE WAIT HERE”. Where should people wait?

Model answers

Walk on the grass
Close the gate
Touching the exhibits
Use the other door
Here

Step 3

Positive imperatives

An imperative normally uses the base form of the verb. The subject “you” is understood: “Wait here.”

1. Complete the sign: “______ left.” (keep)

2. Complete the notice: “______ your ticket ready.” (have)

3. Complete: “Please ______ the door quietly.” (close)

4. Complete: “______ your rubbish in the bin.” (put)

5. Complete: “______ the instructions carefully.” (read)

Model answers

Keep
Have
close
Put
Read

Step 4

Negative imperatives

Use “Don’t” or “Do not” + the base form to tell people not to do something.

1. Complete: “______ run in the corridor.” (not)

2. Complete: “Don’t ______ the fire door open.” (leave)

3. Rewrite as a negative instruction: “Use your phone here.”

4. Complete: “Please do not ______ the alarm.” (touch)

5. Which is correct? “Don’t to park here” or “Don’t park here”?

Model answers

Do not run in the corridor.
Do not leave the fire door open.
Do not use your phone here.
Please do not touch the alarm.
Do not park here.

Step 5

Writing notices for real situations

Read each situation and write a suitable notice. Use an imperative, and use “please” where it makes the notice more polite. The signs above are examples, not answers to copy.

1. Visitors are waiting for a member of staff. Write a polite notice asking them to stay where they are.

2. People sometimes leave their bags unattended. Write a polite notice telling them to keep their bags with them.

3. Visitors in an art gallery are touching the paintings. Write a polite notice telling them not to do this.

4. A door must remain closed. Write a polite notice asking people to keep it closed.

5. Visitors are about to enter a performance where phones must be silent. Write a polite notice asking them to switch off their phones.

Model answers

Please wait here.
Please keep your bags with you.
Please do not touch the paintings.
Please keep this door closed.
Please switch off your phones.

Step 6

Notices in real places

Read the notices and choose language that fits the situation. Some notices use imperatives; others use short expressions such as “No entry”.

1. In a library, write a polite notice asking people to speak quietly.

2. At a station, complete: “Mind the ______.”

3. In a museum, write a notice telling visitors not to take photographs.

4. In a park, write a notice asking people to put litter in a bin.

5. At a swimming pool, complete: “Do not ______.” Give one suitable instruction.

Model answers

Please speak quietly.
gap
Do not take photographs.
Please put litter in the bin.
dive

Step 7

Final review

Review positive and negative imperatives, polite instructions and common public notices.

1. Complete: “______ your hands before eating.” (wash)

2. Complete: “Don’t ______ the door.” (block)

3. What does “No entry” mean?

4. Rewrite politely: “Turn off the lights.”

5. Write a negative imperative telling people not to feed the animals.

Model answers

Wash
block
You must not enter
Please turn off the lights.
Do not feed the animals.

What you have practised

Understanding common public signs and notices.
Using positive imperatives for instructions.
Using Don’t and Do not for prohibitions.
Making instructions more polite with please.
Recognising short expressions such as No entry and No smoking.

A useful distinction: Don’t enter is an instruction not to enter. You don’t have to enter means entering is not necessary. They do not mean the same thing.