Following Simple Instructions in English
How to read short step-by-step English — recipes, machine instructions and directions — and do the right thing.
Instructions in English are written in a special, very simple style. Once you know the pattern, you can follow them even with a small vocabulary.
Instructions start with the verb
Normal sentence: You should press the green button. Instruction: Press the green button.
There is no you, no should, no please. The first word tells you what to do. So when you read instructions, look at the first word of each line — that is the action.
The verbs you will see most
| Verb | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Press / Push | Push with your finger |
| Insert | Put in |
| Remove | Take out |
| Turn | Move it round |
| Fill | Put liquid in until it is full |
| Wait | Do nothing for a time |
| Repeat | Do it again |
Order words
Instructions almost always come in order. These words mark the steps:
- First … Then … Next … Finally
- Or just numbers: 1. 2. 3.
Do them in the order written. In English instructions, the order is never a suggestion.
Warnings
- DO NOT / NEVER — this is dangerous or will break something.
- Make sure… — check this before you continue.
- CAUTION / WARNING — read the next line carefully.
If you understand nothing else on the page, read the DO NOT lines.
A real example
To make tea
- Fill the kettle with water.
- Press the switch and wait for the water to boil.
- Put one tea bag in a cup.
- Pour the water into the cup.
- Wait 3 minutes, then remove the tea bag. Do not fill the cup to the top.
Five verbs — fill, press, put, pour, remove — and one warning. That is the whole text.
Test yourself
The quiz below gives you short instructions. Find the action verb and the order.